Brief description of the problem, sphere of activity, basic directions of activity, carried out projects

The soviet administrative-command management of the country during the 70th -years interfered with development of the civil Society. The initiative of the citizens in the decision making of urgent problems of the society was very low. In such conditions the basic attention was foxed to development of industry. The problems of environmental protection and public health was concerned as a minor problems. The public organizations on the environment protection problems in Azerbaijan, as well as in all countries of former Soviet Union, were practically out of discussions . This has resulted in transformation into the naturally dead zone of Sumgait region under influence of the petrochemical complex. 13-14 thousand hà of the ground areas of Apsheron peninsula covered by the oil lakes. Pollution of the part of Baku named "Cherniy gorod" ( Black city) by emissions and outflows of oil refining complexes is very high .
After disintegration of the Soviet Union in the majority of the independent countries on the background of development of democratic reforms, activity of citizens in the decision of ecological problems has increased. In the form of non-politic, non-profit and nongovernmental public associations of the citizens public movements for protection of the environment have been formed. In the more advanced countries these organizations already influence on the forming of state policy in the field of environment protection, have an opportunity to influence on the course by realization of great projects. It already gives the positive results.
The first public-ecological organization in Azerbaijan ( Azerbaijan nature Protection Society) was created in 60's. However, for the above-stated reasons it could not essentially influence on the ecological policy of the country in those years. In the beginning of 90's Movements Green Azerbaijan, Ecological Union of Azerbaijan were created. In 1996 in Azerbaijan were 6-7 public-ecological organizations. Today in this field already works more than 50 environmental NGOs. The list of these organization have been adduced in the table 1.
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Table 1.Non-governmental Ecological Organization in Azerbaijan

The formation of the public-ecological movement for the protection of environment in the oil industry is a priority directions in the activity of the majority of ecological NGO in Azerbaijan. Their activity can be divided into the following groups:
- organization of public hearing of the oil projects (mainly the projects EIA);
- public expertise of the projects;
- independent monitoring and inventory of pollution sources and the environment;
- organization of ecological propaganda and ecological education.
The ecological propaganda stimulates formation of the public movement for protection of the environment in the oil industry and in certain conditions brings to positive changes in the oil projects and contracts.
Discussing the essential problems of environmental protection by the representatives of ecological NGOs gives the positive results. For example the following facts can be noted: for 1996-2000 only the Ecological Society "Ruzgar" carried out 5 projects on public-ecological monitoring of pollution sources at the industrial enterprises. Results and the recommendations of were presented to accordings organizations. The basic activity of "Ruzgar" is directed on realization of public monitoring of air environment pollution by the objects of oil industry and organization of ecological propaganda for its protection.
In 2000 the public ecological organizations forum of Azerbaijan has limited financing the Oil company Frontera Resources by European Bank of Reconstruction and Development because of realization of industrial work in the zone of Shirvan reserve. It shows, that the public-ecological organizations have turned to real force in the Society for organization of public movement for protection and improvement of environment.
The results of the given project will be widely distributed and discussed among these organizations. That, we hope, will become the basis for organization of ecological propaganda for protection of atmospheric air from the oil industry in country.
In order to prevent distortion of research results on ecological condition of environment by industrial and state organizations , it is necessary realization of independent ecological monitoring, organized by NGO. In this case the creation of international groups and expeditions for implementation of such a work can be more effective . The majority of organizations in Azerbaijan had created such cooperation with NGOs from Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran and Turkmenistan for development of the joint projects on public monitoring of oil objects in Caspian region. Among this organizations from Azerbaijan:- "Ruzgar", "Ekoil", Green Movement , Ornitological Society, "Ecores", "ECOS" rtc.; from Kazakhstan - Inkar, Caspian Tabigati, Caspiy-XX1, Asian-American partnership, Center of ecological initiatives, Central Asian Fund and etc.; from Russia - Ecoline, Russian Geographical Society, Social-Ecological Union etc.; from Turkmenistan - Ecological Club "Catena", "Formatia", "Hazards", " Hydrologic Society ", etc.; from Iran - Society of Preservation of Life Nature, BOOMIRAN and others.
The main activity of public organizations is based on financial support of international funds and ecological programs, which recently have widely developed the activity in Azerbaijan