On 29 January 2020, the newspaper “Azerbaijan” published an article by the first vice-president of ANAS, academician Ibrahim Guliyev, entitled “Founder of landscape planning in Azerbaijan”, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of academician Ramiz M. Mammadov, the director of the Institute of Geography named after acad. H.Aliyev of ANAS. We present it to your attention.

The deep analytical thinking of the outstanding scientist of Azerbaijan, academician Ramiz M.Mammadov, his talent for scientific organization, huge interest in scientific innivations allowed him to achieve quite valuable innovations in the field of geography, including the study of the Caspian Sea. In this regard, the role of R. Mammadov in the field of landscape planning was of great importance in increasing the theoretical and practical importance of geographical sciences in Azerbaijan.

Landscape planning is the development of a balanced, comprehensive system of recommendation for land use, based on maintaining the ecological balance of the territory.

Such a complex and responsible system of actions should be based on existing geographical information systems and serve a healthy and productive life of people and ensure the sustainable development of a territorial unit.

The first book of R.Mammadov on landscape planning was entitled “Landscape planning (first practice and application) in Azerbaijan” (Tbilisi, 2008). For geographical sciences of Azerbaijan, landscape planning has actually become a more progressive and practical field of approach to natural systems.

Each landscape is original and unique, and landscape planning should take into account the features of Azerbaijani landscapes, as well as environmental and socio-economic problems. Ramiz Mammadov applied the European experience in landscape planning, adapting it to Azerbaijan Republic.

Acad. R.Mammadov’s interest in this field is associated with a series of activities by the German Federal Nature conservation Agency in 2003 to train landscape planning specialists in the Caucasus. Many experts from Azerbaijan were involved in these events. During trainings R.Mammadov chose the territory of the National Shirvan Park and its environs. After the research, the second book of the scientist on landscape planning was published (Landşaft planlaşdırılması: mahiyyəti və tətbiqi, Bakı, 2016, 292).

One of the research directions of academician R.Mammadov is the widespread problem of desertification, which is very important for the nature of Azerbaijan and, at the same time, for the entire planet. His numerous articles have been devoted to this problem, published both in their own country and abroad. His large-scale desertification map of the Caspian Sea “Desertification degrees” has become the main means of land irrigation activities.

One of the many successful studies of acad. R.Mammadov is the map of “Ecological risk of Azerbaijan”. He widely used research materials and satellite images taling into account the main dangers of natural and technogenic origin. 

The laureate of the State Prize, acad. R.M. Mammadov, continues his research of the scientific world and makes an invaluable contribution to the study of the nature of Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea.

Congratulations to Ramiz Mammadov on his 70th birthday! We wish him good health, further success in science and life.

Academician Ibrahim Guliyev

First vice-president of ANAS