Potential Analysis for Further Nature Conservation in Azerbaijan A Spatial and Political Investment Strategy financed by: Potential Analysis for Further Nature Conservation in Azerbaijan A Spatial and Political Investment Strategy !is document has been compiled from material (where not speci"cally attributed) contributed by: Nigar Agayeva, Tavagül Iskanderov, Elshad Askerov, Fikret Gadjiev, Elshad Gurbanov, Ali Bayramov, Elena Tagieva, Naiba Allaverdiya, Tavgül Iskanderov, Ulvi Abasquliyev, Martin Uppenbrink, Tom Kirschey, Jan Peper, Sebastian Schmidt, Kai Gauger, Jonathan Etzold, Annett !iele, Maria Langhammer, Michael Heiß, Hagen Gottschling, Michael Rietschel, Tobias Scharnweber, Frederik Noack and Michael Succow. Nina Seifert, René Fronczek, Stephan Busse, Jessica von Stryk and Constanze Tröltzsch assisted in the publication of this report. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED BY: MAVA Foundation, Switzerland FURTHER SUPPORT UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THIS PROJECT WAS GIVEN BY: Michael Otto Stiftung, Germany AND: Ernst-Moritz- Arndt University of Greifswald in particular the PUGASMOS Project of the Institute for Botany and Landscape Ecology FURTHER SUPPORTERS WERE: t CIM (Centrum für Internationale Migration) with its specialists based in Azerbaijan: Dr. Hartmut Müller and Gila Altmann, t grassroots foundation, Germany, t Sonnenwiese Stiftung, Liechtenstein, t Ursula Schulz Dornburg, Germany and t DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) supporting several graduates and interns GEOZON SCIENCE MEDIA Greifswald, 2009 3 CONTENT Preface 7 Executive Summary 8 PART ONE – Introduction and Framework 1.1. Geo-ecological background of the project 13 1.1.1. Geography and Climate 13 1.1.2. Major Habitats 14 1.1.2.1. Forest Ecosystems 14 1.1.2.2. High mountain ecosystems 16 1.1.2.3. Dry mountain scrubland ecosystems 16 1.1.2.4. Steppe ecosystems 16 1.1.2.5. Semi-desert ecosystems 17 1.1.2.6. Wetland and coastal ecosystems 17 1.2. Biodiversity and nature conservation 18 1.2.1. Nature Protection and Protected Areas 19 1.2.2. Major needs in biodiversity and nature conservation 22 1.2.3. Threats to environment and biodiversity 23 1.2.3.1. Forest depletion 23 1.2.3.2. Land Degradation and Grazing 24 1.2.3.3. Pollution 25 1.3. Institutional, economical and political framework conditions 26 1.3.1. Public administration governance and public participation 26 1.3.2. Economy 26 1.3.3. Social and health system 28 1.3.4. Education and science 29 1.3.5. Media and public opinion 30 1.3.6. Land tenure and land use 30 1.3.6.1. Spatial planning, land cadastre and urbanisation 31 1.4. Environment and nature in state, policy and society 33 1.4.1. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) 35 1.5. International cooperation with regard to nature conservation in Azerbaijan 36 1.5.1. European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) 37 1.5.2. Caucasus Initiative 38 1.5.2.1. Actions under the Caucasus Initiative 38 1.6. Environmental International Donor Agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations in Azerbaijan 39 PART TWO – Fact sheets of regions surveyed 2.1. Methodological Approach 43 2.2. Coastal Region 44 2.2.1. Shifting dunes in the Samur-Dävächi lowlands 44 2.2.2. Kura River Delta 48 2.2.3. Islands of the Caspian Sea 55 2.2.3.1. Gil (Glinyaniy) 56 2.2.3.2. Boyuk Tava (Bolshaya Plita) 58 2.2.3.3. Kichik Tava (Malaya Plita) 60 2.2.3.4. Chigill (Obliwnoi) 61 2.2.3.5. Babur (Baburii) 63 2.3. Lowlands 64 2.3.1. Sari Su wetland 64 2.4. Dry Foothills 73 2.4.1. Gobustan 73 2.4.2. Western steppe zones around the Mingächevir Reservoir 80 4 2.5. Mountainous Ecosystems 89 2.5.1. Evaluation of further nature conservation potential for mountainous regions in Azerbaijan 89 2.5.2. Comparison with the habitat types of Annex I of the FFH guideline (NATURA 2000) 90 2.5.3. Greater Caucasus Mountains 92 2.5.3.1. Mountain forests near Gakh 92 2.5.3.2. Forests of the alluvial soil fans near Gakh 97 2.5.3.3. Oguz mountain forests 104 2.5.3.4. Lahij mountain forests 107 2.5.3.5. Juniper heathlands south of Altiaghaj 111 2.5.4. Lesser Caucasus Mountains 117 2.5.4.1. Mountain forests of the Sämkirchay valley 117 2.5.5. Talish Mountains 121 2.5.5.1. Hirkanian forest 121 2.5.5.2. Xerophytic mountain region of Zuvand 127 PART THREE – Environmental policy and legislative background in Azerbaijan 3.1. Azerbaijan – ready for the participation of Europe’s protected area network? 133 3.1.1. State organization and structure 133 3.1.2. Policy Start, Conception and Development 133 3.1.2.1. National progresses 134 3.1.2.2. International progresses 135 3.1.3. Administrative law in Azerbaijan 136 3.1.4. Environmental law in Azerbaijan 137 3.1.5. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 138 3.2. Europe and Azerbaijan – the environmental policy relation 139 3.2.1. The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) 140 3.2.2. European Neighbourhood Policy: Azerbaijan 140 3.2.2.1. The Scoreboard Report 141 3.2.2.2. Nature Protection within the Scoreboard Report. 141 3.2.3. European nature protection networks for Azerbaijan 145 3.2.3.1. Emerald Network 145 3.2.3.2. The Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN) 146 PART FOUR – Conclusion & Recommendations 4.1. Gap-analysis for the extension of the protected area system 147 4.2. NATURA 2000 – at present feasible in Azerbaijan? 149 Literatur 153 PART FIVE – Annexes List of Maps 158 List of Figures 159 List of Photos 160 List of Tables 160 Annex I Report of subprojects (on CD-ROM attached or via download from www.succow-stiftung.de) Annex II Fact sheet and background data of gap analysis Annex III Maps and cross sections of region surveyed Annex IV Selected graduate and intern ship works conducted in the frame of the project Annex V Selected project publications Annex VI Additional literature recommended for further reading 5 Potential Analysis for Further Nature Conservation in Azerbaijan Abbreviations and Acronyms ADB Asian Development Bank AZN Azerbaijan New Manat – currency of Azerbaijan BfN Federal Agency for Nature Conservation Bundesamt für Naturschutz BMU Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit BMWi Federal Minstry of Economics and Technology, Germany Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie Federal Ministry for the Economic Cooperation Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche BMZ and Development, Germany Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung BP Beyond Petroleum (former British Petrol) BR Biosphere Reserve BTC Baku-Tiblisi-Cheyan CEPF Critical Ecosystem Protection Fund CI Conservation International CIM Centre for International Migration CPAF Caucasus Protected Area Fund EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EC European Commission ECP Ecoregional Conservation Plan EIA environmental impact assessement EU European Union FFH Flora-Fauna-Habitat GDP Gross Domestic Product IBA Important Bird Area IDP Internal Displaced Person IUCN World Conservation Union KfW Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau German Development Bank MAB Man and Biosphere MENR Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources NEAP National Environmental Action Plan PA protected area PCA Priority Conservation Area PCA Partnership Cooperation Agreement pSCI proposed Sites of Community Importance SAC Special Area of Conservation SCI Site of Community Importance SOFAR State Oil Fund of the Azerbaijan Republic Technical Assistence to the Commonwealth TACIS of Independent Stated TJS Transboundary Joint Secretariat UNDP United Nation Development Programme UNECE United Nation Economic Commission for Europe United Nations Educational, Scienti"c UNESCO and Cultural Organization USAID United States Agency for International Development WHO World Health Organisation 6 7 Preface and Executive Summary Preface Nestled between the Greater and Lesser Cau casus, the !e project reported has been conducted between 2006 Talish Mountain and the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan boasts and 2008; if not otherwise stated, information obtained a surprising diversity of pristine habitats. Part of the till end 2008 were taken into account for compiling this Eastern-Mediterranean climatic region, the country’s report. natural features include high moun tains, forests, steppe, Without the support of several experts and contributors semi-desert, coast, #oodplain and wetland ecosystems. to this project it would have not been possible. Among Due to its highly diverse relief a tremendous biological the most valuable persons, others than named in the diversity can be found within a very con "ned area. introduction, supporting and providing most valuable input to the project were: Dr. Hartmut Müller (CIM ex- As of today, there are eight national parks and several pert and temporary director of Shirvan National Park), strictly protected nature reserves as well as several state Elnura Gurbanova, Gila Altmann (CIM expert and at sanctuaries in the country. All national parks have only the time of the project adviser to the MENR). been established within the last six years– a remarka- As part of the project, the assessment of biodiversity and ble achievement! Yet, despite these e$orts there is still the potential for further protection were being investi- a potential for further protection as several important gated on a national scale. !e assessments are based on regions and habitats are either unprotected or covered the Ecoregional Conservation Plan (ECP) and its Pri- by an insu%cient level of protection. ority Conservation Areas (PCA), developed by WWF, !e following study analyses these gaps and the resulting KfW, CEPF, and the MacArthur Foundation between potential for the extension of the protected area system. 2000 and 2005 but take their recommendations much Geographically at least partly belonging to Europe, Az- further. Applying a landscape-ecological approach, a erbaijan sees itself on the crossroads between Asia and detailed inventory was conducted for selected regions the European Union.