"Before the occupation, the total area of the forest fund in the Khojavend region was 22,428 hectares, of which 20,403 hectares were covered with forest," Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vugar Karimov told journalists during a media tour organized by the ministry to the liberated Fizuli and Khojavend regions.
Report quotes Karimov as saying that according to satellite images, 3,537.4 hectares of forest were destroyed during the occupation.
Karimov said 12 ancient trees (7 oriental plane trees, 5 Azatagachi), two geological and paleontological monuments (Azykh and Taghlar caves and Azatagaci forest area) with the status of natural monuments were in the region before the occupation.
"Azykh geological, paleontological monument, located 15 kilometers from Hadrut settlement, was discovered in 1960 and registered as a natural monument in 1982," he said.