EUCC has compiled country files on Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) for all coastal states of Europe and Central Asia. Summaries for all countries will become available in August.
This page provides a preliminary summary on the following items for Azerbaijan:

• Spatial planning
• Environment
• Nature Conservation
• Sectoral Development
• Framework for Development of ICZM
• National Achievements in the Field of ICZM
• Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM

1. Spatial Planning
 
 

1.1 Legislation and Regulations

• Criminal Code article 158-1 gives norms of penalty for building on the coastal shelf and within special security zones surrounding it, as well as for non-compliance with the relevant protection measures. Article 50 permits large-scale projects influencing the environment only at the permission of the parliament based on ecological examination.

1.2 Administrative Competencies

Azerbaijan is divided into 67 administrative territorial units (districts), of which 11 lie within the coastal zone. No further information received.

1.3 Coastal Policy

No information received.
 
 

2. Environment
 
 

2.1 Legislation and Regulations

• Criminal Code gives protection measures for the Caspian Sea and liability for the violation of these laws. More specific:
  • Article 57 envisages the observation of actions on preservation of water balance, rational use of water and land areas etc.
  • Article 60-2 forbids use of toxic chemical agents, influencing population and nature.
  • Article 160-1 envisages penalty for among other things pollution of the sea by substances harmful to peopleís health or living organisms of the sea.
• Decree No. 122: Payments for the Use of Natural Resources, Norms of Payments for Environmental Contamination (1992)
• Law On Environmental Protection and Nature Utilisation (1992)
• Several regulations and instructions such as Regulations on the State Committee for the Environment (1992), Regulation on the Evaluation of Environmental Impact (1996), Instruction on the Order of Transfer of Sea Environment Information, Rules of Surface Sea Waters Protection, Temporary Recommendations on Control Stations Establishment in the Area of Sewage Flow in the Coastal Sea Zone.
• Water law(s), still to be approved.

The ecological norms system includes maximal permitted concentrations (MPC) of pollutants in the environment and maximal permitted single waste disposals into the environment. There are no specific laws regulating Ecological Audit and a lot of work is needed for establishing independent Audit control in the field of ecology auditorsí training and regulation of rights and responsibilities of independent auditors.

2.2 Administrative Competencies

The State Committee for the Environment is directly subordinated to the President of Azerbaijan. Its responsibilities include development and implementation of the governmental ecological policy, development of recommendations for nature protection measures, supervising the observation of all standards and carrying out state control over the status and utilisation of natural resources. National governmental monitoring of the environment is implemented by the State Committee for Hydrometerology and the Committee for the Environment. Local (district and municipal) Committees on Ecology (directly subordinated to the State Committee for the Environment) assisted by the Central Inspectorate are responsible for enforcement of existing regulations.

2.3 Environmental Policy

The Ecological Concept of the Republic of Azerbaijan specifies the principles of state environmental policy. In order to realise these principles a National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) was adopted. Policy aims to establish and develop the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Programme, review the existing ecological standards and improve them to the level of standards recommended by the European Union, use economical mechanisms to decrease contamination levels, improve ecological awareness and education, intensify the co-operation with regional and international organisations, improve the system of ecological monitoring and establish the ëContaminator paysí principle.  [1] Under the 1997 Urgent Environmental Improvement Projects a new hatchery for sturgeon is soon to be built, there have been clean-ups of oil spills at the coast of the Caspian Sea and there are two ongoing oil clean-up projects. A Reserve Fund for Environmental Protection has been established, but charges are hardly collected. [2] Recently, for the first time in Azerbaijan, Regional Councils have been elected, which could prove to be advantageous to environmental policy in the future.
 
 

3. Nature Conservation
 
 

3.1 Legislation and Regulations

• Law On the Protection of Nature Utilisation of Natural Resources (1992)
• Provisions of the State Reserves of the Azerbaijan Republic
• Decree No. 122: Payments for the Use of Natural Resources, Norms of Payments for Environmental Contamination (1992)

3.2 Administrative Competencies

The State Committee for the Environment manages all strict preserves, with the exception of the Gobustan Archaeological Preserve. Some of the other conservation areas or reserves are managed autonomously; some through regional, inter-regional or municipal Committees on Ecology and Nature Use Control. [3]

3.3 System of Protected Areas

A network has been established, which is based on the specification of specially protected areas with different degrees of protection, consisting of strict preserves or Zapavedniks (15), state reserves/conservation areas or Zakazniks (20), state hunting areas (2) and nature monuments. [4] On the Azerbaijan coast of the Caspian there are the Kyzylagach state reserve, the Shirvan state reserve (Zapavedniks) and the Byandovan (Zakaznik). Due to a lack of funds the effectiveness of the system of protected areas has decreased. The system is also incomplete as critical sites, migratory routes, and ecosystems are not represented and many areas are too small to successfully realise their conservation objectives. Due to a lack of funding ongoing research has virtually been halted. [5] The Biodiversity section in the National Environmental Action Plan is still in need of elaboration. Scientists have prepared a Nature Protection Plan through the year 2010, which includes maps and proposed growth of the protected area system.
 
 

4. Sectoral Development
 
 

4.1 Coastal Defence

Preventatives measures in the situation of continuous rise of the Caspian level have been identified and include setting up a united organisation and co-ordination body responsible for development and implementation of the Complex Coast Protective Programme, establishing Caspian coastal monitoring and developing general plans for the towns subject to flooding. Cost estimates have been made, but implementation has not started yet. Under the Caspmorniiproject initiative has been taken for research and methods of protection - passive and active - by means of coast consolidation installations such as stone sand dikes, an inclined step wall and wave flows activities. Due to lack of funds, implementation of several construction and erection projects has stopped at present. Since 1995, the Caspian water level has declined slightly from its previous high, allowing for more time to prepare a coastal zone management plan. Article 57 of the Criminal Code observes the actions on prevention of flooding and erosion.

4.2 Recreation and Tourism

The most developed recreation zone is the Apsheron Peninsula, where all health institutions of the coastal zone and various other resorts are located. The coastal zone of Khachmas resort and recreation region is one of the most perspective. At present there are no financial means in the Republic for developing the tourist sector. Furthermore, the State Sanitary Inspection and the Municipal Sanitary Service prohibited the use of several beaches for recreational purposes due to the high level of pollution. It is necessary to restructure the existing tourist institutions and gain direct access to the international tourist market. The attraction of foreign investments and creation of transnational tourist enterprises would allow for establishing tourist and recreational infrastructure. However, at present attracting purposive investments is very difficult, therefore no short-term changes are expected.
 
 

4.3 Fisheries and Aquaculture

As a result of a range of factors, fishery has sharply reduced. From the total amount of fish caught, the share of sprat is the largest. Very important export products include sturgeon and caviar. Since 1989 the illegal catch of fish has strongly increased. Article 159 of the Criminal Code envisages penalty for e.g. unlawful fishing. As far as the reproduction of fish is concerned, there are 10 fish-enterprises operating of which 3 are sturgeon factories, 2 salmon factories and 5 facilities for the reproduction of carps and plant-eating fish. At present a project has started for the construction of two fish-breeding factories in the Neftechala region. An Aquaculture Development Plan for 1999-2100 for Azerbaijan has been worked out.

4.5 Transport and Energy

Railways are the most important kind of transport. Furthermore, naval transport plays an important role in economic relations with other countries. Transportation of goods from Europe to Asia is provided by ferry-crossing Baku-Turkmenistan. The international airport and advantageous transit location made Baku an important centre of international air transportation. The number of private vehicles is relatively low.

Azarbaijanís economic potential lies in the energy sector in particular. National resources include petroleum and natural gas. Oil has been extracted since the end of the 19th century. In the middle of the 20th century oil-deposits surveying in the Caspian Sea area started. There are no power complexes on the territories of coastal regions, except for the Apsheron region. Work is proceeding on two early oil export pipelines. Within the following years there may be a decision on the construction of a main oil pipeline. At present, Azerbaijan is not using such a potential natural energy resource as wind energy, which was widely used in the Apsheron Peninsula and other regions in the past.

4.6 Harbours and Shipping

The Baku Sea trading port consists of five terminals and takes the leading position among the Caspian seaports. Within the framework of Provision for Stable Operation of the Ports and Ship-repair Plants of the Caspian Basin in Respect to a Lake Level Rise (1991) the problem of reconstruction of port facilities and ship-repair plants of the Caspian steamship-line in Azerbaijan was considered. There is a perspective plan of the construction of recreation zones on the coast, which also deals with sea transportation into recreation areas. However, considerable capital investments and construction of port facilities are needed to implement this project.

4.7 Industry

In terms of industrial development, Azerbaijan used to be one of the most prospective countries of the USSR. More than half of the GNP is created in industry, of which 70% are concentrated on the Apsheron peninsula. The economyís most prominent products are oil, cotton and gas. Among other branches of industry of importance are the construction industry based on local raw materials, light industry and the production and processing of agricultural products. The current trend shows a decline in the production in the majority of industries, the decline in the fuel and energy industries being of a more moderate character. The industrial sector has been a source of severe air, water and soil pollution for decades, mainly due to outdated technology and malfunctioning or absent pollution preventing or abatement equipment.
 
 

4.8 Agriculture

Azerbaijan has a long tradition in agriculture, and this sector plays an important role in its economy. About half of the countryís land resources are being used for agriculture. Many soils are exhausted and many areas damaged by erosion and affected by high salinity. The use of pesticides and fertilisers has also been a major water pollution problem, however the use of chemicals has declined since the late 1980s. Agriculture is specialised in the cultivation of vegetables, fruits, cotton, tobacco, subtropical cultures, silkworm and sheep breeding. Agricultural output has declined substantially due to economic difficulties, delay in the realisation of land reforms and the monopoly of state of the main kinds of agricultural products. There is a good agricultural potential and agricultural output could be expanded with the right combination of privatisation of land, modern technology and marketing techniques. The country has a good potential as a supplier of fruits and vegetables.
 
 

5. Framework for the Development of ICZM
 
 

• Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters
• Rio de Janeiro Convention on Biodiversity Preservation (signed but not ratified)
• UN Convention to Combat Desertification (1998, signed but not ratified)

Currently a Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea is under preparation as well as the ratification of the Ramsar Convention. [6]
 
 

6. National Achievements in the Field of ICZM
 
 

• Under the project Environmental Rehabilitation of Sumgait, an Environment Centre has been established to undertake various research activities and to raise environmental awareness and sensitivity among industry, decision-makers, and the community in general. Furthermore, an environmental database and a monitoring programme are being developed and a Trust Fund will be created, which will identify priority environmental rehabilitation activities. [7]
• Under the Caspmorniiproject a number of research and design projects have been carried out on the coast. Research information is available on the total length of the coast.
• The State Committee for the Environment initiated the establishment of a Co-ordinating Council on Co-operation to solve the problems of the Caspian Sea with participation of international organisations. Contacts have been established with international ecological organisations as well as with various relevant governmental departments of many foreign countries.
• The Committee is also making efforts to strengthen environmental awareness e.g. by organising seminars, using mass media, donating books to secondary schools, publishing scientific documentary films and so on.

7. Problems and Constraints for the Development of ICZM
 
 

• Legal and constitutional constraints such as: [8]
  • lack of integration of environmental and economic policies;
  • weak enforcement capabilities and mechanisms;
  • overlap of the responsibilities of the various government agencies creating conflicting activities and/or duplication of efforts;
  • lack of separation between environmental regulation and control from production activities (e.g. forestry and fisheries), some of the environmental regulatory functions are currently delegated to organisations responsible for production causing a clear conflict of interest often resulting in environmental concerns being down-played;
• Although preparations are being made, several important international conventions have not been signed yet.
• For many decades the ecological education and awareness in Azerbaijan has been of a politicised character. As a result there is an extremely unsatisfactory level of ecological education and lack of literature available for the general public. [9]

Lack of financial means.