The Izmir Metropolitan Municipality aims to prevent carbon emissions from traffic and create an uninterrupted green corridor with the comprehensive afforestation campaign it has launched throughout the city. Tree and plant planting work has begun at the Çiğli Intersection, one of the largest stages of this important project. A total of 26 thousand trees and thousands of bushes will be planted in the 187 thousand square meter area, the size of approximately 3 football fields, at this critical point used by thousands of vehicles every day, to give it a lush green appearance.
Uninterrupted Green Corridors Are Being Created with the Aim of “A Greener Izmir”
The “Greener Izmir” project, implemented by the Parks and Gardens Department under the leadership of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, aims to connect existing green areas within the city with uninterrupted green corridors. With this strategic approach, parks, gardens and green axes all around the city will create a natural integrity, providing both visual richness and contributing to the ecological balance. The afforestation work initiated at the Çiğli Intersection stands out as an important step towards this great goal.
Çiğli Junction is a Strategic Point
Bilge Düzgün, the Landscape Architect of the Northern Areas Maintenance Branch Directorate of the Parks and Gardens Department, emphasized that the Çiğli Bridge Junction is in a critical position connecting different neighborhoods in and around the city. Stating that their aim is to create green corridors by connecting the green texture within the city with such large-scale afforestation works, Düzgün said that they will carry out intensive afforestation work in the project for this reason. He added that plant species that are suitable for İzmir’s climate conditions, resistant to drought and require little maintenance were preferred in the project. Düzgün stated that the aim is to complete all afforestation and landscaping work in the Çiğli Bridge Junction in approximately two months. He added that they plan to carry out intensive afforestation work primarily in large-scale highway areas throughout İzmir.
Afforestation Works Will Reduce Carbon Emissions and Noise Pollution
The planting works carried out at the Çiğli Overpass Junction will contribute significantly to reducing environmental problems such as carbon emissions and noise pollution caused by road traffic. Trees and shrubs will increase air quality by absorbing harmful gases in the air, while also increasing the quality of life in the area by absorbing noise. Within the scope of the project, 322 trees and 3 shrubs have been planted in the Çiğli Overpass Junction area so far. In the next two months, a total of 280 trees and thousands of shrubs are planned to meet the soil.
Species Suitable for Climatic Conditions Are Used in the Landscape
In landscaping works, tree species that are suitable for Izmir's climate and have a long life span are preferred. In this context, in addition to durable trees such as Plane Tree, Ash Maple, Cypress, species such as Ornamental Pear are also used to add visual richness. While the lower parts of the trees are arranged as meadows, shrub species such as Cotoneaster, Juniper, Vitex and Indian Buttercup that require less water and maintenance are preferred around the trees. In this way, both an aesthetic appearance will be created and efficient use of water resources will be ensured. This environmentally sensitive project of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality is considered an important step towards carrying the city to a more livable and sustainable future.
