Azerbaijan enjoys extremely diverse nature. The natural and geographical conditions here have provided for the occurrence of diverse flora and fauna species. Of the 11 climate zones 9 are found in Azerbaijan. This has played indispensable role in the formation of the country’s rich biodiversity. 4500 higher plant species occur in Azerbaijan which accounts for 64% of the Caucasus species composition. 240 of them are endemics and relicts. 140 rare and endangered species have been listed in the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan. The fauna of Azerbaijan is represented by 107 mammals, 394 birds, 54 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 14 thousand insects and approximately 100 fish species. 108 of them are listed in the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan.
The first nature reserve areas to protect an amazing nature of Azerbaijan were established in 30s of the last century in Goygol, Zagatala, and Gizilaghaj. The adoption of the Law on the Protection of the Nature of Azerbaijan in 1969 has promoted the growth in the number of reserves. In a short while after that date seven other specially protected sites, namely Shirvan, Basitchay, Garayazi, Aggol, Ismayilli, Ilisu, and Altiaghaj State Nature Reserves were created.
Until 2001 the overall area of the specially protected sites was 478 thousand hectares constituting 5 % of the country’s area.  In the course of 2003 and 2010 the area of protected nature sites has been extended by almost 890 026 hectares. The total area of 8 National Parks is 310534 hectares. At present there are 11 state nature reserves with a total area of 218335,2 hectares of the country’s territory and 24 sanctuaries with a total area of 361157 hectares which encompass major ecosystems. 
It has always been a challenge to ensure a proper balance in the relations between humans and nature. The establishment of national parks is one of the solutions to this issue of concern as they can ensure the very optimal form of harmless communication between human beings and nature and make it possible to benefit from nature through its conservation. We identify our mission with creating a well-expanded network of national parks and ensuring that solicitous attitude to every single element of nature becomes an integral part of people’s mind as a firmly accepted notion of a way of life.
Azerbaijan has been taking its first steps in this direction and this is a new trend for our country and citizens. The first national park Shirvan was opened in 2003. The eightth Goygol National Park was established in April 1, 2008. Presently, the overall area of the  specially protected nature areas in Azerbaijan including national parks constitutes 10,3 % of the county’s area. The overall area of the established national parks in Azerbaijan is 310534 hectares comprising eight national parks- Shirvan, Zangazur named after Academician Hasan Aliyev, Aggol, Hirkan, Altiaghaj, Absheron, Shahdag and Goygol. (The forthcoming creation of Samur-Yalama National Park encompassing part of the Caspian Sea to the north of the country and as well as creation of other new specially protected nature areas are intended).
Azerbaijan also enjoys vast tourism opportunities. This is provided by its great history, well-developed culture and diverse nature. There are favorable conditions for the development of new tourism services in Azerbaijan along with available traditional tourism opportunities. The future of national parks in Azerbaijan is seen in the development of ecotourism which is part of sustainable development process. As a new form of tourism, ecotourism has been addressed in National Programme on Environmentally Sustainable Social-Economic Development which has been prepared by Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and approved by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In this document the development and management of tourism infrastructure based on a minimum negative impact on the environment and sustainable development principles is taken as the main criterion.       
The commencement of the 2003 pre-election campaign by the President from opening of Shirvan National Park is the symbolic evidence of the chosen development strategy of our Republic that is based on environmentally sustainable development principles. It is hardly possible to solve all the problems linked to the creation of National Parks by efforts of government bodies only. It is important that all layers of the society take part in this undertaking. One of the priorities in the involvement of public in this process is the increase in environmental awareness and development of personal attitude to the issue of nature conservation. The main purpose of the development of ecotourism in national parks is to bring awareness about environmental problems by demonstrating to public rare and unique representatives of landscapes, flora and fauna.
Assistance from the government, international organizations and public is presupposed at the very initial stage of the national parks’ development. Nevertheless, in the nearest future we expect that national parks will evolve into a self-sufficient system enabling local communities to meet their livelihood needs through providing products representing natural and cultural features of the geographical area without causing any harm to the environment as well as through offering the opportunity and services to get familiar with nature while maintaining its usual mode of existence and development.      
Pursuant to legislation of Azerbaijan Republic, protected areas and sites are national wealth of Azerbaijan Republic and cover natural complexes having specific ecologic, scientific and aesthetic value.      
Protected areas of Azerbaijan Republic differed in conservation goals and usage features are assigned the following status:
- state nature reserves, including biosphere reserves
- national and natural parks
- ecological parks
- natural monuments
- state nature sanctuaries
- zoological parks
- botanical and dendrological parks
- sanatoria and resorts.
Activity of the existing protected areas necessitates execution of the scientific, conservative and tourism designated functions that it constitutes basis of activity of the same areas and their institutional commitments.
According to the Law №840/IG dated March 14, 2000 “On protected areas and sites” of Azerbaijan Republic:
State nature reserves - areas having status of nature conservative and scientific-research institutions, which established for the purpose of preservation of typical and exotic natural complexes and sites in natural condition and study of progress of natural processes and occurrences. Functions of the state nature reserves are as follows:
- to carry out conservation of natural areas in order to preserve natural condition of genebank, biological diversity, ecological systems, natural complexes and sites;
- to organize and conduct scientific researches and to compile “Nature chronicle”;
- to implement ecological monitoring within the framework of state monitoring of the environment and natural resources;
- to participate in state ecological expertise of location designs and schemes of farming areas and other facilities;
- to assist in training of scientific personnel and specialists on environmental protection and nature conservation.     
National parks - areas having status of nature conservative and scientific-research institutions where natural complexes of preferential ecological, historical, aesthetic and likewise importance located on and, used for nature conservative, enlightenment, scientific, cultural and other purposes. Functions of the national parks are as follows:
- to preserve natural complexes, exotic and standard natural zones, historical-cultural sites;
- to create opportunities for tourism and rest (recreation);
- to develop and apply scientific methods of nature conservation and ecological enlightenment;
- to enlighten the population from ecological standpoint;
- to implement ecological enlightenment;
- to restore the damaged natural and historical-cultural complexes and sites.  
State natural sanctuaries - areas of particular importance for protection or restoration of natural complexes and or their components as well as for maintenance of ecological balance. State natural sanctuaries can be organized in land plots of owners, users and tenants without disappropriation of them in a manner provided by the legislation. Functions of the state natural sanctuaries are as follows:
- to protect or restore natural complexes and or their components;
- to maintain ecological balance;
- to ensure adherence to restrictions set in farming activity of land owners, users and tenants depending on establishment profile (objective);
- to implement scientific, cultural, educational and limited farming activities.
For conformity with up-to-date requirements of protected areas system in the Republic, conservation of all necessary ecosystems and key species and creation of buffers and protective zones, departments and administrations at status of National Park have been established since 2003 for the first time in the country history through more sustainable actions within the last years. Actions carried on enhancement and expansion of Protected Areas since 2003 were continued according to “Towards effective protected areas system - A guide for action on implementation of PAs Work Programme of Convention of Biological Diversity” and presently, there exist protected areas at total 876236.1 ha, including 8 National Parks, 11 state nature reserves and 24 state nature sanctuaries in our country.
Moreover, Gobustan state nature reserve and Baku Seaside National Park (area of 80 ha) are functioning, there exist 2083 centennial trees, 37 geological and paleontological sites and 15 thousand ha endemic and valuable forest lands.
While speaking on countrywide protected areas and their potential it should be noted regretfully that Basitchay and Gara-gol state nature reserves, Dashalty, Lachin, Gubadly, Arazboyu state nature sanctuaries and a number of valuable and exotic natural monuments left uncared in the territories of our republic, which occupied as a consequence of armenian aggression. There are hundreds of centennial trees, 13197.5 ha valuable forestries, 6 geological sites in the conserved regions with total area of 44.3 thousand ha which undergone occupation and are being destroyed by armenian plunderers savagely.

.