Environmental impact assessment regulations in Turkey: Case study of Amasya province

In order to prevent environmental pollution and promote the efficient use of natural resources, environmental policies have been developed in our country in line with international developments. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulation, which came into effect for the first time in 1993, in accordance with the Environmental Law No. 2872 published in 1983, marked the beginning of the implementation of environmental policies in our country. This thesis study evaluates the current situation by conducting a statistical analysis of the EIA practices in Amasya province from 2000 onwards, in accordance with the EIA Regulations in effect from 1993 to the present day. Additionally, using data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) on provincial indicators, a comparison is made between the investments that received EIA decisions and the national calculations of gross domestic product (GDP) [GDP in thousand Turkish Lira, GDP per capita in US dollars, and GDP per capita in Turkish Lira]. The data for the thesis study was obtained by examining the EIA decisions available on the website of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, as well as the Amasya Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change. IBM SPSS Statistics 21 and Excel programs were used for data analysis. Frequency analysis and cross-tabulation analysis were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 21 program. Statistical analysis was conducted on a provincial and district level in Amasya, based on the data obtained in the study, considering variables such as EIA decision type, number of decisions, year, and sector information. According to the analysis based on the number of EIA decisions, between 2000 and 2022, a total of 368 (100%) EIA decisions were made regarding investments planned within the boundaries of Amasya province. Out of these, 34 (9%) were determined to have a positive EIA result, while 334 (91%) were deemed unnecessary for EIA. This analysis suggests that a significant number of projects within Amasya province were designed within the scope of the EIA Regulation Annex-2 list. According to the historical distribution of EIA decisions, the highest number of EIA decisions, accounting for 8% (31), was made in the year 2016. The highest percentage of positive EIA decisions was observed in 2017, with a rate of 21% (7). On the other hand, the highest percentage of EIA decisions indicating that it was unnecessary was recorded in the year 2016 with a rate of 9% (29). When analyzing the number of EIA decisions, it is observed that there have been fluctuations in the increase or decrease of decisions over the years. The decrease in the number of EIA decisions between 2019 and 2021 within the boundaries of Amasya province can be attributed to the measures taken in our country during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the whole world. The changes observed in other periods are considered to be shaped by investment needs and requirements. In the sector-based analysis of EIA decisions, it has been evaluated that the sector with the highest investment in Amasya province is the mining sector of Group I, II, and V, accounting for 50% (183) of the EIA decisions. Within the positive EIA decisions, the energy and water sectors account for 18%, while within the decisions indicating that EIA is unnecessary, the mining sector of Group I, II, and V constitutes 53% of the decisions. According to the overall assessment conducted based on the provincial indicators of TÜİK, despite the decrease in the number of EIA decisions over the years and the measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a continuous increase in the calculations of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in thousand Turkish Lira (TL) and GDP per capita in Turkish Lira (TL). According to the findings obtained from the thesis study, the potential environmental and social impacts that may arise in Amasya province due to the investments have been identified. Additionally, the aim of this thesis study is to provide guidance to decision-makers and investors during the decision-making process by utilizing the results in future planning at the provincial level and nationwide. It is intended to contribute to the decision-making process and provide insights for practitioners and investors in Amasya and beyond.