“Let’s Protect the Gazelles!” environmental summer camp has successfully concluded
On 18–20 July, within the framework of the program “Reintroduction of Gazelles to Their Historically Inhabited Areas in the Caucasus,” an ecological summer camp titled “Let’s Protect Gazelles!” was held with the organization of the IDEA Public Union, the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijan representative office of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), with the support of the Qakh District Executive Authority. Nearly 60 schoolchildren from the villages of Qum, Ilisu, Almali, Celayir, Tasmali, Lakit, Turajli, and others of the Qakh district took part in the camp.
The main objective of the “Let’s Protect Gazelles!” ecological summer camp was to raise awareness among the younger generation living in areas where gazelles have been reintroduced, as well as in locations close to their natural habitats, about this species. During the camp, participants received extensive information about the lifestyle of gazelles, their distribution areas, and their role in nature. The children also took part in various ecological research activities, quizzes, and competitions, and watched the documentary film “Azerbaijan. Saving the Gazelles,” directed by Igor Byshnyov.
The following day, an excursion was organized for the young participants to the areas in the Qakh district where gazelles have been reintroduced, as well as to the Lakit Waterfall, located in the village of Lakit, which was registered as a Qakh Natural Monument in 2006, is protected by the state, and is known as the “Mamırlı” Waterfall. Afterwards, together with the youth, several ecological games were organized and research activities were conducted in the forested area of Qum village and at the Ardeva River.
At the end of the camp, certificates and commemorative gifts were presented to the participants.
The program “Returning Gazelles to Their Historically Inhabited Areas in the Caucasus” was launched in 2010 by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and is currently being successfully implemented within the framework of joint cooperation between the IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and the WWF Azerbaijan representative office. Over the years, more than 150 gazelles have been reintroduced from Shirvan National Park to their historically inhabited areas in Azerbaijan and Georgia, and continuous monitoring and protection measures are being carried out. While the program is aimed at increasing the number and protection of gazelles, one of its main directions is also to enhance public awareness. For this purpose, such summer camps organized for schoolchildren are of great importance. It should be noted that as a result of successful activities in this field, the current gazelle population in the Republic of Azerbaijan has been determined to be up to 7,000 individuals.
Since 2014, environmental and biodiversity-themed camps have been organized annually on a regular basis by the IDEA Public Union, the Azerbaijan representative office of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. During this period, more than 500 schoolchildren from the districts of Ismayilli, Salyan, Neftchala, Goranboy, Samukh, Qakh, Sheki, Masalli, Jalilabad, Yardimli, Lankaran, Astara, Goygol, and Lerik have participated in the camps.
