May 23 is a professional holiday for workers of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. The Ministry was created by the Decree of National Leader Heydar Aliyev on May 23, 2001 after our country gained independence. The professional holiday of workers (ETSN) was established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated May 16, 2007.

As in all areas of our country, important work has been done to solve environmental problems, protect the environment, and restore the ecological balance. National programs for environmentally sustainable socio-economic development, restoration and expansion of forests are being successfully implemented. Continuous construction work is currently ongoing in the field of environmental health and protection of the ecological balance. This kind of work is also being carried out in the direction of implementing international environmental programs, restoring and protecting natural resources, creating national parks and an ecological network.

The environmental policy defined by the National Leader of our people, Heydar Aliyev, is bearing fruit today. During all periods of his leadership of Azerbaijan, Great Leader Heydar Aliyev paid special attention to environmental protection, construction of new enterprises with advanced technologies, replacement of old technologies with new ones, green spaces and parks, which also ensure human health. Today, environmental problems in Azerbaijan are resolved at the state level. In the decrees signed by President Ilham Aliyev, who successfully continued the political course of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, in the programs approved by him, the necessary tasks were identified for the implementation of goals intended to improve the environmental environment, and as a result, positive results were obtained. Progress has been made in protecting biodiversity, developing forestry, increasing greenery and sustainable water management.

Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, important work is being carried out in all areas of our country towards solving environmental problems, protecting the environment, and restoring the ecological balance. National programs for environmentally sustainable socio-economic development, restoration and augmentation of forests, and development of hydrometeorology are being successfully implemented. When the head of state declared 2010 the “Year of Ecology,” attention to this area increased, the work carried out covered the entire country and became sustainable.

Recently, the activities of the Public Association IDEA (International Dialogue on Environmental Protection) in the direction of environmental protection have been undeniable. The organization was created on July 12, 2011 on the initiative of Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva. The main goal of the organization is to educate the population on environmental issues, collaborate with youth, educate about environmental issues and find the right methods for their implementation.

One of the main priorities of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources is reforestation work in the liberated territories and projects implemented in this direction.

The reintroduction projects implemented in our country have not bypassed the liberated territories. As part of this project, in the future it is planned to reintroduce some species of animals, rare and endangered species, in order to restore biological diversity in territories liberated from occupation. Also, in order to increase the reserves of aquatic biological resources, in the liberated territories, thousands of golden-spotted trout fry was released into the Basitchay, Gekari, Khachinchay, Sugovushansky, and Karagol reservoirs. This year it is planned to continue this activity.

The area of specially protected natural areas in the territories liberated from occupation is 43 thousand hectares. Such natural areas include Basitchay and Karagel state nature reserves, Gubadli, Arazboy, Lachin, Dashalty state natural reserves. Currently, some work is underway to restore these specially protected natural areas. The head of the country issued a corresponding Decree on organizing the activities of the Basitchay State Nature Reserve. Over the past period, work has been completed to clarify the boundaries of the reserve. In addition, an inventory of natural objects located on the territory has begun. Also, specialists from the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources regularly conduct joint monitoring of the fauna and flora of the area.

Azerbaijan is considered one of the countries with high potential for renewable energy sources. Our country has great capabilities and resources in the production of “green energy”. Large contracts have been concluded with foreign companies in this area. Large projects are being developed to supply “green energy” to neighboring countries and European countries. Thus, COP29, which will be held in our country, will become a very important international platform in terms of presenting our green energy policy to the world community. The hosting of COP29, the largest UN event in our country, indicates that Azerbaijan is aware of its success in the field of green energy. This is also clear evidence of confidence in our country in matters of renewable energy. COP29 will be a platform for discussing global environmental issues for Azerbaijan, and will also demonstrate the contribution that our country can make in the fight against climate change.

Currently, green agriculture and green transport projects are being successfully implemented in our country. Although Azerbaijan is one of the leading oil-producing countries in the world, it is implementing a number of projects related to green energy.

Due to the economic potential of the republic, the main goal of environmental policy in Azerbaijan is to ensure sustainable development with the protection of existing environmental systems, as well as the efficient use of natural resources in order to meet the needs of current and future generations.

Employees of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources celebrating their professional holiday today continue to adhere to their traditions, which contributes to successful results, and in the coming years everything possible will be done to protect the environment - air, water, clean soil and human health.

Recommended literature:

1. Məmmədov, Qərib Şamil oğlu. Ekologiya və ətraf mühitin mühafizəsi / Q. Ş. Məmmədov, M. Y. Xəlilov. - Bakı : Elm, 2005. - 880 s.
2. Abbasov, Mehman Salman oğlu. Əsrimizin qlobal ekoloji problemləri / M. S. Abbasov ; elmi red. Q. Ş. Məmmədov. - Bakı : Elm, 2006. - 420 s.
3. Qurbanzadə, Ağazeynal Alı oğlu. Ekologiya : sosial-iqtisadi əsasları: monoqrafiya / A. A. Qurbanzadə ; elmi red. Z. S. Məmmədov. - Bakı : Elm, 2010. - 159 s.
4. Qurbanov, Sadiq Haqverdi oğlu. Davamlı inkişaf kontekstində ekoloji siyasətin prioritet istiqamətləri və "Yaşıl" iqtisadiyyat : monoqrafiya / S. H. Qurbanov ; elmi red. Ə. C. Muradov ; Azərbaycan Dövlət İqtisad Universiteti, Gəncə Dövlət Universiteti. - Bakı : İzə, 2023. - 271 s.