At present, drinking water resources in Azerbaijan - especially the waters of Kura and Araz -
do not fully comply with basic biological and chemical indicators and affect the health of the
population. Therefore taking strict measures in terms of improvement of drinking water supply
is the priority of the Government. The Oquz-Gabala-Baku water pipeline, which was
commissioned on 28 December 2010, is an important step in the quality drinking water supply
of population of the country. The supply of this water pipeline with 5 cubic meters water flow
capacity per second is maintained by 78 water wells drilled in the territory of Oquz rayon. As a
result of implementation of this project works are performed to minimize damage on
environment and biodiversity. The Water supply system in a number of cities must also be
properly repaired, and some of them must be completely reconstructed. The water samples
taken from wide-range of areas, especially from the main water resources of rural areas of
Azerbaijan, currently do not meet with norms and standards of the World Health Organization.
3.2.2 Number of users of sewage systems
The supply of sewage systems in the country meeting modern sanitary requirements constitutes
only 30% of the country. The main problem in this field is the unsatisfactory condition of
sewage systems and treatment facilities technically. The main part of the territory of the
country, especially the populations of rayons, discharge effluents directly to the environment.
Discharge of active surface and aggressive substances may eventually adversely affect to
biodiversity. Water-sewage projects in the centres of rayons were initiated over the 3 years
under the State Programs “Socio-economic development of regions” and “Poverty reduction
and sustainable development”, and sewage water management and discharging them to
environment only after treatment in these projects.
3.2.3 Energy use ratio to GDP
Azerbaijan is still referred to as a vulnerable region in this area, despite the increased energy
efficiency. While the current energy intensity price is 0.57 tne/1000USD in Azerbaijan,
international average figure is 2 times less than this (0.3 tne/1000USD) and 3 times less in the
developed European countries (0.18 tne/1000USD). Noting that this figure was 0.51
tne/1000USD in 2010, and 0.56 tne/1000USD in 2011. But this indicator was between 1,0-1.6
in 2007. However there are extensive opportunities to reduce the value of these indicators and
reach to the level of developed countries.
3.2.4 Carbon gas emissions per capita
Based on the information the base year of 1990 in the developing 3
rd
National Data on climate
changes, and about carbon gas emissions of the International Atomic Agency 13
rd
for 1995-
2000, the amount of carbon gas per capita calculated in tons had decreased form 6,04 to 3,69 in
1990-1997, but it escalated to 4,10 in 1999. This figure was 3.0 tons/year in 2010, 3.68
tons/year in 2011, and 3.78 tons/year in 2012. The application of “Green economy” and new
technology developed in the sphere of low-carbon technologies will reduce the escalation of
these figures in the near future.
3.2.5 Areas with forest cover
Total area of the lands of forest fund is 1040,7 thousand ha in Azerbaijan, and has not changed
practically over the last 20 years. While the grassland covers of the land of forest fund was
874.2 thousand ha in 2003, these had increased very quickly and were 1008.3 thousand ha in
2010, and 1024 thousand ha in 2012.
3.2.6 Special weight of the protected areas established for biodiversity
conservation
While the specially protected areas comprised 10% of the territory of a country in the
international experience that figure was 5% in Azerbaijan in 2001. This area was 474.8 ha in
2003, composed 5.5% of the territory of the country, and 20 years later as a result of activities
implemented by MENR overall area of the protected areas has achieved to 10.1% in 2010, and
10.3% in 2012. As a result of developed activities this indicator will reach to 14% in the
following years.
3.2.7 Specific weight of the population using types of solid fuel
As coal is not used in Azerbaijan only wood may be referred to solid fuel. Acquisition and use
of wood from forests is important for biodiversity. Certain part of the population of Azerbaijan
is using wood as solid fuel. This figure was about 10.0% after 2006. 144.9 thousand tons of
wood in 2010, 152.6 thousand tons in 2011, and 155.1 thousand tons in 2012 were combusted
in domestic sector.
3.3 Lessons, challenges and priorities in the implementation of the
Convention in Azerbaijan
The following is a synthesis of the key lessons, challenges and priorities for the implementation
of the CBD in Azerbaijan:
There is a need to improve the integration of biodiversity conservation priorities into key State
and National programs. The issues on biodiversity conservation have been generally designed
in the regulations about administrative bodies in the level of Ministries and State bodies. This
issue has been especially reflected among the duties of the ministries of Ecology and Natural
Resources, Agriculture as well as Land and Cartography. However the agencies having a direct
impact on the environmental degradation and consistently dealing with this issue must
accelerate their activities. The organizations transferring the information about advanced
technologies and scientific knowledge to sites and also systematically submitting the serious
changes from the sites to the centre must build the work in the required level. Occasionally,
replications are found in the action plans of central authorities. For example, in the forestry
sector, even though the key issues included into the State program on the forest restoration and
expansion there are no concepts related to sustainable use of forests in the given period.
Practical activities must be continued in this sphere. “European Forests” initiative has been
signed related to sustainable use of the forests in the country and there is a need to adopt new
concepts. A high level state commission may be required to coordinate the implementation of
biodiversity conservation strategies across all sectors.
There is a need to improve the capacity and resources to implement biodiversity conservation
legislation, policies and programmes. While the requisite laws, policies and state programs are
broadly in place, there is a significant gap in the actual implementation of legislated and
planned activities.