Natural reserves to be re-created in Azerbaijani liberated areas

Natural reserves and wildlife sanctuaries will be restored in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, Director of the Biodiversity Protection Service under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources Arzu Samadova said.

Samadova noted there are about 43,000 hectares of specially protected natural areas in the liberated territories. Earlier there functioned two state reserves and four state wildlife sanctuaries.

"It’s planned to restore them. Work has already begun to assess the situation in those territories," she added.

According to her, currently there are 10 national parks, 10 state reserves and 24 state orders in the country. In general, the area of specially protected natural areas is 10.3% of the total territory of the republic.

The director also added that in 2018, work began on the inclusion of the Azerbaijani Hyrcanian forests in the UNESCO Natural Heritage List, and the corresponding documentation has already been prepared.