Eco-front: Guarding the environment in Azerbaijan

Consistent approach, positive results

Environmental activists believe that consistent and continuous activity is one of the main principles for gaining access to wide masses.

“It is not enough to hold just a few events. People like to see results. Both the cleaning of the local lake and previous successful projects, and the prevention of mass deforestation are already building people’s trust in us. They see that we are capable of real work and therefore they join us and start to take on an active part in our other environmental projects.”

Javid Gara says that the main problem facing lakes in Baku is contamination with household waste and wastewater. Wastewater is discharged into the Binagadi lake, too.

“The thing is that from here wastewater flows into the nearby Masazir lake, from which salt is extracted. Currently, this issue is at the centre of public attention. According to information we have, the prosecutor’s office has launched proceedings against the Azerduz company which operates on the Masazir lake, and a serious investigation is under way.”

Illegal hunting and net fishing are other problems facing Baku’s lakes.

Eco-front is trying to do certain work regarding these fields as well. Elvin Mamedsoy, who is especially interested in wild birds, says that the Binagadi lake has great potential, in particular, regarding migratory water and wading birds. After cleaning the are, members of the movement together with local residents try to conduct regular observations around the lake to prevent further illegal acts. However, preventing illegal hunting and fishing requires a long fight and a continuous public awareness campaign.