Some int'l organizations want to join green initiative in Azerbaijan: minister

"The Azerbaijani president's initiative to plant three million trees in Baku and its outskirts in near future has caused serious interest in international environmental organizations. Some international environmental organizations have expressed their desire to join this initiative," said Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Huseyn Baghirov during a speech at an extended meeting of Cabinet of Ministers, chaired by the President, on the results of socio-economic development in the first half of 2009.

At the previous meeting of the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers, President Ilham Aliyev ordered to plant three million trees in Baku and its outskirts in near future. This initiative will double the scope of vegetation in Absheron peninsula. Total of 11 areas in the peninsula have been allotted for this purpose, including the area around the Zigh lake, and relevant projects have been developed to plant trees and shrubs in the former Sadarak and Bina trade centers.

Baghirov said that the planting work upon the President's initiative has already been launched in different areas and is going on successfully.

"Along the Alat-Hajigabul highway, 172,000 trees and shrubs have been planted and a modern system of irrigation has been installed, and as a result, 90 percent of this area is covered with greenery. In January-June 2009, two hectares of this territory had undergone gardening and agro-technical work," he said.

"Among the trees are olive trees brought from abroad to increase the variety of our olive trees. We have witnessed a growth in the number of trees by 80 percent which is due to the proper care for those trees which have been planting in difficult conditions,that is, in soil polluted by oil products, iodine and bromine," said Baghirov.

The Minister said that measures are being taken in conserving, restoring and planting new forests. "Indicators OF seed stocks, the growing seeds, restoration and planting of forests have improved. In all, starting from 2003 new forests have been planted in 58,964 hectares of territory. In January-June 2009, reforestation work was conducted in a 1,383 hectare territory and agricultural work was conducted in a 29,000 hectare territory," said Baghirov.

/Trend News/