ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Munzur and Pulumur valleys in the Kurdish province of Dersim (Tunceli) in Turkey were declared “sensitive areas to be protected” by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, to the delight of locals and environmentalists that have long decried the continued land degradation.

Declared a national park in 1971, the Munzur Valley National Park is the largest of its kind in Turkey with an area of 420 square kilometers. The valley is home to thousands of species of animals, trees, and plants.

Hidden among the mountains of Dersim with an altitude of 3,000 meters, Pulumur Valley captivates visitors with its mesmerizing scenery and remarkable wildlife.

Their designation as “sensitive areas to be protected” was announced in Turkey’s official gazette on Tuesday. The decision was enthusiastically welcomed by the people of Dersim.

Mining projects in the province and building dams on the valleys have caused concern among residents for years, as they claim the projects harm the area’s wildlife and damage the fresh water sources.

“This is exciting news and positive from an environmental perspective, because through protecting these areas and preserving them, you are also preventing the projects that harm them,” Ozgur Ulas Kaplan, a lawyer, told Rudaw on Tuesday.

There are around 145 mining projects currently operating in Dersim. Six new projects were announced last year.