grounded on different legal arrangements, leading to managerial issues in their
implementation. Using the different policies of different institutions to manage
protected areas hinders the establishment of coherent standards and rules.
In the restructuring process, the institutional structure of environmental protection has been completely changed. The former Special Environmental Protection
Agency (EPASA), responsible for Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA)
sites, has been reformed under the new Ministry of Environment and Urbanization
as the General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection (GDNAP) in combination
with the branch of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism responsible for protected
natural sites (the number of which is estimated to be 1265). In addition, the former
Ministry of Environment and Forestry has been reformed as the Ministry of
Forestry and Water Affairs, under which is the General Directorate of Nature
Protection and National Parks, which is responsible for national parks and other
similar protected areas. In this sense, Turkey has two structures under two separate
ministries responsible for natural protected areas. The types of protected areas under
each are significantly different, as SEPAs, SITs and national parks all have a
different scope, rationale, and level of protection. The Environmental Protection
Agency for Special Areas (EPASA) was effectively dismantled, with staff reassigned to new duties under the General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection in
2011. This institutional restructuring is still on the agenda at the time of the
mid-term evaluation, and thus there is still a fundamental conflict related to the
authorised institution.
4.5.4 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Authority
The authorized administrative body in the EIA process, which includes scoping,
final assessment and decision-making, is the Ministry of Environment and
Urbanization. In accordance with the Presidential Decree (Article 97), the Ministry
of Environment and Urbanization has the authority and responsibility for “the
environmental impact assessment of any facility or activity which generates or
carries the potential to generate pollution by releasing wastes in the form of solid,
liquid and gas into the receiving environments”. In order to undertake this
responsibility, the General Directorate of Environmental Impact Assessment,
Permission and Inspection has been established as one of the main service units of
the Ministry.
3
The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization is responsible for administering
various phases required by the EIA. The Ministry makes the decision in relation to
the Environmental Impact Assessment of military projects as well, having received
3
The responsibilities of the General Directorate regulated in Article 104 of the Presidental Decree
include performing the environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment,
making the required decisions, monitoring and controlling.
4 Environmental Administration in Turkey
71
implementation. Using the different policies of different institutions to manage
protected areas hinders the establishment of coherent standards and rules.
In the restructuring process, the institutional structure of environmental protection has been completely changed. The former Special Environmental Protection
Agency (EPASA), responsible for Special Environmental Protection Area (SEPA)
sites, has been reformed under the new Ministry of Environment and Urbanization
as the General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection (GDNAP) in combination
with the branch of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism responsible for protected
natural sites (the number of which is estimated to be 1265). In addition, the former
Ministry of Environment and Forestry has been reformed as the Ministry of
Forestry and Water Affairs, under which is the General Directorate of Nature
Protection and National Parks, which is responsible for national parks and other
similar protected areas. In this sense, Turkey has two structures under two separate
ministries responsible for natural protected areas. The types of protected areas under
each are significantly different, as SEPAs, SITs and national parks all have a
different scope, rationale, and level of protection. The Environmental Protection
Agency for Special Areas (EPASA) was effectively dismantled, with staff reassigned to new duties under the General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection in
2011. This institutional restructuring is still on the agenda at the time of the
mid-term evaluation, and thus there is still a fundamental conflict related to the
authorised institution.
4.5.4 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Authority
The authorized administrative body in the EIA process, which includes scoping,
final assessment and decision-making, is the Ministry of Environment and
Urbanization. In accordance with the Presidential Decree (Article 97), the Ministry
of Environment and Urbanization has the authority and responsibility for “the
environmental impact assessment of any facility or activity which generates or
carries the potential to generate pollution by releasing wastes in the form of solid,
liquid and gas into the receiving environments”. In order to undertake this
responsibility, the General Directorate of Environmental Impact Assessment,
Permission and Inspection has been established as one of the main service units of
the Ministry.
3
The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization is responsible for administering
various phases required by the EIA. The Ministry makes the decision in relation to
the Environmental Impact Assessment of military projects as well, having received
3
The responsibilities of the General Directorate regulated in Article 104 of the Presidental Decree
include performing the environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment,
making the required decisions, monitoring and controlling.
4 Environmental Administration in Turkey
71