Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

Scientific-practical conference titled “Role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the Improvement of the Environment in Azerbaijan” kicked off in the Presidium of ANAS with the joint organization of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 

Academician Isa Habibbeyli, President of ANAS, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education, Sadiq Gurbanov, Chairman of the Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology Committee of the Milli Majlis, Latif Gasimov, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Ecology at the Cabinet of Ministers, members of the Presidium of ANAS, representatives of the scientific institutions of Biology and Medical Sciences Department of ANAS, staff of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and mass media representatives came together for the meeting.

At first, visiting the Alley of Honors the participants of the conference honored the memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and academician Zarifa Aliyeva, an outstanding ophthalmologist, placed the wreath and flowers at the tombs.

After, the guests got acquainted with the exhibitions organized within the conference in ANAS.

Delivering an opening speech at the conference academician Isa Habibbeyli, President of ANAS, said that National Leader Heydar Aliyev was one of the rare figures in the statehood history of Azerbaijan for his universal views and rich activity. He underlined that during the Soviet period, the National Leader started to implement the ideology of Azerbaijanism in the republic against the policy of internationalism of the leadership of the USSR and prepared our nation for the future independence of the state.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that the National Leader also paid special attention to the ecology policy in our country, efficient use of natural resources, and protection of the environment. He realized great greening programs to conserve biodiversity and achieved industrial recycling of waste.

Saying that the National Leader had significant services in the protection of flora and fauna of Azerbaijan, the Academician underlined that in the years of the USSR, at the initiative of the National Leader, the reserves were restored and new ones were set up in the country as well as “Red Book” of Azerbaijan Republic had been created to protect flora and fauna genetic fund of the country.

The Academician also added that during the years of independence, the policy of the National Leader in the direction of improvement of the environment in Azerbaijan, creation of national parks, and protection of ecological balance and biodiversity had entered a new stage.

The President of ANAS said that the National Leader’s policy on ecology had been again promoted in our society by our scientists within “A Year of Heydar Aliyev”. He emphasized that ANAS planted “Rare Trees Park” within “A Year of Heydar Aliyev” as a sign of great respect to Heydar Aliyev and the development of the tradition of the National Leader in the sphere of greening, protection, and improvement of the environment.

“Currently, President Ilham Aliyev is further developing the ideas of the National Leader, protecting the national and statehood interests, and today Azerbaijan has fully restored its territorial integrity and become one of the countries that speaks its word openly”-he added.  

The Academician also stated that with the order of the President of Azerbaijan, 2024 was declared “Green World Solidarity Year”, Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur regions, as well as the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, were declared “Green Energy” zones, and projects such as “Smart City” and “Smart Village” were being realized in the liberated territories. 

“Azerbaijan is one of the leading states in the global fight against climate change. The choice to host the COP29 conference in Baku has been unanimously approved by every member of the international community and this is an obvious indicator of great respect and trust of the international community to President Ilham Aliyev and Azerbaijan”-said the academician

At the end of his speech, Isa Habibbeyli congratulated the employees of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources on the occasion of May 23 Professional Day and wished them success.

Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Republic also made a speech at the meeting and expressed his gratitude to the leadership of ANAS for the support to the organization of the conference. The minister spoke about the essential role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the solution of ecological problems of Azerbaijan, the realization of planting of greenery in the country, and the establishment of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan on May 23, 2001. He also touched upon the adoption of 8 laws and more than 30 decisions on setting up new natural reserves and planting greenery at the initiative of a prominent statesman during his first period of leadership in our country. Speaking about the successful development of the policy of ecology of the National Leader by President Ilham Aliyev, the minister underscored that more than 10 million trees had been planted in the country during the last 5 years. He added that the third volume of the “Red Book” of the Republic of Azerbaijan had been published within “A Year of Heydar Aliyev”, as a contribution to the 100th anniversary of the National Leader, with joint work of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, and the Ministry of Science and Education. The minister also noted that hosting COP 29 in Azerbaijan was a practical result of the steps taken in the direction of protecting biodiversity and improving the environment in Azerbaijan. 

Then academician Isa Habibbeyli presented a memorable present to Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources on the occasion of a Professional Day of the employees of the ministry.

Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan also made a speech at the event and thanked the leadership of ANAS for the organization of the event. “Many higher education institutions of the world are interested in participating in COP29 because currently, environmental changes and sustainability are some of the most important topics for many universities, and discussions in this direction can be held within COP29 to be held in Baku”-he added.

Sadiq Gurbanov, Chairman of the Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology Committee of the Milli Majlis also made a speech at the event and spoke about the role of the head of state in the protection of the environment and assistance of Azerbaijan to foreign countries during COVID pandemic.

Latif Gasimov, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Ecology at the Cabinet of Ministers spoke about the ecology policy of the National Leader and the current successful continuation of the policy by President Ilham Aliyev.

Then, academician Irada Huseynova, Vice-president of ANAS, General director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, made a speech at the meeting. She said that National Leader Heydar Aliyev carried out the mission of political, ideological, and spiritual leadership of the Azerbaijani people with great honor and success in the second half of the 20th century and the 21st century and during all periods of his leadership in the country he paid special and great attention to the improvement of the ecological situation, protection of the environment, efficient use of natural resources and development of the science in this direction. She highlighted Heydar Aliyev’s care for Azerbaijani science and its contributions to studying the green world. The academician said that the significant scientific achievements of Jalal Aliyev, a prominent scientist in the sphere of photosynthesis and photorespiration brought great fame to Azerbaijan science.

Academician Irada Huseynova said that the declaration of 2024 as the “Green World Solidarity Year” in Azerbaijan was a strategic decision and had contributed to the development of a "green economy", "green energy", "green" technologies, "green world", “green environment" and "green growth" in the republic. She underlined that the publication of the third volume of the “Red Book” of the Republic of Azerbaijan was among the scientific achievements of the country in the sphere of biodiversity protection. She added that the book could be an essential source for some organizations and scientific staff to conduct complex and multidisciplinary studies.

The academician also noted that relevant issues had always been in the focus of the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences of ANAS. She underlined that protection, efficient use, and modern research on biodiversity, land and water resources, and the creation of electronic databases and maps had been among the priority areas for research conducted in the scientific research and educational institutions of the country. Quote: “I want to underline that the ecological problems of the liberated territories are among the themes of the conference. I consider that the discussions in this direction will give an important impulse to the "Great Return" of science to Karabakh”. 

It should be mentioned that the conference participants will visit Altyaghach National Park on May 24.

Translator: Reyhan Majidli, Public Relations, Press and Information Department of the Presidium Administration of ANAS

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