Documents

Natural seeps and easily exploited surface deposits of crude oil on land have been utilized in the Caspian Sea region earlier than 300 BC. The modern-day picture is a region with oil reserves of global importance, facing a key challenge of the transportation of crude oil to markets. There has been considerable focus on developing oil spill preparedness in the Caspian Sea region. This has involved the governments, regional bodies, the oil industry and a range of other stakeholders and international organizations (notably UNEP, IMO and OSCE). This effort is in addition to the primary focus on preventing spills.

Countries are developing and implementing National Contingency Plans in order to have effective national response systems, which also act as the basis for regional cooperation. 

This brochure has been produced on behalf of the consortium developing the hydrocarbon deposits beneath the North East Caspian defined under the North Caspian Sea Production Sharing Agreement of 1997.

The concession area lies in a region of rich biodiversity recognized as being of international importance for its wildlife, including several species that are classified as endangered. The widely varying conditions in the North East Caspian include extreme seasonal temperature variations, long-term sea level change, short-term sea surges and retreats, high levels of turbidity and sediment movement, ice cover in winter and scouring of the seabed by moving ice.

This dynamic environment presents challenges for those who live and work in the area. It also means that the fauna and flora on land and at sea, are adapted to a significant level of environmental stress from continually changing physical conditions. 

Presentation by Professor Ramiz M. Mammadov (Institute of Geography, NANA). 

The Institute of Geography of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences have the honour to propose the development of the Atlas of the Caspian Sea (electronic and paper version), which aims to be a product of international scientific collaboration among the five Caspian states. The Atlas should serve the purpose of collecting and maintaining a comprehensive data on the state of the environment of the Caspian Sea and lay the scientific foundation for the environmental monitoring programme and implementation of other provisions of the Convention and its Protocols.

Being an annual official statistical issue reflecting processes occurred in social, economic, demographic and ecological life of the country the yearbook is prepared based on data of statistical report forms, censuses, sample surveys and other statistical observation forms received by statistical bodies from enterprises, organizations, households and natural entities as well as from ministries, committees, departments and international organizations.

The Statistical Yearbook reflecting social-economic indicators of 2014 in comparison with indicators of 2005-2013 will meet data requirements of widerange of readers and other users.

Delegations from five Caspian littoral states - the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan attended the first meeting of the Commission.

On August 11, 2017, a number of events were held by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan (MENR) connected with the 12 August – “Caspian Day” for the purpose of raising public awareness with regard to the problems and conservation of the Caspian Sea. A meeting was held at MENR by way of the discussion of environmental issues of the Caspian Sea, implemented works and mechanism of involvement of the public in the protection of the Caspian Sea with the participation of certain governmental bodies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), as well as the youth. Furthermore, a cleansing action was conducted at the coastal zone of Novkhani beach in order to increase the public role, and strengthen the collaboration with public on the betterment of the environmental state of the Caspian Sea and its littoral zone. It should be noted that 2 hectare area was cleaned during the cleansing action, and the collected wastes were recycled. The main objective of the celebration of “Caspian Day” is the strengths mobilization on the protection of the Caspian Sea environment from pollution, conservation, restoration, sustainable and effective use of biological resources of the sea, and public enlightenment in this sphere.

It should be noted, that there did not exist National parks in the Republic of Azerbaijan before establishment of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. 

In 2003 was established Zangazur National Park on the base of Ordubad National Park named after Academician Hasan Aliyev, Shirvan, Aggol, in 2004 Hirkan, Altiaghaj National Park, in 2005 Absheron National Park, in 2006 Shahdag National Park, in 2008 Goygol National Park. 

In 2008, the area of Hirkan National park was enlarged to 40358 hectares. 

On 25 November 2009 was created an area of 42797,4 hectares on the base of Ordubad National Park named after Academician Hasan Aliyev and Shahbuz State Nature Reserve in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. 

Zangazur National Park was named after Academician Hasan Aliyev. 

Shahdag National Park was established in accordance with the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 8, 2010. The area of Shahdag National Park was enlarged to 130508,1 hectares. Yalama Forestry Protection and Restoration Division was established in accordance with the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated November 5, 2012 and enlarged to 11772,45 hectares and established Samur- Yalama National Park. 
Currently, the area of the territory of National Parks is 3,7 %.
At the present there are carried out relevant works regard to establishment of new national parks, state natural reserves and is intended to enlarge the territory of Gizilagaj state natural reserve.

In December 23, 2013, a conference was hold about State Program of the total fulfillments on Baku city and its districts’ social-economic progress in 2011-2013 under the chairmanship of Ilham Aliev, the President of Azerbaijan Republic.
Lake BoyukShor was polluted as a result of littering, discharging untreated sewage water, leaking slops from oil industries. The coast line was polluted considerably with solid trashes and oil. On the basis of samples’ analysis was found out that the sediment layer of lake was extremely polluted with oil products. It is also to be found out that ecosystem and quality of water were seriously polluted according to the observations. It is expected to complete more analysis about quality of lake till December 2013. To be improved quality of Lake is the main work. It is necessary to be improved the environment and ecological situation for to renovate place of stadium and to make an enjoyable place for guests. The main goal is to make an acceptable condition of the east part of lake before beginning the European Games. The dam will be built which separate it into the eastern and western parts between the northern and southern shores for to allow partial restoration of the eastern part of the lake. The lake must be turned into the clear lake which has not any visible pollution, suitable to local ecosystem and esthetic vision. It is necessary to make relation between land and water, as well as, nature, life and functional use. In addition, the shoreline of the lake should look attractive and fit the design of the stadium.