1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Russia's war in UkraineIsrael-Hamas warIndia elections

Turkey: Large-scale Dam Projects

January 5, 2011

Turkey is planning a new environmental protection law that environmentalists say will be more destructive than protective. One of the things it could allow is the construction of more dams.

https://p.dw.com/p/QiqU
Image: DW
Bagger
Image: DW

With the legislation, the Turkish government is trying to bring the country's laws in line with EU standards. The first step, however, is to declare all existing Turkish environmental laws null and void. A new "National Council for Biodiversity" will then make future decisions. Environmental protection groups claim the Turkish government intends to abuse the loophole to push through permits for hundreds of new dams. One group called the country's environment minister a "serial murder of nature."