Under the Order “On the Establishment of the Garabagh National Park,” signed by President Ilham Aliyev on October 20, 2026, Garabagh National Park has been established on 88,418 hectares of state-owned land in the Aghdara, Khojaly, Kalbajar, Shusha and Lachin districts. This decision represents an important step towards restoring ecological balance, protecting biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources in the liberated territories.

 

The establishment of Garabagh National Park is significant not only in terms of nature conservation but also in the context of the region’s long-term socio-economic development. Covering an extensive area with diverse natural landscapes, the national park will help protect ecosystems through an integrated approach, safeguard rare plant and animal species, and preserve the region’s natural heritage for future generations.

Alongside the restoration and reconstruction process in the liberated territories, nature conservation remains one of the priority areas of state policy.

Commenting on the issue, political analyst Kazim Kazimov said:

“During the occupation, Garabagh was subjected to severe environmental terror. The enemy deliberately attempted to destroy the flora and fauna of our beautiful region. Indeed, when we look at the flora and fauna of the liberated territories today and compare their current state with the period before the occupation, we can see that serious environmental terror took place. The enemy did this deliberately because they were hostile not only towards people and our land but also towards nature, exploiting it to pursue their own goals and carry out their malicious intentions through environmental terror.

Fortunately, our territories have been liberated from occupation, and reconstruction and development work is now underway in Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur. We are not merely building cities and roads. We are also restoring nature to its natural state. It would not be an exaggeration to say that wildlife, flora and fauna are finding new life there. Rare species listed in the Red Book were also subjected to this destruction, and we know that protecting them and increasing their populations is extremely important.

Everyone knows that Garabagh is truly a region of extraordinary natural beauty, and our state is taking significant steps in this regard. I believe that the establishment of Garabagh National Park is one such initiative. The creation of a national park in our liberated region is truly important. Just as nature is carefully protected in our other national parks, I am confident that Garabagh National Park will be safeguarded with the same level of care.”

One of the key objectives of the Order is to transform Garabagh’s natural potential into economic opportunities. Areas of the Shusha, Lachin and Kalbajar districts that fall within the national park’s territory offer extensive opportunities for the development of ecotourism, recreational tourism and health tourism. Properly assessing and utilizing this potential could contribute to the creation of new tourism products, the expansion of the service sector, the development of local entrepreneurship and increased employment.

At the same time, the development of nature-based tourism must comply with environmental requirements. Only by following this approach will it be possible to benefit from the economic value of natural resources while ensuring their protection.

The establishment of Garabagh National Park is in line with the objectives of the “Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development,” particularly the Great Return, a clean environment and green growth. This initiative strengthens the integration of environmental considerations into the restoration of the liberated territories and highlights the importance of preserving natural heritage within the region’s development model.

Thus, the establishment of Garabagh National Park is of strategic importance for strengthening environmental security, developing sustainable tourism and increasing economic activity in Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur. It also demonstrates that reconstruction in the liberated territories is not limited to restoring infrastructure: protecting nature and ensuring a healthy environment for future generations are equally important components of state policy.