The olive tree has been the symbol of Milas region in Muğla, Turkey since the Carian civilization, and the people of Milas have been cultivating olives for 4000 years. Today, Milas is known as the capital of olives and olive oil in Turkey.
“The eternal tree” is a part of Anatolia’s culture; it is a heritage that should be preserved and passed on to future generations. Despite this, two coal power plants have been poisoning Milas and coal mining activities have been destroying people’s livelihoods for the last 40 years.
The report, “Transition Opportunity for Local Economy: Olive Sector in Milas, Muğla, Turkey”, underlines that it is possible to develop the local economy without relying on polluters. The report shows how investments in olive production could be accelerated by the state subsidies that are granted to the two coal power plants in Milas over the course of just one year. And that if the necessary promotion and certification processes are implemented, the value of olive oil could increase from 0.4 million Euro to 5.7 million Euro at 2021 prices.
Today, defenders of this ancient tree (notably İkizköy villagers) are resisting coal expansion to protect the past, present, and future of Milas. Watch the story of the eternal tree and join the fight against the polluters in Milas.
