Environmental Threats and Solutions in Turkey
Turkey hosts more than 3000 endemic plant species, has high diversity of other taxa, and is almost entirely covered by three of the world’'s 35 biodiversity hotspots. "Yet, Turkey'’s environmental laws and conservation efforts are eroding, not improving. This has precipitated a conservation crisis that has accelerated over the past decade. This crisis has been exacerbated by legislative developments that may leave Turkey with a nature conservation legal framework that is weakened and severely out of line with globally accepted principles". The main environmental issues in Turkey are the conservation of biodiversity, water pollution from the dumping of chemicals and detergents air pollution greenhouse gases and land degradation.
Development and Environmental Problems of Turkey in Figures
Air Pollution:
- With the amount of 20.3% industrial installations cause sulphurdioxide pollution following the thermal power plants.
- 1990-1996 SO2 concentrations were exceeded in short term limit value more than 200 times in Erzurum, Kütahya, Istanbul and Sivas.
Environmental Threats and Solutions in Turkey
Turkey hosts more than 3000 endemic plant species, has high diversity of other taxa, and is almost entirely covered by three of the world’'s 35 biodiversity hotspots. "Yet, Turkey'’s environmental laws and conservation efforts are eroding, not improving. This has precipitated a conservation crisis that has accelerated over the past decade. This crisis has been exacerbated by legislative developments that may leave Turkey with a nature conservation legal framework that is weakened and severely out of line with globally accepted principles". The main environmental issues in Turkey are the conservation of biodiversity, water pollution from the dumping of chemicals and detergents air pollution greenhouse gases and land degradation.
Development and Environmental Problems of Turkey in Figures
Air Pollution:
- With the amount of 20.3% industrial installations cause sulphurdioxide pollution following the thermal power plants.
- 1990-1996 SO2 concentrations were exceeded in short term limit value more than 200 times in Erzurum, Kütahya, Istanbul and Sivas.
Water Pollution:
- In 1992 the water loss in water networks was 50% .
- Many rivers, such as Ergene, Meriç, Nilüfer, Gediz, Sakarya and Porsuk have IV. class extremly dirty water.
- From Bursa Organized Industrial Zone each year 3.5 million cubic meters wastewater is discharged without treatment into Nilüfer stream.
- In 1989 in the river Gediz about one ton of fish died of pollution.
- Seyitömer Thermal Power Plant discharge of 6.5 tons of particulate matter per day into Porsuk stream.
- In 1992 18.2% of the sewage from the industry, 73.6% of it into streams and seas respectively is discharged.
- 87% of the Black Sea is covered with oxygen-poor water.
- The total amount of wastewater discharged into the Marmara Sea from various sources is estimated to be 766 million m3 /year.
- Eagean Sea is faced with a pollution load equivalent to that of a populationthreat of 27.5 million people originating from Black Sea through and Greece.
Soils:
- 91% of the soils faced with erosion.
- Annual soil losses in Turkey are estimated to be around 500 million tons.
- 62% of the land allocated for organised and small industrial establishments, and 69.5% of the land allocated for tourism activities is located on fertile I.-IV. class agricultural land.
Solid Waste:
- In 1991, 9073 tons daily garbage of collected by municipalities were disposed of in rivers, seas and lakes.
- 78% of municipalities having a dump area stated that there were some problems related to the dump area and as a whole 22 municipalities stated that there was a risk of explosion at the dump area.
- All over Turkey 75% of industrial establishments there is no wastewater treatment plant.
- 85% of the industrial establishments have no discharge licence, 77% of the industrial establishments have no licence for gaseuse emissions.
- 54% of the industrial establishments discharge their wastewater without treatment into the seas, rivers or city sewerage.
- 211 000 tons of treatment sludge is discharged into the sea.
- 77% of the establishments, 92% of the householders keep their waste in non-suitable buckets or plastic bags.
Flora-Fauna:- In Turkey 12 species of plants have become extinct, and 46 endemic and 60 non-endemic species of plants are classified as 'endangered'.
- As a result of the new legislations between 1950-1989 1 372 034 ha. forest have been destroyed.
- 55% of the deforestration is done through new legislations.
- Every year 13000-15000 ha of forest burns, 4000-5000 ha of farmland are transformed into agricultural land 3-4 ha are opened to the settlements.
Urbanization:- 59% of the population live in cities.
- Annual population growth rate in big cities is over 40%.
- Every year 650 000 people migrate to Istanbul.
- 36% of the soutwest coasts are covered with secondary housing.
30 Ways to Protect the EnvironmentClean Air- Painting your house? Use a latex paint. Oil-based paints release hydrocarbon fumes.
- Get a tune-up. Properly maintained vehicles get better gas mileage and emit fewer pollutants.
- Don’t top off your gas tank. Overfilling causes spills that release hydrocarbons and other toxic chemicals into the air.
- Conserve energy. You’ll lower your utility bills and help avoid peak demands on utility plants.
- Don’t burn your yard waste. It’s illegal in many areas of Ohio because burning yard waste releases mold spores, soot, and other contaminants that can aggravate allergies and cause respiratory problems.
- Plant a tree. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
- Park the car. Walk, bike or use mass-transit whenever you can. Vehicle traffic is a major contributor to smog.
