(Taxus baccata). Table 4 below summarised the volumes (in m
3
) of wood harvested for fuel
wood and for commercial use over the last three years.
Table 4: Volumes of harvested wood (2010-2012)
2010
2011
2012
Commercial wood - total (m
3
)
508
-
318
Fuel wood – total (m
3
)
41817
46497
42265
1.2.4 Commercial export
A number of plants from Azerbaijan have attracted foreign businessmen, and some valuable
plants are exported abroad, including cultivated liquorice (
Glycyrrhiza glabra), linden (
Tilia
cordata), cane (
Phragmites australis), reed (
Arundo donax), nettle (
Urtica dioica) and Betula
sp. (species belonging to the birch genus). Export of plants to foreign countries is regulated
under relevant permits (licences) issued by proper authorities.
1.2.5 Hunting
Some mammal species (e.g. hare, fox, jackal, racoon, raccoon, Dagestan urus/aurochs, and wild
boar) and birds (ducks, geese, coot, pigeons, quail, pheasant, etc.) are traditionally used in
hunting. There is a keen interest of foreign hunters in the hunting of some species of Azerbaijan
fauna (Dagestan urus/aurochs, wild boar) over the last few years. Proper permits (licences) are
issued by local authorities of Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources for hunting activity in
order to regulate such hunting. Currently a ban has been imposed upon bird hunting due to
avian flu.
1.2.6 Use of biodiversity for biotechnology and genetic collections
Biodiversity is used for scientific and industrial purposes in biotechnology. The curation and
reproduction of cultural and wild plants and the
in vitro cultivation and rehabilitation and
reproduction of commonly grown plants is being implemented. Cultivated plants grown in vitro
are used for various biotechnological research projects. Genetic variations of tomato, tobacco,
wheat, barley, rye, lucerne, carnation and roses have been cultivated or cloned. The genetics of
wild plant species are used to identify the origin of cultivated plants which have been shaped
through evolution process, and to develop hybrids of wild plants for their important
characteristics.
1.2.7 Cultural or traditional values of biodiversity
The territory of Azerbaijan is located in a strategic area of economic and political overlap
between the north, south, east and west. The country thus comprises and an important area of
cultural overlaps. It also constitutes an important trading route, and has historically always had
a diversified and well-developed economy, including cotton-growing, livestock breeding and
trade in oil and other minerals. Carpets and carpet products produced in Azerbaijan were
reputedly recalled in a number of historical and art works and examples of folklore. Those
carpets reflect the entire beauty of nature diversity of Azerbaijan: blue skies, green forests,
colourfulness of down hills, and whiteness of snowy mountain peaks. Red pomegranate seeds
and golden animals, yellow saffron and amber grapes joined miraculously in these carpets. The
mysteries of the carpet-making, usage of natural resources, production of colouring materials
from them, production of threads from wools of animals, and selection of various types of
woods to manufacture musical instruments and other items, have been transferred from one
generation to another one. Azerbaijan flora is rich with colouring materials. There are 1500
plant species combined in 131 families and 411 classes. These include mulberry (Morus
rubrum), chesnut (
Cachtana sativa), osage orange, barberry (
Berberis vulgaris), Greek walnut
(Juglarisregia) and oak species (Quercus longipes). Plant species with high tar content is
prevalent (East tar – Crambe orientalis, small-head astragalus – Astragalus microcephalus,
etc.).
1.2.8 Tourism
Azerbaijan provides suitable conditions for the development of ecotourism, particularly for
holidays based on bird-watching. Interesting bird populations can be observed throughout the
year both in wintering and breeding periods. Large colonies of herons, cormorants, gulls and
tern can be seen in the islands and even in the abandoned oil rigs. In winter extensive flocks of
little bustards, eagles, and griffon vultures are seen in the lowlands. Large populations of water
birds gather along the Caspian coast and in inland water systems.
1.3 Biodiversity threats, impacts and trends
1.3.1 Land Degradation
Extensive areas of Azerbaijan are being severely impacted by soil erosion and salinization. It is
estimated that 3.6m ha (~42% of the territory of Azerbaijan) is subject to the damaging effects
of erosion, while 0.6m ha (~7% of the territory of Azerbaijan) is adversely affected by
salinization, to the extent that it is now no longer suitable for agriculture. The salinization and
erosion of soils tend to be a result of poor irrigation and drainage systems, overstocking of
livestock, unsustainable levels of ground water extraction and ongoing deforestation. The
current distribution and extent of salinization and erosion is summarised in Table 5 below.
Table 5: Distribution (by regions) and extent (ha) of soil erosion and salinization in the Republic
of Azerbaijan
Regions
Total area
(ha)
Saline
soils
(ha)
Eroded area (ha)
Salinization (ha)
Weak Moderate Severe Weak
Moderate
Severe
Absheron
527052
3339
37715
44304
6647
17097
9161
31418
Muqan-Salyan
873676
12852
-
-
-
61033
61952
42690
Shirvan
1121007
-
58070
32127
20000
81322
78881
69225
Lenkoran
606904
-
18483
18180
11439
2550
2219
8229
Mil-Qarabagh
472425
-
-
3619
2222
27956
24727
30105
Arazboyu
302139
5196
-
-
-
34539
23170
12515
Ganja
525947
-
11520
22081
13646
10583
5066
2346
Qazakh
702784
-
41296
51408
25518
9269
6070
1295
Sheki
883491
21460
34147
19403
6982
55143
15028
1647
Khachmaz
696482
2646
26013
24823
15483
7512
5251
5172
Nakhichevan
536300
-
36584
27305
5383
11923
4173
2870
More than 42.5 % of territory of Azerbaijan (or 3672.6 thousand ha) is subject to erosion, from
them 1380.9 thousand ha (37.6 %) is weak, 1146.1 thousand ha (314.3 %) is average and
1145.5 thousand ha (31.1 %) is severely eroded. Erosion affects – to a lesser of greater degree -
44.5 % (712 thousand ha) of cultivated grounds, 68.1 % (1500.4 thousand ha) of summer