Landscape-ecological Excursion Field Guide Based on an Azerbaijani-German student excursion to Northeastern Azerbaijan in 2015 Landscape-ecological Excursion Field Guide Based on an Azerbaijani-German student excursion to Northeastern Azerbaijan from August 24 to September 6, 2015 June 2017 Cover pictures (clockwise): Cultural landscapes at Mt. Shahdagh (J. Etzold); Steppe Eagle (D. Eichhorn); Rendzina soil above the village Jek (J. Etzold); Dianthus caucaseus and Gentiana septemfida from foot of Mt. Shahdagh (J. Etzold); in centre: Boy riding his donkey near to the village Khinalig (J. Etzold) Landscape-ecological Excursion Field Guide Editors: Jonathan Etzold ESTOK UG Elbestr. 97, 16321 Bernau, Germany E-Mail: [email protected] www.estok.de Sophie Hirschelmann Michael Succow Foundation for the Protection of Nature Ellernholzstraße 1/3, 17487 Greifswald, Germany Tel.: +49 (0)3834 - 83542-14 E-Mail: [email protected] www.succow-stiftung.de Verena Kaiser Michael Succow Foundation for the Protection of Nature Michael Manthey University of Greifswald Soldmannstr. 15, 17487 Greifswald, Germany Tel.: +49 (0)3834-864128 E-Mail: [email protected] Authors and supporters: Til Dieterich Baku State University (until February 2016) Kurze Str. 4 & 9, 17498 Alt Ungnade, Germany E-Mail: [email protected] Jan de Leeuw Baku State University E-Mail: [email protected] Markus Köppler Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Integrated Biodiversity Management, South Caucasus E-Mail: [email protected] www.giz.de Recommended citation: Etzold, J., Hirschelmann, S., Kaiser, V., Manthey, M. (eds.) (2017): Landscape- ecological excursion field guide, based on an Azerbaijani-German student excursion to Northeastern Azerbaijan, GIZ: Baku, Azerbaijan. 3 Landscape-ecological Excursion Field Guide Azerbaijan Content I. Preface ........................................................................................................................................... 11 II. Introduction: Understanding landscape ecology in Azerbaijan ............................. 14 2.1. Climate of Azerbaijan (by Leonie Elisabeth Nikrandt) ......................................... 14 2.1.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 14 2.1.2. Nine different types of climate .............................................................................. 16 2.1.3. Natural areas of Azerbaijan and their climatic conditions ......................... 18 2.1.4. Examples ........................................................................................................................ 19 References ......................................................................................................................................... 21 2.2. Land use in Azerbaijan (by Jasmine Kischkat) ......................................................... 23 2.2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 23 2.2.2. Major crops ................................................................................................................... 24 2.2.3. Animal husbandry ..................................................................................................... 24 2.2.4. Land ownership .......................................................................................................... 25 2.2.5. History of land tenure and land use .................................................................... 26 References ......................................................................................................................................... 27 2.3. Overview of the landscape types in Azerbaijan (by Lena Haeberlein) ........... 28 2.3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 28 2.3.2. Forest ecosystems ....................................................................................................... 28 2.3.3. High-mountain ecosystems .................................................................................... 29 2.3.4. Dry mountain shrubland ecosystems ................................................................. 29 2.3.5. Steppe and semi-deserts ecosystems ................................................................... 30 2.3.6. Wetlands and Coastal ecosystems........................................................................ 31 References ......................................................................................................................................... 31 2.4. Birds of Azerbaijan (by Dina Valeeva) ........................................................................ 33 2.4.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 33 2.4.2. Ecosystem-complexes and species composition ............................................. 34 2.4.3. Migrations ..................................................................................................................... 35 4 2.4.4. Anthropogenic influences ....................................................................................... 36 2.4.5. Bird conservation efforts and Important Bird Areas ..................................... 38 References ......................................................................................................................................... 40 2.5. Nature conservation and protected areas (by Esther Sophia Lutz) .................. 42 2.5.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 42 2.5.2. Protected area system ............................................................................................... 42 2.5.3. Protected Area development .................................................................................. 44 2.5.4. Administration ............................................................................................................ 46 2.5.5. International nature conservation commitments ........................................... 46 2.5.6. International support ................................................................................................ 46 2.5.7. National activities ....................................................................................................... 47 References ......................................................................................................................................... 47 2.6. Geology and geomorphology of the Greater Caucasus (by Danny Eichhorn) ..................................................................................................................................... 49 2.6.1. Location and extension ............................................................................................. 49 2.6.2. Geological evolution .................................................................................................. 50 2.6.3. Geomorphological characteristics ........................................................................ 51 References ......................................................................................................................................... 52 2.7. Vegetation zonation of the Greater Caucasus in Azerbaijan (by Verena Kaiser) ........................................................................................................................................... 54 2.7.1. Forests ............................................................................................................................. 54 2.7.2. Sub-alpine zone ........................................................................................................... 55 2.7.3. Alpine zone ................................................................................................................... 57 References ......................................................................................................................................... 58 2.8. Vegetation of semi-deserts and steppes (by Paul-August Schult) .................... 60 2.8.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 60 2.8.2. Steppes ............................................................................................................................ 60 2.8.3. Semi-deserts .................................................................................................................. 61 2.8.4. Dry foothills of Gobustan (after Schmidt & Uppenbrink 2009, Peper 2010) ....................................................................................................................................... 62 2.8.5. Shirvan National Park ............................................................................................... 63 5 Landscape-ecological Excursion Field Guide Azerbaijan References ......................................................................................................................................... 64 III. Methods for landscape-ecological excursions ............................................................... 65 3.1. Vegetation ..............................................................................................................................