In accordance with the «Nature and Biodiversity» thematic program of the COP29 held in Baku on November 21, IDEA, the Caucasus regional programs of the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the WWF Azerbaijan office and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources jointly organized the event «Leopards’ future In a changing climate» event was held. This was reported to GreenPen.az by WWF Azerbaijan COP29 communication coordinator Elchin Sardarov.

At the event, the regional director of WWF’s Caucasus program, Gheorgi Sanadiradze, warmly greeted the guests and introduced the goals of the event, then gave the floor to Leyla Aliyeva, the vice president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the founder of the IDEA (International Dialogue Initiative on Environmental Protection)

Ms. Leyla spoke about IDEA’s cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the field of protection of endangered leopards included in the «Red Book» of Azerbaijan, noted that climate change also affects leopards and emphasized the importance of continuing practical work in the field of nature protection.

Director of WWF-Azerbaijan, Elshad Asgarov, spoke about the work done jointly with IDEA and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources within the framework of the «Leopard Protection in the South Caucasus» project, the benefit of endangered leopards to the sustainability of the ecosystem, and their current status in the Talysh mountains (Lankaran, Astara and Lerik regions). , Zangezur (in the southeastern part of the Lesser Caucasus (Zangilan, Gubadli districts), Karabakh and Nakhchivan mountains (in the part of Zangezur district belonging to Nakhchivan), reported that it was registered in the territory of Acinohur and noted that the leopard is a unique biological resource, and talked about the initiatives of educating the young generation in ecological education camps in the field of biodiversity protection. The guests of WWF and İDEA showed great interest in the photoflash film about the life of leopards, gazelles, bison and other species.

Assistant to the President Anar Alakbarov, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder of IDEA Leyla Aliyeva, Head of Baku Media Center Arzu Aliyeva, representative of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, director of WWF-international for Europe and North Africa Ajay Barai, WWF chief technical advisor of the «Eco-Corridor in the Caucasus» program Yerney Stritih, WWF nature protection regional manager Maka Bitsadze and others made speeches about the effects of climate change on biodiversity, work with communities, and the work done in the field of public awareness.

By Elchin Sardarov