The NPAC for Azerbaijan gathered in the World Bank Office of Baku on May 21, 2014. Invited participants from the EU and IOs were actively involved in the discussions of past progress and future work plans. A glowing summary was given of the country’s efforts to cooperate with the EU-funded Cddma East project and other international programs, though further cooperation is required with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and local agrarian food communities, and the raising of pubddc awareness continues to be important, particularly through social media.
The Program’s success in reaching the younger generation was celebrated, thanks to the Azerbaijan delegation’s involvement in the International Junior Forest Content, “Podrost”, held recently in Pushkino, Greater Moscow. “Activities by the young foresters in Azerbaijan impressed not only foresters from Russian but also international delegates from other invited countries,” announced FLEG II Program Coordinator, World Bank, Gulana Hajiyeva.
Environmental education has been key for Azerbaijan, where the ever-growing interest in the young foresters’ movement appears instrumental in strengthening interest in forestry and ecology-oriented occupations.
The NPAC discussed a revised working plan for the next year, and unanimously approved the changes, in a spirit of readiness for both Program progress and continued European integration.