On June 17, an international conference entitled “Research and Sustainable Development of Azerbaijan Forest Types” began at the Institute of Botany, jointly organized by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Agency for Science and Higher Education, and the Institute of Botany, MSERA.

The opening ceremony of the event was attended by a number of state representatives, local and foreign (Hungary, Pakistan, China, Turkey) scientists and experts.

 First, the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed, and then a minute of silence was observed in memory of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of our lands.

 Opening the event, Professor Sayyara Ibadullayeva, General Director of the Institute of Botany, stated that the purpose of the conference is to bring together local and international experts to assess the current state of vegetation and forests in the republic, and to determine the role of forests in maintaining biodiversity and managing ecological balance. In his presentation on Azerbaijan's forest cover, the professor highlighted the total area of forests, the impact of anthropogenic impacts and climate change on forest ecosystems, as well as the destruction of Karabakh’s forest fund as a result of fires caused during the occupation, and other problems.

Then, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Philosophy in Biology Vugar Karimov, Vice-President of ANAS, academician Irada Huseynova, General Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Founder and President of BCAA Zhang Yuanming, Director of the Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Professor Péter Ódor, Professor of the Department of Plant Sciences of Quaid-i-Azam University of Pakistan, Muhammad Zafar, made presentations and wished success to the work of the conference.

In the plenary session of the conference, presentations by foreign and local scientists were heard, and extensive discussions were held around the topics. At the end, certificates were presented to the participants.

The conference will be followed by an interactive seminar on forest research by the Azerbaijani-Hungarian team.

The event will end with an expedition to the forest areas on June 19