Minister: Azerbaijan creating green zones in Jabrayil, Zangilan, Fuzuli, Aghdam

Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev has said that one of the main priorities of the Great Return Programme is to solve environmental problems and ensure environmental safety amid the dynamic development of the region.

Babayev made these remarks during public hearings on “Combating mine threat - the impact of explosive items on the ecosystem” in the Azerbaijani parliament, APA reports.

“Forests are planted. Green zones are being created in Jabrayil, Zangilan, Fuzuli and Aghdam districts. Together with Türkiye, work has begun in the Jabrayil district to create a “smart plant nursery”, an “International Forestry Training Centre” and a “Forest of Friendship” complex”, the minister noted.

Babayev also noted that high-precision topographic and cartographic works have been carried out in 8 cities, 23 settlements and villages in the liberated territories, as well as in the international airports of Zangilan and Fuzuli, including parks on an area of 50,000 hectares.

According to him, topographic maps of different scales and an "Electronic Water Map" have been prepared, Atlas of Natural Resources of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur and a map of economic districts have been compiled. "A wide infrastructure network for solid waste management following modern requirements is being created in the liberated territories. Landfill areas have been identified by region and cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance. By November 1, 2023, about 20,000 tonnes of such waste has been processed."

"Due to the mine threat, we cannot implement ecosystem restoration measures as quickly as we would like. Over 54 thousand hectares of forest areas were destroyed during the occupation. A forest restoration programme has been developed and we have the opportunity to accelerate it, but this process must be coordinated with the mine clearance plan. This work has already begun in the cleared areas in Zangilan, Jabrayil and Fuzuli districts," the minister said.