Environmental impacts of the Filyos Valley Project: Public opinions

The Filyos Valley Project (FVP) is a major industrial and port project in Zonguldak. The project aims to accelerate economic development, create employment and increase Turkey's foreign trade. The project, which consists of components such as Filyos Port, Industrial Zone and Free Zone, aims to increase economic growth and prosperity in the region. The FVP is an important project in line with Turkey's economic and strategic objectives, the foundations of which were laid during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid (1876-1909). Within the scope of the project, Filyos Port has been established and industrial facilities are in the process of establishment. Filyos has become an important centre for the processing and distribution of natural gas reserves discovered in the Black Sea in 2021. FVP, which was implemented with the decision of the Council of Ministers in 2012, was established on an area of 2 thousand hectares, 400 hectares of which is reserved for industrial facilities. Filyos Port has an annual cargo capacity of 25 million tonnes. With the discovery of natural gas in 2021, the importance of the port has increased even more. With the Industrial Zone Law No. 4737 (2002), land is allocated for projects in the public interest through expropriation. Filyos Industrial Zone (344 hectares) is established and managed according to the Industrial Zones Law No. 4737 (2002). This law provides a legal framework for the establishment, management and operation of industrial zones in Turkey. In addition to the positive effects of the Law, there are also some negative effects. The establishment and operation of industrial zones carries the risk of environmental pollution. This risk was the main reason for analysing the opinions of the local community on the project. The industrial zone is not yet fully operational and the foreseen investments have not yet been realised. The Filyos Port and Industrial Zone involves environmental risks during the establishment and operation phases. When adequate measures are not taken in waste management and emission control, problems such as air, water and soil pollution may arise. Site selection of industrial zones may cause destruction of natural habitats and decrease in biodiversity. Overpopulation and urbanisation problems may occur in areas where industrial zones are concentrated. This situation may lead to problems such as infrastructure inadequacies, housing shortage and inadequacy of social services. In order to minimise these negative impacts, it is important to conduct environmental impact assessments, adopt sustainable development principles and establish effective control mechanisms in the planning, establishment and operation of industrial zones. The Filyos Port and Industrial Zone involves environmental risks during the establishment and operation phases. When adequate measures are not taken in waste management and emission control, problems such as air, water and soil pollution may arise. Site selection of industrial zones may cause destruction of natural habitats and decrease in biodiversity. Overpopulation and urbanisation problems may occur in areas where industrial zones are concentrated. This situation may lead to problems such as infrastructure inadequacies, housing shortage and inadequacy of social services. In order to minimise these negative impacts, it is important to conduct environmental impact assessments, adopt sustainable development principles and establish effective control mechanisms during the planning, establishment and operation of industrial zones. Law No. 4737 on Industrial Zones (2002) stipulates that environmental impact assessments should be carried out during the planning, establishment and operation of industrial zones. Analysing the views of the local community plays an important role in the assessment of environmental risks. Public participation is critical to the transparency and acceptability of the project. A comprehensive assessment of the environmental impacts of the Project is necessary to prevent potential negative impacts. This study evaluates the environmental impact of the Filyos Valley Project through the opinions of local people by using a survey method. A total of 412 respondents living in settlements close to the project area were surveyed. The survey questions were designed to measure opinions on the potential environmental impacts of the project such as air and water quality, deforestation, soil fertility and noise pollution. The findings revealed that local people were concerned about the environmental impact of the Project. The data were analysed using statistical analysis methods in SPSS software. The results show that respondents were particularly concerned about deforestation and water pollution. 68% of the respondents think that the project has a negative impact on water resources. These findings reveal the necessity of conducting environmental impact assessment processes in a more participatory and transparent manner. This study provides a basis for future research as it demonstrates the importance of considering the views of local people in similar development projects.