Leyla Aliyeva has visited Shahdag National Park

Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva visited Shahdag National Park in the Ismayilli district.

Leyla Aliyeva inspected the area where a complex will be built within the framework of a joint project carried out by the IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and WWF Azerbaijan on the reintroduction of European bison into the wild. The project envisions breeding bison within Shahdag National Park and releasing them into nature. For this purpose, light construction works are planned on a 30-hectare area near the national park.

It should be noted that bison have inhabited Azerbaijan’s rich nature for centuries. The last individuals of the species were encountered at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains in the late 20th century. Due to ineffective population management, the number of this species in Azerbaijan has declined. As a result of studies conducted in recent years by leading regional and global scientists, it has been determined that our rich natural environment provides favorable conditions for bison, and a decision was made to implement a reintroduction project to increase and protect the population of this species.

Since its establishment, the IDEA Public Union has implemented a number of projects in our country aimed at conserving and restoring biodiversity. Among these previously launched successful projects, the “Reintroduction of Gazelles to Their Historical Habitats” and projects for the conservation of the Caucasian leopard can be highlighted in particular.