Professor, Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Alovsat Guliyev delivered a leadership lecture on the condition of Azerbaijan’s soils

On November 6, 2025, within the framework of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Problems and Prospects of Biodiversity Conservation in Central Asia”, Professor Alovsat Guliyev, Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), delivered a leadership lecture at the Faculty of Geography and Environment Sciences of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

The lecture, titled “Eco-reclamation state of Azerbaijan’s soils after the collapse of the Soviet Union and ways of their regulation”, was addressed to students of the “Ecology” and “Hydrology” educational programs. In his presentation, Professor Guliyev analyzed the current condition of Azerbaijan’s soils and highlighted environmental challenges that emerged in the post-Soviet period.

The scientist emphasized that one of the most serious threats is the degradation of irrigated lands manifested in secondary salinization, waterlogging, and desertification. The main causes of these processes are irrational water use, the deterioration of irrigation infrastructure, and the lack of a modern monitoring system.

The issues raised in the lecture are directly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
• Goal 2 – Zero Hunger: restoring soil fertility and increasing crop yields;
• Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation: promoting rational water use and preventing water degradation;
• Goal 15 – Life on Land: preventing desertification and soil degradation and restoring land productivity.

Professor Alovsat Guliyev’s lecture holds strategic importance for the sustainable development of agriculture, ensuring environmental security, and improving the well-being of Azerbaijan’s population. The lecture attracted great interest from students and faculty members, serving as a vivid example of international scientific cooperation and exchange of experience in the fields of ecology and nature management.

The UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Development and the Faculty of Geography and Environment Sciences express their sincere gratitude to Professor Alovsat Guliyev for his informative and relevant lecture, which contributes to fostering international scientific dialogue and shaping the ecological worldview of future specialists.