The loss of biodiversity, climate change, and environmental pressures are deepening worldwide. Against this backdrop, Azerbaijan is taking consistent steps to protect the environment and preserve natural resources for future generations. A video report titled “Nature needs action, not just discussion,” broadcast on Euronews, focuses on these efforts, placing the activities of IDEA – the International Dialogue for Environmental Action Public Union at their core. The video emphasizes that today’s environmental challenges are not the responsibility of a single country, but of all humanity. “There are many environmental problems in the world, including biodiversity loss and climate change. It is no longer time to talk, but time to act. What we do is not for ourselves, but for the world, nature, and future generations,” the report states.
One of IDEA’s initiatives that has produced tangible results is the Caucasian bison reintroduction project. Launched in 2018, the Ismayilli district was selected for the project. Individuals kept in various European zoos and preserving the genetic characteristics of the Caucasian mountain bison were brought to Azerbaijan and released into their natural habitat.
The Euronews broadcast emphasizes that IDEA's activities are not limited to terrestrial ecosystems, but that the protection of the Caspian Sea is also one of its main directions. In particular, macroplastic pollution remains a serious threat to the Caspian.
“The majority of plastic waste reaches the Caspian coast from other countries through sea currents,” the video states. Against this threat, IDEA initiates clean-up campaigns in coastal areas, public awareness and international cooperation are being strengthened.
One of the central segments of the video is an interview with Leyla Aliyeva, who explains the philosophy and objectives behind IDEA’s establishment as follows:
“IDEA was created to respond to environmental challenges in Azerbaijan and around the world. From the very beginning, we understood that ecology is not only about protecting species or addressing climate issues. It is about our lifestyle, our culture, and each individual’s impact on the environment.”
Leyla Aliyeva notes that while protected natural areas are shrinking in many countries, Azerbaijan is expanding them:
“Unfortunately, many countries are losing their natural resources. Azerbaijan, on the contrary, is expanding its protected areas. In recent years, two new national parks have been established, and others have been expanded.”
According to her, plans are underway to establish the Karabakh National Park in the near future, which would mean that approximately 30 percent of the country’s territory would fall under special protection.
Leyla Aliyeva also stresses that the situation regarding the Caspian Sea is of particular concern:
“Today, we are focusing our attention on new and urgent challenges—especially the decline in the Caspian Sea’s water level, pollution, and increasing threats to marine life. This is a crisis that no country can resolve on its own.”
She underlines the importance of protecting the Caspian as a shared natural asset:
“We must work together and regard the Caspian Sea as a common national treasure.”
One of the most memorable messages from the interview is Leyla Aliyeva’s call to action:
“I think we have reached a stage where ecology increasingly means action. We have talked enough. Of course, that is important, but nature now needs action, not words.”
Leyla Aliyeva emphasizes that people's individual contributions also play a big role: "The most important thing is to stay positive, to understand that each person alone can make a big difference. Together, we can create miracles."
This Euronews video demonstrates that IDEA’s activities are not merely a collection of environmental projects, but a sustainable strategy based on a long-term vision as well as regional and international cooperation. The protection of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, the restoration of rare species, and the strengthening of public responsibility are the main pillars of this strategy. As a result of these efforts, environmental protection is becoming a real and livable legacy for future generations.
