ICA adds 3.7 million trees and plants to Istanbul's nature

Carrying out on Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and Northern Peripheral Highway the largest forestation effort in the history of the Republic in the private sector, ICA continues to make the space under the viaducts green. Once the forestation efforts of Viaduct 23 at Northern Peripheral Highway Riva region, has been completed, 6,000 more saplings will be introduced to the nature.

İçtaş Astaldi consortium ICA is carrying out the largest forestation effort in the history of the Republic in the private sector, on Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and Northern Peripheral Highway. Having planted 3 million and 710 thousand trees and plants in 3,5 years, ICA held a forestation ceremony under Viaduct 23 located at Northern Peripheral Highway Riva region in pursuit of its goal to make the space under the viaducts green.

Istanbul Regional Director of Forestry Recep Ateş, Beykoz Mahmut Şevket Paşa Village Secondary School students, and ICA employees attended the forestation event held on 4 May, Thursday by ICA General Manager Atilla Gökçe. 

ICA aims to plant 5 million and 100 thousand trees and plants in and around Istanbul and on the Northern Peripheral Highway route, once it has completed its forestation investments.

Giving a speech at the forestation ceremony, Istanbul Regional Director of Forestry Recep Ateş said: "When the construction work for Northern Marmara Highway began, we signed a protocol with ICA to guarantee forestation along the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and Northern Peripheral Highway. ICA, so far, has planted 3 million and 710 thousand trees and plants. By the end of this project, ICA will have planted 5 million and 100 thousand trees and plants. As a result, Northern Peripheral Highway will be greener and the viaducts will have every tone of grey."
"The space under the viaducts are being made greener with the saplings planted by the students"

Speaking at the event, ICA General Manager Atilla Gökçe said: "Previous year, in November, in addition to all our forestation efforts, we took the first step towards making the space under the viaducts green and held a plantation ceremony with our students. Today, together with our students, we will be decorating the space under Viaduct 23 located at Northern Peripheral Highway Riva area with saplings. The space under the viaducts on the Northern Peripheral Highway will be green thanks to the saplings planted by our students. As a result of the forestation efforts that we will continue after the ceremony, 6,000 saplings will thrive here."

Stating that ICA had maintained its forestation efforts diligently and meticulously since 2013, Gökçe said: "We have planted 604,000 trees with the Regional Directorate of Forestry." As a result of our efforts here today, the number of trees and plants planted since 2013 will increase to 3 million and 710 thousand. We aim to plant 5 million and 100 thousand trees and plants when we complete our forestation investments under the supervision of Regional Directorate of Forestry, including various types of trees from acacia to lime tree, pine tree to cedar."

Maintenance activities go on without any breaks

Atilla Gökçe added the following: "We are carrying out maintenance activities in order to keep up the pace of landscaping and forestation efforts that we meticulously have been, are and will be carrying out during the construction and operation phases of the project, and the cost of which is covered by our company.  As ICA, we will continue our forestation efforts for a sustainable and liveable future."

Attending the forestation event, ICA directors educated the Beykoz Mahmut Şevket Paşa Village Secondary School students about forestation and green environment, while planting trees.