Environmentalists protest tramway construction in Istanbul's Belgrade Forest

A group of environmentalists on Jan. 29 protested the planned construction of a tramway line that is expected to tear through Istanbul's Belgrade Forest, Doğan News Agency has reported.

The North Forests Defense Platform, a civil society group, had gathered to protest against the tramway construction, saying that the project was not a nostalgic one, as said, but instead was an act of pillage.  

Elif Köklü, an environmentalist who made a statement on behalf of the North Forests Defense Platform, said the Belgrade Forest was undergoing severe danger, noting that it stands as the only remaining forest on the European side of Istanbul. 

"The tramway project that is expected to start from the Golden Horn, cross over the Cendere River and extend as far as to the Kemerburgaz district, cannot be allowed," she said.

She said the project would tear apart the forest and lead to deforestation, noting that many trees had already been marked for destruction.

Köklü said they had asked the Istanbul Municipality about the project but had not received a response yet. 
 
The tramway line could stretch as far as 6.5 kilometers, according to Köklü.  

Selma Kambur, another protestor, said she stood against the project because she believed the construction could be an invitation for tenders and renting in the forest. 

The protestors carried banners that said "Hands off Belgrade Forest" and walked through the forest.

Earlier in December, 2016, environmentalists on social media had expressed fury that a dozen of trees had been marked for destruction. While the North Forests Defense Platform had known then that the marking was done for the railway line between the Golden Horn and Kemerburgaz. The Istanbul...