SCP ESIA AZERBAIJAN DRAFT FOR DISCLOSURE ECOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT 1 Ecology ............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 1.2 Methodology .............................................................................................................1 1.2.1 Species status and occurrence..............................................................................4 1.3 Overview of Flora and Fauna in Azerbaijan.................................................................4 1.4 Protected Areas .........................................................................................................1 1.5 Habitats and Vegetation .............................................................................................4 1.5.1 Desert and semi-desert........................................................................................5 1.5.2 Wetlands............................................................................................................8 1.5.3 Woodlands and scrub........................................................................................10 1.5.4 Protected plant species......................................................................................11 1.6 Fauna......................................................................................................................12 1.6.1 General............................................................................................................12 1.6.2 Mammals .........................................................................................................12 1.6.3 Birds ...............................................................................................................15 1.6.4 Amphibians .....................................................................................................18 1.6.5 Reptiles ...........................................................................................................19 1.6.6 Fish .................................................................................................................20 1.6.7 Invertebrates....................................................................................................21 List of Tables Table 1-1 Involvement of local experts ................................................................................2 Table 1-2 Threatened species status categories .....................................................................4 Table 1-3 Definitions of occurrence.....................................................................................4 Table 1-4 Threat status of Azerbaijan’s plants and animals ....................................................5 Table 1-5 Summary of diversity and threat status of the flora and fauna of Azerbaijan ............1 Table 1-6 Signif icance of designated conservation sites (in descending order of conservation importance)........................................................................................................................1 Table 1-7 IUCN protected area management categories ........................................................2 Table 1-8 Protected areas in the vicinity of the proposed pipeline ..........................................3 Table 1-9 Extent of the main habitat types crossed by the proposed SCP ................................4 Table 1-10 Vegetation communities with broad habitat categories .........................................4 Table 1-11 Main indicative desert and semi-desert shrubs and their soil and salinity affinities .6 Table 1-12 Azerbaijan Red data book plant species recorded along the proposed SCP ..........11 Table 1-13 Mammals of conservation importance which may occur along the proposed SCP 12 Table 1-14 Birds of conservation importance which may occur along the proposed SCP .......16 Table 1-15 Amphibians of conservation importance which may occur along the proposed SCP .......................................................................................................................................19 Table 1-16 Reptiles of conservation importance which may occur along the proposed SCP ...19 Table 1-17 Breeding and incubation periods for spur-thighed tortoise ..................................20 Table 1-18 Fish of conservation importance which may occur along the proposed SCP.........21 Table 1-19 Red Data Book Species which may occur on the proposed SCP route .................22 ECOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT APRIL 2002 SCP ESIA AZERBAIJAN DRAFT FOR DISCLOSURE 1 ECOLOGY 1.1 INTRODUCTION This appendix report presents the findings, in terms of ecology and nature conservation interest of habitats and species present along the pipeline route, of a desk-top study and field surveys undertaken for the proposed SCP. Natural habitats and the species of plants and animals within them are of vital importance to the protection, maintenance and continuing functionality of the world’s ecosystems. The conservation of these natural habitats and their biodiversity, not only of species but also of genes and populations, is therefore essential for long-term sustainable development. The aims of the study and surveys were to describe the extent of the different floral and faunal assemblages found within the various habitats along the proposed SCP. Any sites or species of nature conservation importance, which may be affected by construction of the pipeline, have been identified. These findings have been used to help identify areas where further survey work is required and to develop mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of the proposed SCP development. During the pipeline routing process emphasis was placed on avoiding designated protected areas and habitats or species sensitive to disturbance. As a consequence, the route now only crosses one area proposed for nature conservation, and the majority of land crossed is agricultural (62.2%). 1.2 METHODOLOGY The proposed SCP follows the Western Route Export Pipeline (WREP) for the majority of its length. The literature reviews undertaken by the Institute of Botany, Institute of Zoology and Institute of Fisheries during the planning phase of the WREP were therefore re-examined and supplemented with additional information provided by local experts. Survey data obtained for the WREP also reviewed for relevance to the proposed SCP route. A baseline field survey of the BTC pipeline/SCP route was undertaken in August-September 2000 by ERM and local experts (ERM, 2000), with a further baseline survey of reroutes undertaken in January 2001 by AETC and local experts (AETC, 2001). A river corridor survey of the main river crossings was undertaken in November 2001 by AETC (Part 5 of Baseline Reports in the Appendices). In order to improve the seasonal coverage of the surveys, experts from the Institute of Botany undertook a survey for spring flowering species in the Gobustan area during April 2002. A further survey of birds, mammals and herpetofauna along the whole route began during April 2002. As a result of additional reroutes during the latter half of 2001 short sections of the proposed pipeline route fell outside of the area previously surveyed by ERM and AETC. Due to the late time of year it was decided that further field surveys were unsuitable and therefore baseline habitats along the rerouted sections were mapped with the aid of aerial photographs (taken in summer 2001 on behalf of BP). It should be noted that only six broad habitat categories (desert, semi desert, agriculture, woodland and scrub, wetland and other) could be distinguished from the aerial photographs. Details of vegetation, faunal assemblages or protected species of flora or fauna could not be ascertained. For the purpose of this exercise, therefore, where rare / protected species of flora or ECOLOGICAL BASELINE REPORT MAY 2002 1 SCP ESIA AZERBAIJAN DRAFT FOR DISCLOSURE fauna were identified during field surveys along the initial SCP route it has been assumed that these species will also be present along any parallel rerouted section of the pipeline. In order to verify the baseline data in this report further surveys will be undertaken within the proposed pipeline corridor prior to construction. The information contained within these above mentioned surveys has been used to write this baseline description along with additional information provided within the EIA of the WREP (AIOC 1997), which was based on extensive literature reviews and field surveys for the whole of the WREP undertaken in August – October 1996. The local experts who have been involved in the various aspects of ecological work during these projects are listed in Table 1-1 below. Table 1-1 Involvement of local experts ACTIVITY NAME ORGANISATION SPECIALISATION Academician Institute of Botany Flora Gadjiyev Literature Academician Institute of Zoology Fauna Review for Musayev WREP 1996 Professor Z M Institute of Fisheries Freshwater fish Kuliyev stocks Field survey for Eldar Shukurov Institute of Botany Flora WREP, August - October1996 Professor Shaig Institute of Zoology Fauna Ibrahimov Maya Asker Institute of Botany Flora and habitat Nuriyeva Field survey for Eldar Shukurov BP Assistance in flora SCP, August - and habitat September 2000 Ilham Khayyam Institute of Zoology Fauna and protected Alekperov areas Salim Musayev Institute of Botany Flora Field survey for Nijat Hasanov Institute