Environment of Azerbaijan

Due to the tapping of oil reserves in the early 20th century, Azerbaijan has had sufficient resources to develop an industrial sector, which in turn led to a significant increase in pollution.

But national protection of Azeri nature started truly functioning after 2001 when the state budget increased due to new revenues provided by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

[1] Since 2001 the government has set up seven large reserves and almost doubled the sector of the budget earmarked for environmental protection.

[2] [3] On October 4, 2016, Azerbaijani officials announced their plans for further improvement of the ecological situation in Baku Bay, which will take place during 2016–2020.

Azeri law strictly prohibits industrial development or meddling with animals or plants within the borders of the state parks.

National Parks in Azerbaijan are restricted tourism zones but are open for observation of the natural processes.

The State Game Reserves in Major Caucasus in Azerbaijan are: The natural complexes with the Minor Caucasus are: Four State Game Reserves of Azerbaijan (Lachyn, Gubadly, Dashalty, Arazboylu with a total area of about 440 km2) are not currently operating as a result of the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories.

Over half of Azerbaijan's land mass consists of mountain ridges, crests, yailas and plateaus which rise up to hypsometric levels of 400–1,000 meters (including the Middle and Lower lowlands), in some places (Talis, Jeyranchol-Ajinohur and Langabiz-Alat foreranges) up to 100–120 metres, and others from 0 – 50 meters and up (Gobustan, Absheron).

Sedimentary deposits embracing the southwestern parts of the Major and Minor Caucasus, including the intermountain Kur-River trough, as well as the Mid- and South Caspian basins consist of diversity fold systems.

Geological setting of the area consists of sedimentary, volcanic-sedimentary, volcanic and terrestrial deposits embracing almost entire stratigraphic range beginning from pre-Cambrian period up to Holocene time.

Due to the unique climate in Azerbaijan, flora is much richer – based on the number of species – than that of other republics of the South Caucasus.

Animal carvings on architectural monuments, ancient rocks and stones survived up to the present times.

Protozoa parasites are also registered in all areas of the country, depending on natural habitat of carrier animals such as cattle and poultry.

Like most republics of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan experienced rapid development of all spheres of economics and human activity, which led to an all-round negative impact on the environment, including the inefficient usage of natural resources.