Beritan Canözer / JINHA

DERSİM - 60 villages and 42 thousand hectares of area will be destroyed if dam, cyanide gold mining and HES projects are put into practice in Munzur Valley. "Don't let Munzur be destroyed," said 11-year-old Ronahi.

Five out of 26 of HES projects have been put into practice in Munzur Valley where is holy for Dersim people. As endemic plants and creatures in the valley have faced high risk of extinction due to these five dams, the remaining 21 dams have been planned to be built. One of the biggest threats to nature and Dersim people is cyanide gold mining. According to studies done by ecologists, 60 villages will be remained under water if dam, HES and cyanide gold mining projects have been put into practice. The most important plant area Munzur has 42 thousand hectares and 1518 plant variety. 43 of these plants are only available in Dersim area. Cyanide gold mining project has continued in Cevizlidere-Sin Mamlis triangle which covers a large part of Dersim geography.

Dersim people have organized many actions and protests against these projects so far. They react to these projects in their lands and life. 11-year-old Ronahi calls on adults to save Munzur: "Yes, the state attacks on our nature, it wants to destroy our nature despite of these, we don't protect our nature. We don't want our villages to be destroyed. Dersim is such beautiful place and we don't want it becomes a decayed city. Let's save Munzur and keep it beautiful."

(mm/hu/dk/gd)