A report on the scientific and scientific-organizational activities of the institute in 2024 was heard at the meeting of the Academic Council of the Institute of Geography named after acad H. Aliyev of MSE AR.

The event was attended by scientists-geographers of Baku State University, members of the Academic Council, and employees of the Institute of Geography.

Director General of the Institute of Geography, Professor Zakir Eminov presented a report on the activities of the institute. The head of the institute gave information on the work done in connection with the implementation of decrees and orders of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 4 documents have been prepared and published on the implementation of the 1st State Program on the Great Return to the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan: "Geography of the Aghdam administrative region: natural conditions and potential for socio-economic development", "Priority areas of demographic development and settlement in the Karabakh economic region", "Tourist and recreational potential of the Karabakh economic region", "Explanatory dictionary of ancient places of residence of the Karabakh economic region".

Within the framework of the implementation of the State Program “Employment Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2019-2030”, a book entitled “Socio-demographic development and employment problems of the Republic of Azerbaijan” was prepared and published.

It was reported that in 2024, the employees carried out their scientific activities based on 2 tasks - assessing the impact of extreme conditions caused by global climate change on the environment and socio-economic conditions in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and preparing proposals for adaptation and a comprehensive study of the Caspian Sea ecosystem. According to the scientific research plan, by the end of this year, 1 topic, 4 works and 3 stages were completed out of 16 topics, 17 works and 7 stages.

Speaking about the obtained scientific results, the professor noted that for the first time a large-scale (100,000) digital landscape-ecological network map of the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions was compiled, a structural-management model was proposed and the main elements of the ecological network (core, ecological corridor, freshwater ecosystems, natural and artificial forest ecosystems, natural monuments) were determined. The above will allow organizing and managing sustainable ecosystems in accordance with the state's "Great Return" program.

 Regarding the demographic development of the East Zangezur economic region and resettlement priorities, most of the region has been under occupation for over 30 years, and the population lives in a state of forced migrants. Therefore, demographic indicators are of an estimated nature, and there are difficulties in regulating them. As in the country, there is a periodicity in the dynamics of demographic indicators of the economic region. The decline that began in the 90s of the twentieth century continued until 2005, and the growth observed again in 2005-2016 began to decline after this period. Even now, very low indicators are typical.

A software package is being developed that determines the optimal orientation of solar panels for instantaneous, daily, monthly, seasonal, semi-annual, annual and any time interval. This software package can be used to determine the optimal direction of a solar panel in mountainous areas with complex terrain and high tourism potential, where the use of clean energy is of particular importance, including in the liberated Karabakh region.

The landscape and climatic conditions and resort and recreational resources of the East Zangezur economic region were studied based on scientific sources; samples of the historical and cultural heritage of the region and their exact coordinates were summarized, a database was created using ArcGIS software, and the final result was the "Tourist Map of the East Zangezur Economic Region". Based on the map, it is possible to develop such types of tourism in the region as nature tourism, adventure tourism, sports tourism, biotourism, ecotourism, medical tourism.

The Institute of Geography hosted two international scientific and practical seminars on the topic “The Impact of Modern Climate Change on Natural Complexes and the Economic System of Azerbaijan” and “Modern Problems of Geography: Integration of Science and Education”, dedicated to the 29th session of the COP.

It was noted that this year, the institute's staff published 2 issues of the journal "Geography and Natural Resources", 8 monographs, 2 textbooks, 2 teaching aids. In 2024, the institute's staff published 217 scientific articles and 6 dissertations, 90 of which were published abroad, 27 of with impact factor index. Four research projects have been completed on the basis of grants, and a work on two is ongoing.

The institute has 24 PhD students, 4 dissertators, and 10 dissertators studying for Doctors of Science degrees.

Speaking about the institute's international relations, the professor noted that 6 memorandums on scientific cooperation have been signed this year.