Forest area the size of 142 football fields threatened by quarry expansion

A mining company's plan to significantly expand its quarry and processing facilities in Izmir's Menderes district has sparked environmental concerns. Doğkem Madencilik is seeking to more than double the operational area of its limestone and marble quarry.

The company's environmental impact assessment (ÇED) report details a proposed expansion from the current 24.93 hectares to 101.49 hectares. This vast increase would encompass a substantial portion of a nearby forest area, raising alarms about habitat destruction and ecological damage.

Key aspects of the project include the removal of the topsoil layer from the forest land, the use of explosives for extraction, and a projected annual water consumption of tens of thousands of cubic meters. The proximity to water sources and the scale of water usage are central to the environmental threat, as outlined in the ÇED file.