04.11.2026 11:41
YENİ Party Ardahan MP Özgür Erdem İncesu made a harsh statement, bringing the tree cuttings carried out in the city's forests under the name of "rejuvenation" to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey through a parliamentary question and stating that they are concerned that the cut areas will be turned into mining sites tomorrow.
Özgür Erdem İncesu, Ardahan MP from the NEW Party, brought the tree-cutting activities carried out in the forested areas of Ardahan and the accompanying environmental destruction to the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) with a parliamentary question he submitted.
“MASS CUTTINGS CONTINUE UNDER THE NAME OF REJUVENATION”
Stating that they have been struggling for three years to protect the forests of Ardahan, MP Özgür Erdem İncesu drew attention to the fact that the cuttings have not stopped despite the parliamentary questions and research motions they submitted to the Assembly. Making harsh warnings in his statement, İncesu used the following expressions: “For three years we have been crying out for Köprülü, Samandöken, Canibeg and all our forests in Ardahan! We warn, we follow, we submit parliamentary questions to the Assembly, and with research motions we bring this country’s justified concerns onto Turkey’s agenda! So, what changes? Mass cuttings continue under the name of rejuvenation!”
“SAPLINGS ARE BEING DESTROYED BY BEING CRUSHED”
Emphasizing that newly growing saplings are also damaged during cutting and transport operations, İncesu continued his statement as follows: “Moreover, while the cut trees are dragged and transported for kilometers, hundreds of newly rooted saplings are also crushed and destroyed during this transport. On the one hand, you say you are rejuvenating the forest; on the other hand, you are killing the future of the forest before it even sprouts.”
“WILL THEY BE CONVERTED INTO MINING SITES?”
Stating that they have serious concerns that the areas stripped of trees may be opened to mining activities in the future, İncesu from the NEW Party called on the authorities: “Another important concern of ours is that these areas, which are being thinned and stripped of trees today, will be transformed into mining sites tomorrow. Could it be that, after these works that are destroying our forests piece by piece today, you will pave the way for mining activities in the same areas tomorrow? If you want to say that this concern of ours is unfounded, give the public a clear and explicit assurance. Because the Göle Samandöken forests are not just trees to be cut; they are the natural heritage of these lands, the water sources, and the living spaces we will leave to future generations. We will not stand by while our forests are first thinned and then used for other purposes. Take your hands off our forests, off the nature of Ardahan, off this country!”