CBD Fourth National Report - Azerbaijan (English version)

Country Study on Biodiversity and Fourth National Report
The Republic of Azerbaijan
pipeline have been laid in order to facilitate delivery of the Caspian oil and gas to worldwide
markets.
Under an economic blockade by Armenia, the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan has
suffered limited access to ground transport, communication connections and energy. In line
with improving economic conditions since the late 1990s, the Republic has provided finances
for the development and restoration of infrastructure. Investment in industry, transport,
construction, energy, education, health, agriculture and social needs has resulted in
improvement of conditions for the wider population.
Property rights on land
Land area of 8.64 million ha composing soil reserves of Azerbaijan Republic was allocated
into 3 forms of property ownership pursuant to the Law of Azerbaijan Republic “On land
reform”. As a result, 4.92 million ha was in state ownership (public domain), 2.05 million ha
in municipality ownership and 1.67 million ha was conveyed to private ownership. Land
reforms were carried out land reforms in 2032 farm economies of our republic and there
conducted partial reforms in 41 hereof and subsequently various designated state-owned
agriculture enterprises were established on the basis of them and assigned to subordination of
the Ministry of Agriculture.
As a result of land reform there released land plot to 870.8 thousand families or 3.2 million
persons in the country that it totals to 40% of the population. Only arable and noncropped
lands, perennial seeds and hayfields suitable in agriculture were conveyed to ownership of the
population in the course of reforms. The remaining lands were in the ownership of state and
municipality.
1020.0 ha agricultural lands diminished in 2008 in comparison with 2003. However irrigated
areas increased as 4701.0 ha. 28.9 ha lands increased in 2008 as compared to 2003. It proves
increased interest of the population to cropping. 11.25 thousand ha of noncropped lands were
involved to sowing. In this period countrywide interest increased towards horticulture and
vine-growing and area of them increased to 161.55 thousand ha from 158.52 thousand ha that
it means an increase of 3.03 thousand ha.
There diminished 22.3 thousand ha pasture-grazing area within the past period. Its main
reason is characterized in use of pasture-grazing areas as sowing and hayfield, construction of
temporary residential settlements (Bilasuvar, Aghdam, Tartar, Goranboy, Fuzuli, Aghjabedi
and other regions) for refugees and allocation of land plots under temporary usage for their
occupation with cropping and sowing. As evident from the table, nevertheless household plots
(home grounds) totalled to 254.40 thousand ha in 2003, their area reached to 258.50 thousand
ha by increasing 4.10 thousand ha in 2008. If every household plot is calculated as 0.08 ha
average, it means provision of 51.2 thousand families with household plot. Naturally, if
certain part of them is shared by IDPs, other part will be shared by the cities and villages.
Usage status of lands in different regions
Total area of farming lands equalled to 1.66 million ha or to 36.7% of agricultural lands in our
republic in 2008. Farming lands increased as 0.7% in 2008 as compared to 2003. 18.47% of
these areas (on 2008) is under state ownership, 5.35% under municipality ownership and
76.18% under private ownership.
Notwithstanding there were agricultural lands of 4.08 million ha in the republic in 1992, this
figure reached to 4.52 million ha in 2008 as a result of adequate pursuance of countrywide
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2009