Muğla Commodity Exchange (MTB), Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MUTSO), Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FTSO), Bodrum Chamber of Commerce (BODTO), Marmaris Chamber of Commerce (MTO), and Milas Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MİTSO) issued a joint statement expressing concern that the omnibus law, known to the public as the 'Olive Law', which includes allowing industrial, mining, and energy projects in olive grove areas, will harm agricultural production areas of strategic importance.

Pointing out that olive trees, which have existed for thousands of years in the fertile lands of Muğla, are not only an agricultural product but also one of the cornerstones of culture, history, and economy, the statement included the expressions, "Our olive groves are one of the most valuable legacies we will leave to future generations, our most important natural assets."

It was emphasized in the statement that olive trees are the symbol of life, abundance, and fertility in Muğla, and that the destruction of olive trees and fields would cause great harm to a tradition of thousands of years and the labor of thousands of people.

The joint statement made by Muğla Chambers and Exchange on the subject is as follows;

"With the omnibus law accepted in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information and Technology Commission and expected to be discussed in the General Assembly of the Assembly, the issue of moving olive trees in areas where mining will be carried out to another area in the same province or district if possible, and if moving the trees is not possible, establishing new olive grove areas of equivalent size in line with expert opinions has come to the agenda.

As Muğla Chambers and Exchange, we are deeply concerned that Muğla forests and olive grove areas will be damaged if the law comes into force in this way. Turkey's leading environmental platforms state that opinions that 'olive trees can be moved' lack scientific basis, that this process can only be applied successfully under very limited conditions, and widely...