Not only the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, but also the former Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Public Works, the former Ministry of Public works and Ministry of Development and Housing, operating under a separate manner, including the earliest Ministry of Public Works served for our country in the past with major contributions.
Ministry of Public Works
Starting its operations and services under the name of “Nafıa Nezareti” (Ministry of Public Works in Ottoman Turkish Language), the Ministry of Public Works has been commissioned to carry out any kind civil engineering works for the government offices and institutions, along with building railways, ports, highways and bridges, founding and operating PTT facilities, regulating water affairs pursuant to the law no.: 2443 dated as 26.04.1934.
Founded in 1958 pursuant to the law no.: 7116, Ministry of Development and Housing has been commissioned to perform the planning works for regions, cities, towns and villages, to address the matters within the scope of housing policies and construction materials, to take the measures deemed required for both post and pre-natural disaster processes, to establish the urban infrastructure, as well as regulating the relations with the municipalities.
The foundation and duties of the Ministry of Development and Housing have been reconstituted pursuant to the law no.: 1609 dated as 13.07.1972. After being merged with the Ministry of Development and Housing pursuant to the decree no.: 180 dated as 13.12.1983, it was named as Ministry of Public Works.
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
The provisions of various codes concerning the conservation of environment had been applied by various ministries and institutions concerning their fields of activities up until 1970s. The first independent establishment emerged with constituting the “Coordination Committee for Environmental Problems” pursuant to the Cabinet Decree no.: 7/5836 dated as 12.02.1973. This committee was transformed to “Coordination Committee for Environmental Affairs” pursuant to the Decree no.: 7/8329 dated as 16.04.1974.
“Prime Ministry Environmental Organization” was established pursuant to the Cabinet Decree no.: 7/16041 dated as 27.07.1978 with the objective to determine the main policies oriented at the conservation of the environment, to prepare the plans and projects accordingly, to ensure the coordination with the ministries and institutions while putting such plans and projects into practice. The Environmental Law no.: 2872, dated as 09.08.1983, entered into force with the objective to address the environmental matters in our country under a holistic manner. The Directorate General for the Environment was established pursuant to the Decree no.: 222 dated as 08.06.1984 in a manner acting as a legal entity, thus being an institution with annexed budget, and it was commissioned to implement the requirements of the Environmental Law.
The level of environmental organization was increased to Under-secretariat with the decree no.: 389 concerning the Foundation and Duties of the Under-secretariat of Environmental Affairs.
As another institution concerning the conservation of environment, “Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas”, acting as a legal entity, was established pursuant to the decree no.: 383, affiliated to the Prime Ministry.
The Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas has been affiliated to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization pursuant to the Memorandum on Changing the affiliated institutions of certain organizations”, which was published on the Official Gazette no.: 27988, dated as 08.07.2011.
The Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas has been ceased of operations pursuant to the “Decree no.: 648 concerning the Organization and Duties of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, and the decree on making certain amendments in the relevant codes and decrees”, which was published on the Official Gazette no.: 28028 dated as 17.08.2011, while the Directorate General for Preservation of Natural Heritage was established pursuant to the same decree. This Directorate was organized with the approval no.: B.09,0.SGB.0.10–010–06/2239 of the Ministry, dated as 18.08.2011.
Founding the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization
The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization was founded pursuant to the Decree no.: 644 concerning the Organization and Duties of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, which was published on the Official Gazette no.: 27984 dated as 04.07.2011.
Gathering the environmental aspects of the Abolished Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Abolished Ministry of Public Works under a single roof, the duties, powers and responsibilities of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization have been strengthened with the Decree no.: 648, which was published on the Official Gazette no.: 28028, dated as 17.08.2011.
The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization played a critical role in terms of preserving the environmental values, as well as urbanization matters in line with the 2023 vision of our country.
The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization was constituted with the objectives to draw up the required legislation concerning the settlement areas, environment and the settlement process itself, to carry out the urban transformation works & studies, to carry out inspection on the relevant practices, to ensure the improvement of vocational services, to prevent environmental pollution and to protect both our environment and the nature.
The organization, duties and powers of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization have been restructured with the Presidential Decree no.: 1 concerning the Presidential Organization, dated as 10.07.2018, and the Ministry has been structured in a manner comprising of the central and provincial organizations, along with the affiliated, relevant and connected institutions.
With the transition to the Presidential Government System, TOKİ (Housing Development Administration) Directorate, Emlak Katılım Bankası, Directorate General of National Property, along with the newly established General Directorate of Local Authorities have been affiliated to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.