A final chance to save coasts
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 11, 2009 00:00
It’s an old story: an untrammeled region known only to a handful of fishermen is "discovered." In a matter of one or two decades, all the virtues are ravaged by those attracted to them. Spain’s Mallorca is perhaps the best example of this cycle of destruction. Italy’s island of Capri is another
At least half the European Union’s Mediterranean coastline is now paved with concrete, according to the European Environmental Agency, or EEA. The worst has been Spain, Portugal and France. Much of Spain’s Costa Brava is "beyond the point of no return," its former delights trashed in the rush to cash in hotel development, golf and retirement homes. The crash in land values and the threat to future tourism is just one result; the cost in environmental destruction is all but incalculable.
So it is a sad irony that Turkey, Malta and Croatia have been held up as regions spared this plight that could learn from the mistakes of others and develop coastal resources in a sustainable way. It is ironic because such foresight is in short supply.
As we reported yesterday, the iconic city of Bodrum has gone from sleepy village to urban fiasco in the space of four decades. Naturally, what land remains for development is largely in government hands. And on May 11, a Cabinet decision effectively put the entire north end of the Bodrum peninsula up for grabs. Arbitrage of the differential between the cost of a lease from the state and the return on an upscale resort is a market force that is hard to stop. But it is tragic, as the true costs of such development ultimately fall on the public, long after the original developer has departed, infrastructure has collapsed, wetlands have perished, and paradise has been paved over.
Bodrum may have a fighting chance to save itself. An aggressive mayor and strong civil society sector are planning to take the decision to court, where they have prevailed in the past. But many areas without such enlightened local leadership have already succumbed. Nearby Kuşadası more resembles a Soviet labor camp than a holiday destination. Coastal areas near Mersin are no better. Much of Antalya is a disaster waiting to happen.
What should happen is development of a comprehensive national plan for coastal development. It should be tough, fair and yes, some land in government hands probably should be opened to development. But such development should proceed amid transparency, accountability and conformity with EU guidelines on what Brussels calls "integrated coastal-zone management."
Such planning is easily within Turkey’s grasp. The technical capacity exists within state and local organizations, and public awareness of the need is well established. Leadership that seizes this last moment of opportunity will be remembered by future generations. Politicians who fail to do so will be punished by this generation.
So it is a sad irony that Turkey, Malta and Croatia have been held up as regions spared this plight that could learn from the mistakes of others and develop coastal resources in a sustainable way. It is ironic because such foresight is in short supply.
As we reported yesterday, the iconic city of Bodrum has gone from sleepy village to urban fiasco in the space of four decades. Naturally, what land remains for development is largely in government hands. And on May 11, a Cabinet decision effectively put the entire north end of the Bodrum peninsula up for grabs. Arbitrage of the differential between the cost of a lease from the state and the return on an upscale resort is a market force that is hard to stop. But it is tragic, as the true costs of such development ultimately fall on the public, long after the original developer has departed, infrastructure has collapsed, wetlands have perished, and paradise has been paved over.
Bodrum may have a fighting chance to save itself. An aggressive mayor and strong civil society sector are planning to take the decision to court, where they have prevailed in the past. But many areas without such enlightened local leadership have already succumbed. Nearby Kuşadası more resembles a Soviet labor camp than a holiday destination. Coastal areas near Mersin are no better. Much of Antalya is a disaster waiting to happen.
What should happen is development of a comprehensive national plan for coastal development. It should be tough, fair and yes, some land in government hands probably should be opened to development. But such development should proceed amid transparency, accountability and conformity with EU guidelines on what Brussels calls "integrated coastal-zone management."
Such planning is easily within Turkey’s grasp. The technical capacity exists within state and local organizations, and public awareness of the need is well established. Leadership that seizes this last moment of opportunity will be remembered by future generations. Politicians who fail to do so will be punished by this generation.