Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

United Nations Development Programme has welcomed the National Bio-diversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2017-2020 adopted by the Azerbaijani president.

UNDP Resident Representative, Ghulam M. Isaczai highlighted the importance of the National Strategy for stronger cooperation with the government for the next five years.

“This national strategy will boost the reforms in this field and enhance UNDP–Government collaboration in programming activities in bio-diversity and overall, in environmental protection. UNDP will continue to collaborate with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in spearheading biodiversity and ecosystem management in Azerbaijan,” he said.

President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on October 3 approving the "National Strategy for the Protection and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity in Azerbaijan for 2017-2020 years".

The coordination over the implementation of the national strategy has been entrusted to the Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry, according to the order. The Ministry was tasked to inform the president about the work done in connection with the implementation of the national strategy within a year.

The main objectives of the Strategy are efficient usage of genetic resources, protection and conservation of bio-diversity, improvement of environmental sustainability, establishment of special protected areas, risk reduction to bio-diversity and raising public awareness on these issues.

“The National Bio-diversity Strategy will support Azerbaijan in successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals on lives below water (SDG 14) and on land (SDG 15) by the target year of 2030,” Isaczai said.

Within the implementation of the First National Bio-diversity Strategy and Action Plan, the size of protected areas in Azerbaijan has increased from 5% to 10.3% and forest coverage from 11.4% to 11.8%.

There are currently nine established national parks while one more area is in the process of turning into the national park.

The adopted National Strategy is linked to the Convention on Biological Diversity that was inspired by the world community's growing commitment to sustainable development. The Convention for Biological Diversity was opened for signature on 5 June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio "Earth Summit"). It was adopted on 4 June 1993 with 168 signatures. Azerbaijan joined the Convention on March 2000. Convention requires all countries to prepare National Reports and National Action Plans regularly.

UNDP is committed to building the capacities of developing countries and economies in transition to manage their biodiversity in line with their own priorities and needs. UNDP helps more than 140 countries, including Azerbaijan, to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity, and to secure ecosystem services that are vital to human welfare and their development efforts. Globally, UNDP supports member states to fulfill their obligations under the Convention.

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