Oak trees in the occupied Azerbaijani district of Lachin are being cut down and sold to France

The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan (MENR) has stated that the forests of the Azerbaijani district of Lachin, occupied by Armenia, are being cut down and shipped abroad for manufacturing. "Red oak in the Pijanis and Hajishamli forests of Lachin is being cut down and sent to France to make barrels used in cognac production. And hazel is being felled on a massive scale and sold to Iran and European countries for furniture production," the ministry's acting press secretary Irada Ibrahimova said on Thursday.
The Lachin district of Azerbaijan was seized by Armenian armed forces on 18 May 1992.
The MENR uncovered these facts through the "Operational Center determining (monitoring) the destructive impact on the environment and natural resources of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan".
Ibrahimova stated that 65 ha of forest on the territory of the Lachin villages of Hajilar and Sadinlar have been completely destroyed.
The district has mercury deposits (Narzanli, Chilgazchay, Sarybulag) of 1124 tonnes, Lachin limestone of 4457 thousand tonnes, Gochaz marble limestone of 2533 thousand cubic meters suitable for producing facing stone, tuff deposits (Agoglan, Ahmadli) of 5125 thousand cubic meters suitable for producing building blocks, reserves of the Novruzlu clay deposits of 998 thousand cubic meters suitable for producing bricks and tiles, reserves of the Gushchu pumice deposits of 2144 thousand cubic meters, reserves of sand and gravel at Yukhari Hakarichay of 15794 thousand cubic meters, deposits of colored precious stones - agate of 10 tonnes and jade of 0.9 tonnes, deposits of volcanic ash of 10499 thousand tonnes, and Minkend mineral water.

Source: trend.az