Eco-activist Mahsati Huseynova: “Damage caused by Armenians to ecology and ecotourism in Karabakh should be shown more to tourists, facts about it should be spread” is one of the important factors in reintegration. The massive return of the population to our liberated territories, the creation of settlements and modern infrastructure there has returned Karabakh to our society. However, the mass settlement of these areas, at the same time, the growing international interest in Karabakh, and the desire of foreign tourists to travel make the establishment of tourism, especially ecotourism standards in the region urgent. is of interest.
This time, our interviewee on the topic is eco-activist and social activist, NGO representative Mehsati Huseynova.
– Regarding environmental protection and elimination of the effects of climate change in Azerbaijan targeted measures are implemented. At the same time, this is an urgent issue in the communication of our people with nature, in the process of reintegration of liberated territories. We would like to know your thoughts.
– In general, a number of measures related to the development of the green energy sector are being implemented in our country, as well as in the liberated areas. In particular, the development of the green energy sector in Karabakh and liberated territories through the holding of COP29 – the UN convention on environmental protection and climate change in Azerbaijan this year, as well as Azerbaijan’s first appearance at COP28 last year with its own pavilion, information about the work carried out there is carried out on a wider level. That region will be a green energy zone from beginning to end, as stated by Mr. President at the meeting in Agdam. Especially when showing the production of renewable energy and the successful implementation of this policy, it should be noted that along with socio-economic development, clean environment and green growth should be prioritized in Azerbaijan. This issue is clearly reflected in “Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for socio-economic development”. As we know, the 5th National Priority is about green growth and clean environment. In addition, since 2020, cooperation with many international organizations in Azerbaijan and agreements signed with them are related to renewable energy. Many pilot projects are already being implemented, such as the agreements concluded with the company “AQWA Power” of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the company “Masdar” of the United Arab Emirates. Here, in addition to renewable energy in Azerbaijan, it is envisaged to build and put into operation wind power plant projects, which in Azerbaijan,will be implemented more intensively, including in the territories freed from occupation. A number of works are already being done in this area.
– From this point of view, what should be done regarding the development of ecotourism in Karabakh, setting standards in this area?
– At the same time, with the development of ecotourism in Karabakh many related works are being done. In this direction, the development of tourism development strategy is an important issue. In this area, the development of tourism products, construction of tourism infrastructure, and ensuring the safety of tourists are set as one of the main goals. The return of the population to the liberated areas is already being carried out gradually, and it can be said that in the places where the population has returned and the infrastructure has been restored, tourism is already starting to develop further. There, ecotours are already carried out in certain regions. In Shusha and other areas freed from occupation, especially in Agdam and Fuzuli regions, the damage caused by Armenians to ecotourism and ecology will be shown to tourists more than how much damage was done to our environment during the occupation. In the presentations about Shusha, it will be shown that Shusha was more recognized as a center of historical, health and cultural tourism, even during the Soviet era, many tours were conducted there and it was considered more active for tourism. Due to the presence of boarding houses and rest houses at that time, the opportunities and potential of Turşsu, which specializes in health, especially the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, have always attracted the interest of tourists, many works should be done in this direction in the future, and there should be ecotourism preparations.
– What other works need to be implemented in this regard?
– In addition, historical and cultural monuments are always among the places that attract the attention of tourists. It has been indicated that attention will be paid to these. I would also like to mention one point about COP28 that at COP28, in the Azerbaijan pavilion, in order to ensure greening in Karabakh, there is a tree planting section for everyone in the Azerbaijan pavilion. Here, more tourists visit the tree planting section in the pavilion. includingtourism is starting to develop further in places where the population has returned and infrastructure has been restored. There, ecotours are already carried out in certain regions. In Shusha and other areas freed from occupation, especially in Agdam and Fuzuli regions, the damage caused by Armenians to ecotourism and ecology will be shown to tourists more than how much damage was done to our environment during the occupation. In the presentations about Shusha, it will be shown that Shusha was more recognized as a center of historical, health and cultural tourism, even during the Soviet era, many tours were conducted there and it was considered more active for tourism. Due to the presence of boarding houses and rest houses at that time, the opportunities and potential of Turşsu, which specializes in health, especially the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, have always attracted the interest of tourists, many works should be done in this direction in the future, and there should be ecotourism preparations.
– What other works need to be done in this regard?
– In addition, historical and cultural monuments are always among the places in the center of attention of tourists. It has been indicated that attention will be paid to these. I would also like to mention one point about COP28 that at COP28, in the Azerbaijan pavilion, in order to ensure greening in Karabakh, there is a tree planting section for everyone in the Azerbaijan pavilion. Here, more tourists visit the tree planting section in the pavilion. includingtourism is starting to develop further in places where the population has returned and infrastructure has been restored. There, ecotours are already carried out in certain regions. In Shusha and other areas freed from occupation, especially in Agdam and Fuzuli regions, the damage caused by Armenians to ecotourism and ecology will be shown to tourists more than how much damage was done to our environment during the occupation. In the presentations about Shusha, it will be shown that Shusha was more recognized as a center of historical, health and cultural tourism, even during the Soviet era, many tours were conducted there and it was considered more active for tourism. Due to the presence of boarding houses and rest houses at that time, the opportunities and potential of Turşsu, which specializes in health, especially the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, have always attracted the interest of tourists, many works should be done in this direction in the future, and there should be ecotourism preparations.
– What other works need to be implemented in this regard?
– In addition, historical and cultural monuments are always among the places in the center of attention of tourists. It has been indicated that attention will be paid to these. I would also like to mention one point regarding COP28 that at COP28, in the Azerbaijan pavilion, in order to ensure greening in Karabakh, a tree planting section was marked for everyone in the Azerbaijan pavilion. Here, more tourists visit the tree planting section in the pavilion. included, they presented the tree planting initiatives of Azerbaijan, especially in Karabakh, to restore the ecological balance destroyed during the occupation of Armenia. that the military visitor who visited the pavilion saw the area digitally through a tablet and submitted an application for this area and joined his own tree planting initiative. More pine and olive trees were planted here. Most of these trees were based on the city of Fuzuli in the Karabakh region. was one of the main issues, at least one of the important steps to directly convey to the world the crimes committed against our nature in the occupied territory. Especially this year for our Azerbaijan, as well as the world What is important is that even when the COP29 on climate change is held, certain tours will be organized to territories freed from occupation during the arrival of tourists in Azerbaijan. There is another point that certain decrees have been signed in Azerbaijan on the reduction of the emission of gases that create a heat effect. mentioned the first near-term plans, where it is planned to reduce it to 35%, and to 40% in 2050 This can be directly considered as one of the steps taken by Azerbaijan in Green Energy policy. Another point is that at COP28, there were certain speeches related to the correct use of water resources and the reduction of fresh water resources in the world and at the same time water waste. Azerbaijan’s water sources are always a source of risk because they originate directly from transboundary countries. We have many rivers, which directly pass through the territory of neighboring Armenia, for 30 years they were deliberately polluted and more waste was discharged into these rivers in nearby deposits, causing the destruction of the biodiversity there, as well as the waste discharged through these rivers coming to the territory of Azerbaijan. it also plays a role in catching certain diseases of people living nearby. This is one of the main issues. In order to prevent water wastage in every person, ensuring the correct use of water and, in addition, implementing more drip irrigation and pivot irrigation in agricultural irrigation play a big role in preventing excess water wastage. This was also one of the main topics, which I had speeches about at COP28.
– What initiatives have you had regarding environmental protection and compliance with ecotourism standards in Karabakh?
– In December 2022 in Karabakh, on the Lachin-Khankendi road, I am one of the eco-activists protesting against the illegal use of Armenia’s copper-gold and molybdenum deposits and dumping of waste into the environment, environmental pollution. We participated in this action for a long time to achieve our goal. We directly implement projects related to the protection of the environment, our ecology, and at the same time proper waste management, sorting of plastic containers and other waste for Azerbaijan and the world, which are clearly one of the main factors affecting everyone’s health. It would be appropriate to expand the ecotourism activity in Karabakh after the security measures are fully implemented and the mines are completely cleared. For this, an ecotourism strategy should be implemented. I am in favor of strengthening the activities of relevant institutions in this regard.
The article was prepared within the framework of the “Ecotourism standards in liberated areas” project implemented by the Public Union of Integration to the Globalized World with the financial support of the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The position of the author or the interviewee and the position of the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations may not be consistent.