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Here is a nice documentary about Istanbul.
Generally speaking, you're right. We need more green places/parks in Istanbul. However, I don't like this kind of ideological approach to this topic. The truth is that economic development always leads to environmental degradation and pollution. This is a fact. You won't find one single developed country on this planet without major environmental destruction/changes.
Take Germany's forest area as an example.
Left side: 2000 years ago
Right side: today
It isn't a coincidence that Europe's two most industrialized countries suffered the most from deforestation along with UK.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/oct/21/forests-conservation
And now Istanbul, Turkey:
This is totally normal if you want to live in a civilized, modern country with good infrastructure.
We have a larger forest area than many European countries:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_forest_area
Plus, our forested area isn't declining. Actually, it's quite the opposite. Our forests are growing due to major governmental support for tree planting programs.
http://aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/turkiyede-orman-varligi-22-3-milyon-hektar-alana-yukseldi/549555
Currently, we are living in a phase of expansion. People want to live in affordable apartments, they want to drive on super big highways but no one is excepting the fact that this kind of lifestyle will have a major negative impact on our environment.
The truth lies in the middle.
Generally speaking, you're right. We need more green places/parks in Istanbul. However, I don't like this kind of ideological approach to this topic. The truth is that economic development always leads to environmental degradation and pollution. This is a fact. You won't find one single developed country on this planet without major environmental destruction/changes.
Take Germany's forest area as an example.
Left side: 2000 years ago
Right side: today
It isn't a coincidence that Europe's two most industrialized countries suffered the most from deforestation along with UK.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/oct/21/forests-conservation
And now Istanbul, Turkey:
This is totally normal if you want to live in a civilized, modern country with good infrastructure.
We have a larger forest area than many European countries:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_forest_area
Plus, our forested area isn't declining. Actually, it's quite the opposite. Our forests are growing due to major governmental support for tree planting programs.
http://aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/turkiyede-orman-varligi-22-3-milyon-hektar-alana-yukseldi/549555
Currently, we are living in a phase of expansion. People want to live in affordable apartments, they want to drive on super big highways but no one is accepting the fact that this kind of lifestyle will have a major negative impact on our environment.
The truth lies in the middle.
We must also take into account that the deforestation in Europe largely took place in middle ages where people burned wood for everything or built houses, the situation looks different today.Take Germany's forest area as an example.
Left side: 2000 years ago
Right side: today
We must also take into account that the deforestation in Europe largely took place in middle ages where people burned wood for everything or built houses, the situation looks different today.
Besides Turkey doesnt have the luxury as Europe regarding forest, neither doest it have as much avarage rainfall, the more we loose forest the more water shortages we will have, the ecosystem is easily disturbed and theres no way back once its gone, we need to be way more careful, this maps says it all.
Spain and Portugals situation is like ours, Britain and some northern countries are densely populated + agriculture so the forest is gone but as said they have no problem with drought while we do, we must be extra careful.Spain seems to be devastated as we are, Britain is ruined ?
We must also take into account that the deforestation in Europe largely took place in middle ages where people burned wood for everything or built houses...
Generally speaking, you're right. We need more green places/parks in Istanbul. However, I don't like this kind of ideological approach to this topic. The truth is that economic development always leads to environmental degradation and pollution. This is a fact. You won't find one single developed country on this planet without major environmental destruction/changes.
Take Germany's forest area as an example.
Left side: 2000 years ago
Right side: today
It isn't a coincidence that Europe's two most industrialized countries suffered the most from deforestation along with UK.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/oct/21/forests-conservation
And now Istanbul, Turkey:
This is totally normal if you want to live in a civilized, modern country with good infrastructure.
We have a larger forest area than many European countries:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_forest_area
Plus, our forested area isn't declining. Actually, it's quite the opposite. Our forests are growing due to major governmental support for tree planting programs.
http://aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/turkiyede-orman-varligi-22-3-milyon-hektar-alana-yukseldi/549555
Currently, we are living in a phase of expansion. People want to live in affordable apartments, they want to drive on super big highways but no one is accepting the fact that this kind of lifestyle will have a major negative impact on our environment.
The truth lies in the middle.
From the map above I see that Central and Eastern Anatolia are largely deforesteited. I know that the climate and the terrain there are not like in the areas around the sea or Northern Turkey where most of Turkey's forests are but isn't it possible to plant trees and grow forests in this areas too? I guess there should be some tree species which are suitable for those areas which will help to increase Turkey's tree cover.
Turkey will be some of the countries that will be hardly hit by the climate changes in the coming decades.
Very nice but is it enough? South korea had a reforestation programme because their forests were gone in the war but today the peninsula is green again, i dont see why we should not be able to do something similar.Not in case of UK (and France, I believe).
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/oct/21/forests-conservation
Spain:
http://www.dw.com/en/spain-replants-after-centuries-of-deforestation/a-16774319
~ 180 trees per school. Does not sound very realistic, does it?
From the map above I see that Central and Eastern Anatolia are largely deforesteited. I know that the climate and the terrain there are not like in the areas around the sea or Northern Turkey where most of Turkey's forests are but isn't it possible to plant trees and grow forests in this areas too? I guess there should be some tree species which are suitable for those areas which will help to increase Turkey's tree cover.
Turkey will be some of the countries that will be hardly hit by the climate changes in the coming decades.
Very nice but is it enough? South korea had a reforestation programme because their forests were gone in the war but today the peninsula is green again, i dont see why we should not be able to do something similar.
But too slow to see a change if you ask me.Turkey's forests are growing actually.