Baku, October 5, AZERTAC

United Nations Development Programme welcomed the National Bio-diversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2017-2020 adopted by the President for Azerbaijan.

United National Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Mr. Ghulam M. Isaczai highlighted the importance of the National Strategy for stronger cooperation with the government for the next five years. “This national strategy will boost the reforms in this field and enhance UNDP–Government collaboration in programming activities in bio-diversity and overall, in environmental protection. UNDP will continue to collaborate with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in spearheading biodiversity and ecosystem management in Azerbaijan.”

Within the implementation of the First National Bio-diversity Strategy and Action Plan, the size of protected areas in Azerbaijan has increased from 5% to 11.3% and forest coverage from 11.4% to 12.1%. There are currently eight established national parks while two more areas are in the process of turning into the national parks.

The Government of Azerbaijan has been preparing this second Second National Bio-diversity Strategy in close partnership with UNDP for over two years. The main objectives of the Strategy are efficient usage of genetic resources, protection and conservation of bio-diversity, improvement of environmental sustainability, establishment of special protected areas, risk reduction to bio-diversity and raising public awareness on these issues.

“The National Bio-diversity Strategy will support the Government of Azerbaijan in successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals on lives below water (SDG 14) and on land (SDG 15) by the target year of 2030,” Ghulam M. Isaczai said.

The adopted National Strategy is linked to the Convention on Biological Diversity that was inspired by the world community's growing commitment to sustainable development. The Convention for Biological Diversity was opened for signature on 5 June 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio "Earth Summit"). It was adopted on 4 June 1993 with 168 signatures. Azerbaijan joined the Convention on March 2000. Convention requires all countries to prepare National Reports and National Action Plans regularly.