An Examination of the Environmental Impacts of Mega Projects on Rural Areas: A Case Study of Two Villages in the South Marmara Region of Türkiye

Abstract

Mega projects are investments that make significant changes to land use structures and have the potential to cause major damage to the natural environment. Their impact is often discussed in relation to cities. However, they are much more fragile in rural areas. In Turkey, these projects are primarily located in the Marmara Region and encompass a series of initiatives aimed at creating a transportation corridor within the ‘Golden Ring’ framework and promoting the decentralisation of industry in the region. The study will examine the rural areas of Yalova and Bursa in terms of the environmental impacts of mega projects. The reason for conducting the study in these rural areas is that the large investments are located at the intersection and focal point of these areas. In this study, qualitative and quantitative data methods will be used in combination to concretely reveal how rural areas that are critical in economic, ecological and social terms have undergone a process of change over the last 10 years as a result of mega projects, and what effects this may have in the future.