Expert Report Warns Canal Istanbul Will Irreversibly Damage Water Sources and Forests
kanal istanbul
A new court-ordered expert report has raised serious alarms over Türkiye’s controversial Canal Istanbul project, stating it will permanently destroy critical water reservoirs and ecological zones around Istanbul. According to the report submitted to the Istanbul 4th Administrative Court, the megaproject is “incompatible with urban planning principles and the public interest.”
Prepared by a panel of seven independent experts, the report concluded unanimously that the proposed land use plan changes for Canal Istanbul would deactivate the Sazlıdere Dam, gradually render the Terkos Lake dysfunctional, and inflict lasting ecological harm on the Şamlar Forest.
Water Crisis Warning
According to the report, the Marmara Basin—where Istanbul lies—is already experiencing critical levels of water scarcity. “This project will severely disrupt the already fragile water balance,” the experts warned.
The team further highlighted that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report failed to clarify strategies for waste management and pollution control, increasing the risk of air, soil, and water contamination. It also criticized the lack of any concrete environmental restoration plan, stressing that replanting trees cannot compensate for the destruction of mature forest ecosystems.
Agricultural Land and Villagers at Risk
The report noted that over 4,674 hectares of prime agricultural land and 2,491 hectares of forest along the canal route are under threat. Perhaps more concerning is the potential displacement of local villagers, as no on-site resettlement or social planning measures have been developed.
“This means rural populations are being left to their fate,” the report noted, accusing authorities of ignoring the social costs of the project.
The expert panel concluded that the current form of the Canal Istanbul zoning plan is inconsistent with urban planning techniques, ecological balance, and the long-term public good—raising new legal and ethical questions about the future of one of Türkiye’s most polarizing megaprojects.