Leyla Aliyeva meets Executive Director of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Monique Barbut

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Leyla Aliyeva meets Executive Director of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Monique Barbut

Leyla Aliyeva meets Executive Director of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Monique Barbut
04/12/2015

On December 4, Leyla Aliyeva, the Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the founder and head of IDEA Public Union, who participated in the 21st Paris Conference of the United Nations on Climate Change, met with Executive Director of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Monique Barbut.

A Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation was signed at the meeting between IDEA and UNCCD. This document reflects the areas of cooperation and its format, along with defining the framework of cooperation between the two organizations.

After the signing ceremony, a bilateral meeting took place between Leyla Aliyeva and Monique Barbut. Leyla Aliyeva gave information about the measures taken towards increasing fertility of saline lands in the country and widening forests. It was mentioned that mass tree-planting actions are arranged by IDEA Public Union on a regular basis with a view to supporting the works carried out by the state towards increasing green areas. Such actions are, as a rule, welcomed by the general public, and great interest is shown towards it. Over the course of 4 years of IDEA Public Union’s operation, over 5 million trees were planted in the country’s territory. Moreover, IDEA launched the “No Cutting Down of Trees” Programme since May last year in order to protect forest belts and green areas. Mutual understanding and close ties between the Public Union and the youth forms the foundation of IDEA projects’ success. Leyla Aliyeva touched upon the activity of the organization she heads in other areas, and its future plans.

Monique Barbut congratulated IDEA on its accreditation with UNCCD. She gave information about UNCCD’s main priorities, as well as projects it has implemented. It was also underscored that the civil society, especially IDEA, could play a significant role in solving the issue of desertification and shortage of forestry in our country.

The parties held discussions also over the perspectives of implementing joint projects both in Azerbaijan and the regions, and organization of international events.