Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in opening of the new building of Institute of Botany in Baku and reviewed the developments at the Botanical Garden

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the opening of the new building of the Institute of Botany in Baku and reviewed the developments at the Botanical Garden.

Head of Executive Power of Baku City Eldar Azizov briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the construction and reconstruction activities carried out at the Central Botanical Garden.

The garden, covering an area of more than 45 hectares, preserves 247 species of trees and 162 species of shrubs. The administrative building of the Institute of Botany of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, built between 1935-1938, was in a dilapidated state and was replaced with a new building during reconstruction. The total area of the new five-story building is 3700 square meters.

The first floor of the building consists of laboratory sectors.  Plant resources and ethnobotany, as well as seed bank and plant introduction departments are located here.  On the second floor of the building there is an assembly hall for 80 people, three laboratories, a defense council, the secretariat of the scientific council of the Institute of Botany, and accounting.  On the third floor, geobotany, public relations, experimental botany and international relations departments will operate.  Systematics of higher plants and herbarium fund are located on the fourth floor.  The Herbarium Fund of the Institute of Botany has been operating since the institute was founded in 1936.  In addition to Azerbaijan, about six hundred thousand species of flora of other countries are protected here. At the same time, The Central Botanical Garden's administrative building, constructed in 1937 and shaped like a crescent, covering an area of 900 square meters, was thoroughly renovated from a dilapidated state.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva also inspected the modern greenhouse under construction within the Central Botanical Garden's premises. The greenhouse measures 19 meters in width, 47 meters in length, and 15 meters in height. Inside, there is a 3-meter-high bridge and a pedestrian walkway connecting both entrances.
The Institute operates 4 local and 2 international databases aimed at enhancing and strengthening the science information system.

The orangery will be equipped with modern heating, cooling and humidification equipment.  40 units of the glass system on it will open automatically and provide seasonal ventilation.

 It should be noted that the Central Botanical Garden, established in 1934, operated as a scientific-research institution in order to protect the plant species and gene pool existing in the flora of Azerbaijan.  After Azerbaijan regained its independence, the state policy in the field of environment and ecology protection began to be formed during the leadership of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev.  Currently, President Ilham Aliyev is paying special attention to the issues of protection and efficient use of plant biodiversity in our country.  Reconstruction works in the Central Botanical Garden were carried out in accordance with the relevant orders of the President of Azerbaijan.

 Currently, in the Central Botanical Garden, in addition to the laboratories "Plant ecology", "Introduction and selection of decorative plants", "Biochemistry of food and medicinal plants", "Woody plants", "Tropical and subtropical plants", "Strategic development, international cooperation and project management", "Biological collections", "Horticulture and landscaping", "Supply and service" and other departments are operating.