Azerbaijan Branch office of Regional Environmental Center for Caucasus (REC Caucasus) has organized National seminar under “Identification and implementation of adaptation response to Climate Change impact for Conservation and Sustainable use of agro-biodiversity in arid and semi-arid ecosystems of South Caucasus” project. The seminar was organized at Aarhus Center in Baku city on 15 February 2012. The main purpose of the seminar was presentation of reports on policy, legal and institutional framework, agro-biodiversity, climate characteristics and climate change tendencies, situation in agricultural sector and at pastures, social assessment, geo-morphological assessment and natural resources assessment prepared by relevant project experts and provision of discussions on issues indicated in presented reports.

Before organization of seminar information on the purpose, date and place of the event to relevant Ministries, Agencies, Institutes and NGOs to achieve high participation. Besides, all participants have been provided with electronic version of reports summaries. As a results, representatives from National Parliament, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, National Geographical Institute, State Land and Cartography Committee, ecological and agricultural NGOs have participated in the seminar.

Project experts presented their reports in consecutive order according to Agenda of seminar. After each presentation,discussion session was conducted .

Intensive discussions have been provided around selection of most vulnerable communities. Director of Azerbaijan Branch office of REC Caucasus – Mr.Aliyev mentioned that there is a need for development of current report as it tackles the important point – selection of pilot areas. The proposed methodology by international expert that focuses on 3 components – assessing arid and semi-arid characteristics, social and human capital and agricultural characteristics should be analyzed carefully and used during selection approach. Mr. Ragimov, representative of National Geographic Institute, has also mentioned importance of selection of proper methodology for identification of arid and semi-arid characteristics (methods of Koppen or Penman Monteyta).In warp-up session, all the participants indicated their consent with provided work and prepared reports.