World Bank assesses land use potential in Azerbaijan

Taking into account the level of dependence on natural resources, Azerbaijan currently uses only 70% of the total economic potential of land use in crop production, cattle-breeding, and forestry, The World Bank’s research said, Report informs.

According to the bank, land use efficiency can be increased mainly through the intensification of cropland and the conversion of pastures to cropland. Moreover, significant biodiversity and carbon reduction advances can be achieved without sacrificing funding. At the same production cost, the maximum carbon capacity would correspond to an increase of 116 million tons CO2 reduction. This is equivalent to approximately 1.5 years of greenhouse gas emissions in Azerbaijan in 2018, the World Bank noted.

According to the research, about 40% of the remaining cropland is being intensified through investment in irrigation and greater use of modern production facilities. The bank said that landscape restoration and land rehabilitation in polluted regions of Azerbaijan is another component of efficient land use, a prerequisite for urban regeneration.

The World Bank believes that the example of Khojasen Lake restoration demonstrates the potential environmental and economic benefits of land and urban lake restoration.

As noted, 57.6% of land use falls on the share of agriculture. Over half of it is permanent pastures. Forests make up about 14% of the land cover. But after gaining independence, this number was close to 10%.