Deforested land sales reach 40,000 in Antalya

ANTALYA - Anatolia News Agency

Kaş, a famous destination in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, attracts thousands of tourists every year. The province is seeing a boom in deforested land sales. Hürriyet photo

Applications regarding deforested land, also known as 2-B land, sales in the southern province of Antalya have reached nearly 40,000, Antalya Provincial Treasurer Hidayet Mat said yesterday in a written statement.

The application period for 2-B land sales started on May 7. According to Mat, 2-B land users have the chance to obtain deeds in a very beneficial way.

As of Sept. 4, the highest number of applications for acquiring 2-B lands has been in Antalya, Mat said.
A law was recently enacted that paved the way to sell deforested land. The law has been controversial, as some feel it is certain to lead to more deforestation.

There are about 500,000 blocks on sale with an application deadline on October 30, Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek had said in May. The rights-holders will lose their rights if they run late in applications in six months, he said.