11.4. Green, Green Azerbaijan!

Winter 2003 (11.4)
Pages 33

Green, Green Azerbaijan! - Novruz 2004
First Annual Volunteer Spring Tree Planting

Come celebrate life and Azerbaijan's future by planting a tree for your child! Azerbaijan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources announces the First Annual Volunteer Reforestation project called "Green, Green Azerbaijan! Novruz 2004."

Below: (Top)About 30 different species of trees have been chosen for the Reforestation program carried out by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

Bottom: Husein Baghirov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, together with Drew Goodbread, Manager of ExxonMobil, and Leyla Rezaguliyeva involved with planting trees.

About 30 different species of trees have been chosen for the Reforestation program carried out by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

Husein Baghirov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, together with Drew Goodbread, Manager of ExxonMobil, and Leyla Rezaguliyeva involved with planting trees.

As part of an extended 2004 Novruz Celebration, this event will take place on the Saturdays and Sundays during the entire month of March. Each family, including foreigners who are living in Azerbaijan, as well as Azerbaijanis who are living abroad, is invited to join in this enormous effort in the greening of Azerbaijan.

Come and give a few hours volunteering to plant trees in a nearby park or obtain trees to bring back home and plant in your own yard or garden. Several species of trees will be available along with instructions for optimal growing conditions.

Azerbaijan currently has only 11 percent of its territory in forests. The goal is to double that amount in the 10-15 years. This Novruz, the goal is for volunteers to plant one million trees during March. In the past two years, more than 30 million trees have been planted in Azerbaijan by the Ministry. Such reforestation not only is good for Azerbaijan, but also contributes to world health.

Come celebrate life by planting a tree for each child in your family. Make it an annual Family Tradition at Novruz. Tree planting will also be carried out in schools and other educational institutions where the saplings will be offered free.

More information:

· Find out ways to get involved with Green, Green Azerbaijan!

· Join volunteer groups on Saturday and Sunday during the month of March

· Obtain trees to plant on your own property.

Contact the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources: (994-12) 41-42-05.
Visit the Ministry's Web site: ECO.gov.az.