The final event of the ecological assessment project of Karabakh has been held.

On March 4, a meeting was held dedicated to the results of the project “Participation of Youth in the Ecological Assessment of Azerbaijan’s Liberated Territories,” implemented on the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Union.

The event, held at the Baku Congress Center, was attended by the young participants of the project, as well as representatives of the IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Youth Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), and media representatives.

During the event, a presentation of the report on the final results of the ecological assessment was held. The report reflected the data obtained on the current ecological situation compared to the state of Karabakh before the occupation. Additionally, a video dedicated to the work carried out within the framework of the project was shown at the meeting.

Subsequently, certificates were presented to the youth for participating in the successfully implemented project, as well as letters of appreciation and commemorative gifts for their contributions to the ecological assessment of Karabakh.

As is known, the 30-year occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts by Armenia caused significant damage to Azerbaijan’s nature. The burning of territories, contamination of water resources, destruction of forests, natural monuments, and the plundering of underground and aboveground natural resources disrupted the ecological balance of the region.

Significant steps are being taken at the state level to assess and restore the condition of the liberated territories, including our natural resources. To involve young ecologists in these activities, the IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation launched the joint project “Participation of Youth in the Ecological Assessment of Azerbaijan’s Liberated Territories.”

Applications for participation in the project were received from over 300 young people with education and activity in the field of natural sciences, of which 60 were selected based on interviews. Participants were divided into six groups, including biodiversity, geology, water resources, forest protection, hydrometeorology and monitoring services, and topography and cartography. Prior to trips to the territories, theoretical lectures were organized for the respective directions. In addition, considering the potential risks of working in former conflict zones, health and safety training was conducted.

In the next phase, young ecologists made numerous visits to the liberated territories, including Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Khojavend, Zangilan, Agdam, and Shusha. During these trips, they participated in ecological assessments in the mentioned areas, including processes involving special devices and equipment to measure radiation levels in the air, water quality, soil analysis, and more, witnessing firsthand the ecological damage caused by the occupation.

Under the slogan “Protect Karabakh,” the young participants of the project had the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and experience in ecological assessment and monitoring, while also contributing to restoration and protection efforts in the liberated territories.

The data obtained from the observations and analyses are intended to be widely used for awareness-raising and promotional purposes.