Double victory in Kaz Mountains

Life advocates have won significant victories in two separate lawsuits filed against mining projects in Balıkesir. The Kazdağı Natural and Cultural Heritage Protection Association announced the annulment of the positive environmental impact assessment ( EIA ) decision for CVK Mining's gold and copper mine capacity expansion, ore enrichment, and waste storage facility in Gökçeyazı and Sarıalan.

The lawsuit filed against Koza Altın's proposed open-pit gold mine, planned for explosives in the Turplu neighborhood of the Karesi district, against the decision that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) was not required, has also been defeated. Life advocates and the public have welcomed the decision.

ECOSYSTEM IGNORED

The association, noting that TEMA, the villagers of Gökçeyazı, the Gökçeyazı Türkmen Mountain Environmental Protection and Solidarity Association, the Balıkesir Bar Association, and numerous citizens have intervened in the case, thanked the lawyers and scientists who contributed. The statement called on relevant institutions to immediately halt all activities carried out by the company within the scope of the project .

The expert report on which the court decision was based emphasized the project file's lack of scientific content regarding flora and fauna. The report identified 118 animal species, including four listed as globally endangered on the IUCN Red List, 98 listed in the Bern Convention, and all with protected status. However, it was also noted that the EIA report failed to include scientific measures to protect these species. It also noted that floristic analyses were conducted only in the autumn, that the behavioral periods of migratory birds and amphibians were ignored, and that the report was supported by unscientific statements such as "fauna will flee to other areas." The report also highlighted the project site's proximity to Lake Manyas, a Ramsar site, and noted that risks to agriculture, forests, water resources, road safety, and human health were also overlooked. The court annulled the positive EIA decision on these grounds.

Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed against Koza Altın's proposed open-pit gold mine in the Turplu neighborhood of the Karesi district, challenging its decision that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not required, has also been awarded. The Balıkesir 2nd Administrative Court issued a stay of execution. The court ruled that the ore mined at Turplu would be sent to Koza Altın's licensed Ovacık Gold Mine, and therefore the projects should be considered as interconnected and complementary integrated projects. The court ruled that the EIA process was inadequate because environmental impacts were not considered cumulatively, and granted a stay of execution, stating that the commencement of the project could result in irreparable environmental damage.

The Kazdağı Natural and Cultural Heritage Protection Association stated that they expect the cases to be concluded in their favor as soon as possible, saying, "Justice will be served, nature will prevail."