Azerbaijan, Baku, July 5 / Trend M.Aliyev /
Azerbaijani Deputy Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Firdovsi Aliyev reported on the progress that has been achieved to protect biodiversity and forests in the country at an expert seminar titled, "Investing in Biodiversity and Increasing Support for the Green Economy." The event is held as part of an environmental conference in the Gabala region.
"Azerbaijan has created fertile ground for the adoption of a strategy to implement extensive measures to protect biodiversity in 2011-2020," Aliyev said.
Gabala is hosting an environmental conference organized by the Azerbaijani government and the UNEP. The event is held in the run-up to the next session of the U.N. General Assembly on Biological Diversity in New York in September.
Aliyev expressed hope that the event will help to protect biodiversity worldwide.
"It is important to develop a unified action plan to protect biodiversity," UNEP representative Yvonne Iguero added.
Many countries in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus have already begun to expand their protected areas, as they must reduce biodiversity losses around the world, Iguero said.
She also noted the importance of investing in environmental protection.
The seminar will address biological diversity in Azerbaijan, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
A European environment ministerial conference on biodiversity will also be held July 7.
