ONGOING
Mid-term storage gene banks established for the following additional species/varieties:
grain and grain-legume varieties (50)
Mid-term storage semen bank (Azerbaijan Livestock Research Institute established for the
following additional species: Swiss, Simmental and Black-White cattle breeds; and
Murrah buffalo breed.
6/7 Improvement of international information exchange and cooperation
6.1. Explore necessary opportunities and strengthen international cooperation for management of
biodiversity
ONGOING
Recurrent activities underway
6.2 Improve information exchange and cooperation at the international level
ONGOING
Recurrent activities underway
7.1. Develop cooperation between organizations dealing with biodiversity conservation
ONGOING
Refer to Appendix II
8. Improving environmental education and increasing public awareness
8.1. To set up a modern basis for educational and awareness raising purposes
ONGOING
An “Inter-city commission for environmental education and enlightenment” has been
established to co-ordinate environmental education and awareness-raising in Azerbaijan.
8.2. Improve biodiversity education
ONGOING
Recurrent activities underway
8.3. Widely disseminate information on biodiversity and its conservation
ONGOING
Recurrent activities underway, including:
- TV series on pollution, desertification, grazing, fires, hunting, plant collection and
sturgeon conservation aired
- Annual environmental reporting competition
- Aarhus Public Environmental Information centres established in in Baku, Ganja and
Qazakh rayons.
9. Protection of cultural heritage and traditions related to biodiversity
9.1. Identify and support cultural heritage and traditions of local population related to biodiversity
ONGOING
Yanardaq” State historical-cultural and nature, “Keshikchidaq” State historical, “Khinaliq”
State historical-architecture and ethnography and “Atashgah temple” State historical-
architecture reserves established
Ancient handcrafts displayed in trade shows.
Small workshops of pottery, carpet-making and blacksmiths established under the
historical and ethnography reserve “Qala” with the support of NGO “Ekosfera”.
10. Achieving application of socio-economic incentives encouraging biodiversity conservation
10.1. Extend social and economic measures encouraging biodiversity conservation
PARTIALLY
IMPLEMENTED
Incentives in the agricultural sector (see below) for improving the sustainability, and
reducing the environmental impacts of, agricultural practices.
10.2. Create legal basis for social and economic incentives encouraging biodiversity conservation
PARTIALLY
MPLEMENTED
Under development
11. Improving legislation on biodiversity
11.1. Bring the biodiversity-related laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan in conformity with international
standards
ONGOING
Improvement of environmental legislation to align with the Action Plan “On
approximation of the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the legislation of
European Union (2010-2012).
12. Financing action plans on regeneration, conservation and efficient use of biodiversity
12.1. Encourage international investment in biodiversity conservation
PARTIALLY
IMPLEMENTED
Recurrent activities underway
12.2. Encourage investment in biodiversity from entities within Azerbaijan
PARTIALLY
IMPLEMENTED
Recurrent activities underway
13. Regulation of activities having negative impacts on biodiversity
13.1. Reduce negative impact on biodiversity
ONGOING
Recurrent activities underway
The effectiveness of initiatives to mainstream biodiversity into the strategies, plans and
programmes of relevant production sectors in Azerbaijan has historically been limited. The
recent adoption of the National Development Plan, Azerbaijan 2020: Outlook for the future'
Development Concept in 2012 has however now created the enabling framework for improving
the mainstreaming of biodiversity into key production sectors. The National Development Plan
specifically identifies the measures that will be required to protect biodiversity, neutralize the
negative impact of the fuel-energy complex on the environment, eliminate the pollution of the
sea and its basin, protect marine and freshwater ecosystems, restore green areas and effectively
protect the existing natural habitats and resources. Each State Agency responsible for
overseeing the implementation of each production sector is now in the process of, or has
already completed, revising their medium-term strategies and state programs to more fully
align with the objectives, outcomes and activities identified in the National Development Plan.
Key strategies and state programmes include:
•
The
State Programme for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in the
Azerbaijan Republic (SPPRSD, 2008-2015) has a strong environmental component. It
aims to inter alia: increase the coverage of protected areas to 12% of the country; reduce
greenhouse emissions in the power sector by 20%; and achieve 100% treatment of all
sewerage and wastewater.
•
The State Programme for the Socio-Economic Development of the Regions of the
Azerbaijan Republic (2009-2013) is implementing specific measures related to the
treatment of wastewater, the construction of water supplies and the rehabilitation of the
Caspian Sea environment and its coastal territories.
•
The
State Strategy on Use of Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources (2012-2020
provides the strategic framework for the adoption of alternative and renewable energy
sources in the Azerbaijan.
•
The
State Program on the reliable food supply of population in the Azerbaijan Republic
(2008-2015).
•
The National Program on forest restoration and expansion.
The key biodiversity mainstreaming activities undertaken in the last four years, for each of the
key production sectors in Azerbaijan, is summarised as follows:
(i)
Energy sector: wind farm in the Gobustan rayon; hybrid solar-wind farm projects in
Gobustan and Absheron; Yashma wind park project; Sumgait Power Station project;
optimization of AzDRES; biogas installations in 5 upland villages; Balakhani Landfill
projects; ISO 14001-compliant EMS developed for BP; and SOCAR ‘zero-waste’
strategy.
(ii)
Agricultural sector: introducing state subsidies for cultivation costs associated with
biofuels; developing large-scale cattle husbandry complexes for more intensive
development of livestock; exempting approved agricultural producers from tax;
securing preferential loan rates for approved farmers; improving the knowledge and
skills of more cost-effective and sustainable farming approaches; improving insurance
mechanisms for farmers; development and cultivation of agricultural plant varieties
which are more resistant to the effects of drought, frost, diseases and pests;
improvement of irrigation methods and water-use efficiencies; and reducing and
eliminating the use of dangerous pesticides and fertilizers.
(iii)
Forestry sector: expanding the national forest coverage; greening urban areas; and
rehabilitating the ecological functioning of degraded forests.
(iv)
Water sector: construction/expansion of water-sewage treatment plants in regions; and
installation of module type water treatment facilities in villages.
(v)
Fishing and aquaculture sector: new draft version of the ‘Law on Fishing’; 12 fish
breeding enterprises (sturgeon, carp and salmon); enforcement of fishing quotas and
restrictions, notably sturgeon.
(vi)
Impact management: draft law on ‘Assessment of Environmental Impact’.
Progress towards the Aichi targets and CBD Strategic Plan