President Aliyev signs decree establishing Garabagh National Park covering 88,418 hectares

On October 20 President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree establishing the Garabagh National Park. The preamble notes that the Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur economic regions have a rich natural heritage, and that biodiversity there was seriously damaged during the period of Armenian occupation.

Under the decree, the park is created on 88,418 hectares of state land in the Aghdara, Khojaly, Kalbajar, Shusha and Lachin districts. The largest share, about 44,774 hectares, lies in Aghdara. The land is placed in the category of specially protected natural areas.

The decree lists its aims as expanding the network of protected natural areas, promoting the region's ecosystem and natural heritage internationally, restoring and conserving biodiversity, sustainable use of natural resources and developing ecotourism. The Cabinet of Ministers is tasked with resolving the issues arising from the decree.