Azerbaijan expands protected natural areas to more than 10% of territory

Azerbaijan is continuing to expand its efforts to protect biodiversity and preserve its natural heritage, with specially protected natural areas now covering more than 10.5% of the country’s territory, Presidential Representative for Climate Issues Mukhtar Babayev said.

Speaking at the event “Cultural Heritage and Biodiversity Conservation in the Turkic Civilisation: From Shared Traditions to Joint Action”, held as part of Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026), Babayev highlighted the importance of combining traditional knowledge with modern approaches to nature conservation, Caliber.Az reports from the venue.

“For generations, [our communities] developed knowledge about land and water management, agriculture, livestock, forests and local ecosystems,” Babayev said. He noted that much of this knowledge was not written down but was passed from generation to generation through traditions, practices and everyday life.

According to Babayev, such knowledge should not be viewed solely as part of cultural history, as it can also help address contemporary challenges related to biodiversity, conservation, land management and climate resilience.

He cited the Hirkanian forests as an example of the importance of regional cooperation in protecting natural heritage. The ancient ecosystem forms part of a transboundary UNESCO World Heritage property shared by Azerbaijan and neighbouring countries.

“Its protection demonstrates the importance of bringing together science, protected-area management and local knowledge,” Babayev said.

He added that Azerbaijan had recently established two new national parks, bringing the total number of national parks in the country to 12.

Babayev also pointed to Azerbaijan’s experience in promoting cultural cooperation, including Shusha’s role as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World in 2023 and the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2024.

“We should build on this experience and extend the same spirit of cooperation to nature and biodiversity,” he said.

He stressed that countries across the region share diverse ecosystems as well as traditions of living with and managing natural resources, from forests and steppes to wetlands and the Caspian Sea.

Babayev called for traditional knowledge to be combined with modern conservation methods and for countries to exchange practical experience.

“Our national parks can cooperate directly. Our scientists and rangers can undertake joint research, training and biodiversity monitoring,” he said.

He added that linking cultural heritage with nature conservation could strengthen both the protection and international recognition of unique landscapes and traditions across the Turkic world.

“Our cultures have taught us to respect nature. Today, it is our responsibility to turn that shared value into common action,” Babayev said.

By Vugar Khalilov