Gülersoy, Çelik. İstanbul’un Anıtsal Ağaçları, I, Rumeli Kavağı- Kağıthane Arası. İstanbul: Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu, 1984, 157pp.
ABSTRACT
Historic Trees of Istanbul, Rumeli Kavağı to Kağıthane (1)
İstanbul’un Anıtsal Ağaçları, I, Rumeli Kavağı- Kağıthane Arası
As part of the measures taken by the state for the preservation of trees in Turkey, this study aims to record existing trees in a certain part of Istanbul. The author indicates the locations, types and sizes of historic trees in the area between Rumeli Kavağı and Kağıthane, and provides numerous photographs.
The book talks about the ways in which trees were utilised indiscriminately for human survival in antiquity, and how this understanding started to change from the mid-nineteenth century onwards with the emergence of ideas towards the protection of nature and historic trees. The author makes references to capitalist and industrial developments in Europe and demonstrates how these led to a distancing of man from nature and the destruction of nature outside of city centres. He also refers to the social movements that emerged in Europe, as a reaction to the threats posed to nature.
The author laments the fact that no previous study has focused on the trees of Istanbul; he sees it as a major shortcoming that the relationship between society and nature in Turkey has not yet been explored. He emphasises the fact that Turkish society had valued nature immensely in the olden days; however, this understanding has changed, as destructive attitudes towards nature took hold.
While the author states the long period of warfare from the end of the nineteenth century to the start of the First World War as a reason for that, he also says that the unchecked urban growth that started in the 1950s, the demolition of historical monuments in the city in order to make way for new buildings, the rising population along with its housing needs, and the uninformed building plans led to the destruction of nature in Istanbul.
This is one of the rarest books on Istanbul printed in the 1980’s discussing environmental issues.
Feryal Tansuğ
Translated by Aysu Dincer
