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Forests in Azerbaijan – a vital yet diminishing resource
They are the most valuable ecosystems for the country’s biodiversity, home to hundreds of endemic species. However, over the past century, two thirds of the area has been lost.
Forest ecosystems are the most valuable and important for the country’s biodiversity. The diversity of landscapes, climatic zones, and complex relief has contributed to the formation of a diverse and rich flora and fauna. Higher plants found in Azerbaijan’s wild flora number 4,557 species, which is more than 70% of all higher plant species in the natural flora of the Caucasus as a whole and includes 200 national and 950 Caucasian endemics. Forest ecosystems are the most valuable and important for the country’s biodiversity.
Forests are an important natural resource that provides humanity with many material, spiritual, economic, ecological, and sociocultural services, providing food, fuel, cleaning air and water, and ensuring healthy, active recreation. Forests have always been of great significance in a spiritual sense and the formation of people’s worldviews. Many sacred places (known as Pir) include special forested areas or even individual centuries-old trees, which are given special status and protected by local residents.
The territory of the Azerbaijan Republic is 866 thousand square kilometres. Of these, 12,137 thousand hectares (14%) make up the forest fund area. All forests in the country are state-owned and perform water protection, soil protection, and climate-regulating functions. Therefore, they belong to the first group and are protected by the state. Forest management is carried out based on the forest code and environmental protection law. All forest territories are included in the Forest Fund of Azerbaijan, and economic activities are prohibited in them.
Forests cover only 11.8% of the republic’s territory, which is 2–3 times less than the accepted norm in world practice, while in the nineteenth century, this figure was 30–35%. In the twentieth century, the forest area decreased threefold.
Azerbaijan has gained worldwide popularity for its captivating beauty, abundant natural wealth, and diverse flora and fauna. Azerbaijan’s forests consist mainly of broad-leaved species. In the coniferous forests of the Lesser Caucasus, Goygol, in the pine forests of Tovuz district, in the forests of the villages of Upper Gishlag in the Greater Caucasus, and in the forests of the Gusar district, you can find hooked pine (Pinus Hamata). The most common coniferous species are juniper forests.
95% of Azerbaijan’s forests are located in mountainous areas. Mountain forests are spread across the country’s territory at an altitude of 500 to 2,500 metres.
After the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence and the ensuing economic crisis, anthropogenic pressure on forest resources significantly increased. The lack of fuel in rural communities led to a sharp increase in tree felling, unregulated livestock grazing in forests reduced natural forest regeneration, and the lack of necessary control, fire protection services, and specialised equipment contributed to forest fires.
Currently, Azerbaijan has protected natural areas with a total area of 893 thousand hectares (https://eco.gov.az/az/tebii-servetlerimiz/milli-parklar). Ten national parks, ten state nature reserves, and 24 state nature sanctuaries have been established. Overall, specially protected natural areas account for 10.31% of the country’s territory. Separately, national parks cover 4.87%, state nature reserves 1.39%, and state nature sanctuaries 4.05% of the country’s territory.
This text is part of a longer article for the AirClim Northern Forest Project.
https://www.airclim.org/northern-forests-and-climate-change/forests-azer...
https://www.airclim.org/northern-forests-and-climate-change