BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 3
By Sadraddin Aghjayev – Trend:
The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) is implementing a number of innovative and "smart" projects and programs in Azerbaijan, Shahin Huseynli, a specialist in geographic information systems, remote sensing, and sustainable land management at GIZ, told Trend on April 2.
“One of the ECOserve programs is "Natural Resource Management and Ecosystem Protection for Sustainable Development of Villages in the South Caucasus",” Huseynli added.
"The ECOserve program in Azerbaijan is focused on the application of sustainable agricultural land use technologies and works in this sphere together with the Ministry of Agriculture,” the specialist added. “The program is being implemented by GIZ on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany."
“The ECOserve program will support the Azerbaijani government in strengthening the country's agricultural sector within the seventh goal of the state strategic roadmap,” Huseynli said.
"Moreover, ECOserve has been included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) program of the UN 2030 Agenda, which includes: the projects to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems; the access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for everybody; taking urgent actions to combat climate change and its consequences; eradicating poverty in all its forms everywhere; ensuring inclusive, equitable and quality education for all and rendering lifelong learning opportunities," Huseynli added.
The program consists of solving the land-use systems that have developed in the South Caucasus through the integration of national reforms in the field of environmental protection and natural resources.
Huseynli said that the ECOserve program is aimed at addressing current land-use systems in the South Caucasus and their integration into national environmental and resource conservation reforms. The main spheres of ECOserve activity in Azerbaijan are as follows:
• Increasing the availability of key data such as decision making for sustainable management of natural biodiversity;
• Improving the legal framework for sustainable use of natural resources and protection of ecosystem services;
• Application of adapted practices for sustainable, biodiversity-based natural resource management in rural areas of the South Caucasus;
• Training of resource users, service providers and specialized state institutions on biodiversity management and development of education in this sphere;
• Facilitation of exchange of views between South Caucasus experts on sustainable management and biodiversity management.
The GIZ specialist concluded that to achieve these goals, quite experienced and well-known experts not only from Germany but also from Europe and other developed countries are working in Azerbaijan.
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