Baku, August 2009
APA News Agency

“The green area will be double extended due to the measures implemented within the presidential order to plant three million trees in the Absheron peninsula. We researched the areas for tree planting and water sources as well”, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Huseyn Bagirov told YAP website, APA reports. The minister said they elaborated projects for this goal. “The projects have scientific backgrounds. We elaborated 5-6 projects and now we are working on nearly 20 projects. We are looking forward to plant large green areas around the airport in the places of former markets the year. Trees will be planted in the place of lakes near the highway to the airport. We are planning to plant totally 2 000 hectares of green areas in that territory”.

Bagirov said cases of tree cutting were reduced after the presidential order. “The society should be careful. There is strong public control in the country and people protest against cutting of every tree. The number of planted trees exceeds the number of cut ones. There are large amount of fines imposed on the tree cutting. 60 000 AZN of fine was imposed on tree cutting in Baku in the past 2-3 months”.