Baku:Significant damage was caused to the environment and biodiversity in Azerbaijan's sovereign territories during the occupation, as stated by Tavakkul Isgandarov, Chairman of the 'Biodiversity Center' Public Union, at a briefing organized by the Environmental Protection First NGO Coalition.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Isgandarov reported the loss of approximately 8,900 hectares of forest area and the separate destruction of over 50,000 hectares of forest. This included rare Oriental plane trees and damages to protected areas such as those within the Basitchay State Nature Reserve.

Additionally, about 54,544 hectares of agricultural land were rendered unproductive between 1995 and 2015. The occupation also saw the destruction of irrigation infrastructure. Mismanagement of the Sarsang reservoir and alterations to the water-use regime during this period further restricted water access for local populations and agriculture in nearby districts.