Waters to protect
The Bosphorus Strait, through which dozens of fish species migrate every year to the northern Black Sea, is a rich ecosystem. The most abundant species is the anchovy. Some dolphins are sometimes observed. But pollution and destructive fishing practices negatively impact this environment. Each year, about 60,000 ships pass through the Strait, dumping waste and fuel. In addition, 38% of Turkish industry is located in Istanbul, polluting the air and water. For years, these factories have deliberately discharged their wastewater into the sea. Similarly, wastewater from homes has long been discharged directly into nature. Since the 2010s, this wastewater has been treated in factories before being discharged. But these treatments only remove large particles and the water remains dirty. We would not advise you to take a dip in the Bosphorus canal, nor in the Sea of Marmara, even if some Stamboulians do it.
A favorable climate
The region of Istanbul has a vegetation very close to that of the Mediterranean (fruit trees, olive trees, vines), with a climate tempered by the presence of the Black Sea and the absence of mountainous barriers. These conditions are conducive to a great botanical wealth. More than 2,000 species of plants have been identified. The most abundant trees are oaks, chestnuts and birches. On the edge of the city, the province of Istanbul is home to the Belgrade forest, where there are many white and Hungarian oaks. In terms of fauna, at least 71 species of birds and 18 species of mammals, including the wolf, the golden jackal and the fox, have been observed in this same forest. However, in urban areas, apart from domestic animals and numerous stray cats, it is rare to come across mammals.
Places to walk
Istanbul is one of the cities with the least amount of green space: 5.98 square meters per capita, or 2.2% of its total area. Air quality is very poor and is deteriorated by heavy traffic jams (Istanbulites spend 157 hours per year in traffic jams according to the INRIX 2018 Global Traffic Scorecard) and many other factors mentioned above. At the same time, the population and the number of vehicles keep growing, thus increasing traffic jams. We can nevertheless observe, with optimism, that for several years the municipality has been working to improve the banks of the Sea of Marmara. Thus, a green corridor over tens of kilometers has been built in the district of Kadıköy. Caddebostan Park, which is located on this road, is very popular with the people of Istanbul. They come here to picnic, run, or just lounge on the grass and enjoy the view.
Another popular green space is Emirgan Park, with an area of 470,000 square meters, is one of the largest in the city. The view of the Bosphorus is sublime. Hiking trails and jogging paths allow you to walk between small lakes and numerous varieties of trees. If you look up, you might even see a few parrots. The Tulip Festival is held here every year.
In 2020, the Atatürk Kent Ormanı project came into being, it is one of the major projects set up by the new municipality. It is a huge area of 110 hectares including a 12 km trail and a lake. It brings to the city a real breath of fresh air.
You will also enjoy the walking paths of Gülhane Park, or "Rose Garden Park", one of the oldest in the city.
Contested development projects
Concrete and pollution to the test of new generations... as illustrated by the opening of the new airport, at the end of 2018, built on a space that once housed a forest. It required the felling of 13 million trees. Ultimately, it is supposed to accommodate 200 million travelers each year by 2028. The 2013 protest movement, known as "Taksim Square," was initiated by environmentalists who opposed the concreteization of Gezi Park, one of the only green spaces in the eponymous neighborhood. If the mobilization then spread to other claims more generally anti-government, it shows the interest of the population for these issues and the project to build a shopping mall in this place is now on hold. But this does not prevent President Erdoğan from maintaining his highly controversial Kanal Istanbul project, a colossal project to dig a canal between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara that would cost $15 billion. Public opinion is not convinced by this project, which would represent a real environmental threat. This protest is supported by the current mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoğlu, elected in 2019 on a more progressive and ecological program than his predecessor. An opportunity to change the game?
