The second visit of the EU-funded ENPI FLEG Program’s International Legal Consultant, Peter Herbst, took place from September 5 to September 12, 2011 in Azerbaijan. The main objective of the seminar was to hold meetings with stakeholders focused on advancing Azerbaijani forest legislation and hold seminar titled “Improving the Azerbaijani forest legislation”, in order to share the outcomes of the recent programme activities organised in the capital and the pilot regions.

The Legal Team consisting of a National Legal Consultant, and an Assistant to Legal Consultants chaired by Mr. Herbst carried out numerous activities during the visit, including meetings with the representatives of state authorities, local executive authorities and municipalities in Baku and in the pilot regions. The purpose of the meetings was to examine shortcomings of the current forest legislation system, as well as study working methods and law enforcement practices.

The Team has conducted a field visit to the Lankaran region. A series of meetings were also conducted with representatives of the regional branch of the Forest Development Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR), foresters, local ecological NGOs and municipalities. During these meetings, stakeholders discussed the particularities of the regional ecosystems and biodiversity, in addition to identifying the main threats and challenges. The information which has been gathered so far is currently being analysed by the Programme’s Legal Team, which is expected to deliver relevant proposals and recommendations in the near future.

A series of meetings were conducted with the representatives of the regional branch of the Forest Development Department of MENR, foresters, local ecological NGOs (“Damir Aghaj” and “Transparency” resource center), local executive authorities and municipalities. During the meetings the stakeholders discussed the particularities of the regional ecosystems and biodiversity, and identified the main threats and challenges.

All gathered information is currently being examined and analyzed by the Program’s Legal Team. The Team is expected to deliver proposals and recommendations in the nearest future.