Is Latmos’ Ancient Beauty at Risk? Expats Rally Against Mining Project

A new legal battle has begun to protect the historic Latmos (Beşparmak) Mountains from a proposed mining project. Learn why this fight for environmental and cultural heritage matters to expats in Akbük and Didim.

For those of us who have made Akbük and Didim our home for two decades, the Latmos Mountains, often referred to locally as Beşparmak Dağları or ‘Five Finger Mountains’, are far more than just a stunning backdrop to our daily lives; they are a living testament to thousands of years of history, a sanctuary of biodiversity, and a crucial part of our region’s natural charm. It is with a heavy heart, therefore, that I report on a new legal challenge that has emerged concerning proposed mining activities in and around this irreplaceable natural wonder, lying on the borders of Aydın and Muğla provinces.

A significant legal process has commenced against a planned quarry and crushing-screening plant project initiated by Bıçakçılar Madencilik Petrol Ürünleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (Bıçakçılar Mining Petroleum Products Industry and Trade Inc.) in the Söke district. The Aydın Governorship’s environmental decision, which approved the project, is now being contested in court by the Latmos Platform, representing three plaintiffs from the Yeşilköy and Karacahayıt neighbourhoods.

The Heart of the Legal Challenge

The lawsuit, filed at the Aydın Administrative Court, seeks the cancellation and suspension of the Governorship’s decision. According to a statement from the Latmos Platform, the legal petition, prepared by lawyer Mehmet Çilsal, argues that the decision permitting the project, which is set to impact Yeşilköy, Karacahayıt, Serçin, and Köprüalan neighbourhoods in Söke, is unlawful.

The contentious project, spanning an operational license area of 1551.52 hectares, involves a “Quarry, Crushing-Screening Plant, Revised Transport Route Change, and Blasting Pattern Change Project”. The plaintiffs are demanding the annulment of the Aydın Governorship’s decision, issued under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulation, and an immediate halt to its implementation until the lawsuit concludes.

Insufficient Environmental Assessment?

A key argument in the lawsuit states that while the project plans to alter blasting methods and increase the volume of extracted material, these changes were merely evaluated through a Project Introduction File (PTD), which the plaintiffs deem insufficient. They contend that the project should have been subjected to a full-scale Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, as per the Ek-1 list of the EIA Regulation, requiring a comprehensive EIA Report. The failure to do so, they argue, renders the current approval flawed.

Furthermore, the petition highlights significant omissions in the Project Introduction File. It claims that despite parts of the project area falling within the administrative boundaries of Serçin and Köprüalan neighbourhoods, these communities were not included in the environmental assessment, leading to an incomplete impact analysis.

Proximity to Precious Ecosystems and Communities

The plaintiffs underscore the alarming proximity of the proposed mining site to residential areas, noting it is as close as 750 metres to Yeşilköy and 350 metres to Karacahayıt. Moreover, the project area is situated just 1.65 kilometres from the globally significant Bafa Lake and approximately 1.8 kilometres from Azap Lake. The lawsuit asserts that the potential environmental impacts on these vital ecosystems and local communities necessitate a far more detailed and rigorous examination.

The legal documents also reveal that the project site is located in areas designated as “forest land” and “agricultural land” within the Aydın-Muğla-Denizli Planning Region 1/100,000 Scale Environmental Layout Plan. This designation further strengthens the argument against industrial exploitation.

To prevent what they describe as difficult or impossible to repair damages, the plaintiffs are seeking the cancellation of the Aydın Governorship’s decision and a suspension of its execution until the legal proceedings are finalised. The Latmos Platform has publicly stated its commitment to closely monitoring the judicial process.

Latmos: Home of the Storm God and Ancient Wonders

The cultural footprint of Latmos stretches back to the Neolithic period, making it one of Anatolia’s most sacred mountains. Its highest peak, Tekerlek Dağ, was revered as the ‘Home of the Storm God’ – known as Tarhunt during the Hittite era and later as Zeus in ancient times. Ancient Greek mythology also ties these mountains to the cave where the Moon Goddess Selene was believed to hide her beloved young shepherd and hunter, Endymion.

During the Christian era, the Latmos region became a favoured retreat for monasteries due to its secluded and peaceful environment. The earliest known archaeological findings in Latmos are rock paintings dating back 7-8 thousand years. Since their discovery in 1994 by Anneliese Peschlow-Bindokat, over 170 distinct rock paintings have been documented, a number expected to grow with future research. These Latmos rock paintings are considered among the most significant prehistoric discoveries in Anatolia. For years, there has been an ongoing campaign to declare the region a national park and a geopark, a move that would provide much-needed protection for this invaluable heritage.

Yazar: Jonathan