Ministry of Ecology Accuses Citizens of Setting Fire to Forests

Baku / 03.08.18 / Turan: Since the beginning of this year, 19 fires have been registered in the forests on the territory of the country, Department Director of the Ministry of Ecology Hikmet Alizadeh said at a press conference on Friday. As a result, more than 700 hectares of forest territory were burnt.

The largest fires took place in Shabran, Oguz, Yardimli, Agdash, Lankaran, Khachmaz, Khizi and other regions.

As for the causes of forest fires, Deputy Minister of Ecology Firdovsi Aliyev laid the blame for this on citizens. According to him, in 97% of fires in the forest zone people are to blame.

He tried to explain his conclusion by the relief of the country. 85% of the country's forests are in the mountains, and 15% are in the lowland. Spontaneous combustion of forests in the mountain zone is impossible," Aliyev said, without explaining why he decided so.

Until now, law enforcement agencies have not prosecuted anyone for forest fires. Likewise, the Ministry of Ecology did not point to specific individuals or organizations guilty of the forest fires.

It should be noted that every year during the summer drought in Azerbaijan, like in the whole world, forest fires occur. The drier the weather and the higher the temperature, the more and more fires in the forests. -02D-