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information and participation in the coastal areas of
Turkey needs major enhancements although it is getting
more widespread and effective all around the country.
This is achieved by the increase of Non-Governmental-Organisations
(NGOs) both in number and power. Also, regular meetings
are organised by the metropolitan municipalities to
discuss with the public the ongoing and planned projects.
Moreover, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
legislation require public information and participation
during the preparation of the EIA report.
EIA
In Turkey, coastal developments and activities for
which an EIA study is required, include thermal and
nuclear power plants, refineries, ports and harbours,
reclamation and dredging, petroleum and gas pipelines;
storage facilities, ship dismantling facilities, open
sea hydrocarbon production, petroleum production from
the sea; various heavy industries which are located
on the coast as well as elsewhere, shipyards, maintenance
and repair facilities, fisheries industries, ballast
water reception facilities, fishery harbours, coastal
and sea structures, sea outfalls, breakwaters and marinas.
The legislation of EIA indicated that a meeting with
the public should be held during the EIA study to inform
them about the project under consideration, and to take
their opinion about the project. If needed, the project
proposal should be revised and another meeting with
the public should be held. However, the participation
of the public is limited and their opinion is usually
not well considered by the administrators.
NGO's
The NGOs have played important effective roles in enhancing
public information and participation in the coastal
areas. Nevertheless, The NGOs still lacks knowledge
about public participation and its implementation.
The following needs for public participation in Turkey
could be identified:
- There is a need to teach the importance and benefits
of public participation;
- There is a need to encourage people to participate
in decision making;
- There is a need to convince the administrators and
planners to take the public opinion into consideration;
- There is a need to make the decision processes more
translucent.
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Example:
Wastewater sea outfal, Antalya, Turkey
A project, supported financially by Antalya Metropolitan
Municipality and World Bank, has started in 1996 to
improve the water and wastewater infrastructure in Antalya
city. A part of this project included wastewater collection,
treatment and disposal systems. A preliminary wastewater
treatment plant followed by a long and deep sea outfall
system have been planned for the treatment and disposal
of wastewater.
Some of the citizens of Antalya and local NGOs insisted
on immediate higher treatment level of the wastewater
because they believe that the planned low level treatment
will pollute the sea environment. However, specialized
international experts from the World Bank as well as
Akdeniz University investigated the situation and concluded
that the planned low level of wastewater treatment is
enough at the early stages of operation. For political
reasons, some local administrators supported the opinion
of the public.
As a result, the project was modified by adding biological
treatment units to achieve higher treatment level of
the wastewater. The biological treatment units were
constructed and the operation of these units has started
recently. Anyhow, such sophisticated expensive treatment
plants are not sustainable in Turkey due to the lack
of funds and experience.
 
Main Issues related to ICZM
Antalya is a famous important tourism center in Turkey.
Antalya receives about 4 million foreign tourists each
year and tourism is the major source of money income
for the investors and the local people. The beautiful
beaches and the clean seawater are major attractions
for tourists. An integrated coastal zone management
is needed to conserve all the natural beauties and achieve
sustainable tourism and development. A good infrastructure
is vital to treat and dispose all types of wastes and
effluent discharges. The local people and NGOs in Antalya
are keen to protect their valuable environmental. However,
the people managed to change the project into more expensive
unnecessary project, which is not sustainable. Some
of the local administrators supported the public due
to political reasons.
Due to the pressure of the public, an engineering workable
design had to be changed. The second stage biological
treatment units were added to the initially designed
preliminary treatment units. The public of Antalya City
are following the implementation of the project. The
process is still in progress.
Lessons Learnt
Public participation could lead into wrong directions.
Political issues play a role in public participation.
Further information
Who can provide further information with contacts?
1. Prof. Bulent Topkaya, The Department of Environmental
Engineering, Akdeniz University, Antalya.
2. Dr. Ayse Muhammetoglu, Akdeniz University, Antalya
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