Istanbul residents fight to save 400-year-old plane trees from commercial development

In Istanbul's Kozyatağı neighborhood, a group of residents and environmental defenders are fighting to protect a public space and its centuries-old plane trees. Under the banner of the Kozyatağı Çınaraltı Solidarity, they held a press conference to voice their opposition to the commercial use of the land and the damage inflicted upon the registered trees.

The group alleges that the public area was leased to a private business by the Directorate General of Foundations approximately 24 years ago. They state that two of the four registered plane trees have already perished due to past development activities, and the remaining two are now threatened by ongoing construction.

"We have collected nearly seven thousand signatures, without regard for rain or cold," the solidarity members announced. They have submitted petitions and pursued legal avenues, appealing repeatedly to institutions like the Kadıköy Municipality, the Directorate General of Foundations, and the Board for the Protection of Natural Assets. "However, our voices have not been heard."

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We have collected nearly seven thousand signatures, without regard for rain or cold. We have knocked on the doors of institutions, shared expert opinions, and informed the public. However, our voices have not been heard.

The protesters directed specific questions to the authorities, seeking clarification on scientific reports concerning the protection of the ancient trees, expert opinions obtained, and the reasons for rejecting local objections. They also called for transparency regarding alternative commercial use plans and the number of trees damaged during construction.

Emphasizing that Çınaraltı is more than just trees, the group described it as a shared living space for children, the elderly, and all residents. "A restaurant can be built elsewhere, but a new ancient plane tree cannot replace a lost one," they argued, advocating for the preservation of the area for public use over commercial exploitation. The demonstration concluded with the slogan, "There is no salvation alone; it's either all of us or none of us."

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A restaurant can be built elsewhere, but a new ancient plane tree cannot replace a lost one.