Turkey Cancels Hydroelectric Plant Project in UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Turkey's Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has officially terminated the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the Uğur 1-2 Hydroelectric Power Plant (HES) project. The project, proposed by Ertok Enerji İnşaat ve Sanayi Ticaret Limited Şirketi, was slated for construction near the villages of Maralköy and Uğurköy within the Macahel Valley.

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The legal struggle we waged years ago in the Macahel Valley is seeing renewed attempts to push through HES projects, which we thought would never happen again. The project being pursued and attempted to be implemented under the name Uğur HES Project in our region has been terminated due to legal processes concerning the protected area.

This region holds significant ecological importance as it is designated as Turkey's first and only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The decision to halt the EIA process comes after considerable legal and environmental advocacy, particularly from the Macahel Foundation. The foundation has consistently argued for the paramount importance of preserving the valley's unique biodiversity and ecological integrity.

Tekin Özdemir, Chairman of the Macahel Foundation, highlighted the significance of the Council of State's previous rulings. These rulings affirmed that the protection of the Macahel Basin, a UNESCO-recognized area, serves a greater public interest than energy generation. Özdemir noted the persistence of hydroelectric plant initiatives in the region despite prior legal challenges, emphasizing that the current project's termination is linked to ongoing legal disputes concerning protected areas.

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When Council of State decisions are examined, it is seen that the high court evaluates the protection status of the biosphere reserve area within the scope of superior public interest and gives special importance to the protection of this area, which is unique in Turkey.

The Council of State's decisions have consistently prioritized the conservation of the Macahel Valley. Rulings have recognized the area's extraordinary biological diversity, necessitating comprehensive protection of its flora, fauna, habitats, old-growth forests, and endemic species. The court has stressed that the biosphere reserve status cannot be disregarded in planning and investment decisions, citing international conventions and constitutional provisions that mandate the protection of such ecologically vital zones. The court's stance is clear: while electricity generation is in the public interest, the irreplaceable ecological value of the Macahel Valley outweighs the benefits of energy production, as electricity can be sourced through alternative means.

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Electricity can be produced in other ways; however, the protection of this valley, declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, is more important.