Grassland and Semi-Desert Ecosystems
No serious change has been recorded in the Grassland and Semi-Desert Ecosystems of
Azerbaijan Republic since submittal of the Fourth National Report to the Convention
Secretariat.
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
No change has been recorded in the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of Azerbaijan Republic
since submittal of the Fourth National Report to the Convention Secretariat.
High Mountain Ecosystems
These ecosystems cover 10% of the territory of Azerbaijan. Their absolute height is varied
from 2000 to 4500 m and even higher. No change has been recorded in these ecosystems since
submittal of the Fourth Report.
1.2 Importance of biodiversity to human well-being
1.2.1 Food
A wide range of Azerbaijan’s flora is used as a source of food. Key food species and their uses
are listed in Table 3 below. Some of the wild plants are widely used as fruits and vegetables in
Azerbaijan, including: cherries; plums; cornel; hawthorn; forest strawberry (Fagariavesca);
Russian cherry-plum (Grossularia reclinata); sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides); apple;
medlar; sour cherry; blackthorn (Prunus spinosa); raspberry (Rubus caesius); Rubus spp., dog-
rose (Rosa spp.) and wild varieties of onion (Allium).
Table 3: Key food species and their uses
Common name Scientific name
Use
Chestnut
Castanea sativa
The nut is eaten roasted or raw; chestnut flour
is made from the nut, and is combined with
wheat flour to bake bread.
Hazelnut
Corylus avellana
Hazel nuts are eaten roasted or raw, and are
widely used in bakery and confectionery.
Beech
Fagus orientalis
Fruits are eaten instead of sunflower seeds,
and valuable oil is also acquired from its
fruit.
Linden
Tilia caucasica
Flowers and leaves are used for teas and
tisanes, and linden flowers are a source of
nectar for honey production.
Shepherd's
purse
Capsella bursapastoris
Young leaves are used in making soup and
borsch.
Millet
Echino chloaoryzoides
Thick roots are pickled and eaten fresh.
Ferula
Prongos ferulaceae
Cooked or pickled.
Cow-parsnip
Heracleum trachyloma
Leaves and stem are eaten.
Sorrel
Rumex spp.
Leaves and stem are used.
Caper
Capparis herlacea
Buds are pickled.
Sugar cane
Sorghum saccharatum
Used to produce doshab (boiled down fruit
juice).
Cockspur
Echino chloacrusgalli
Nutritional uses
American
Millet
Milium effusum
Seeds are used in baking bread
Chervil
Chaerophyllum aureum
Cooked and used as a meal.
Some plants are recognized as important sources of pollen and nectar for honey, and others
provide flavourings for natural beverages and teas. A number of plants are used to produce
oils, doshabs and syrups. Oils are produced through cold pressing of the seeds and grains of
cereals (walnut, pistachio, hazel nut, beech, grapes, tomato, pomegranate, garlic, pumpkin,
peach, apricot, sour cherries). Commercial production of essential oils from the seplants may
be organized in Nakhichevan. Other species of not include liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra),
tulips (for decorations) and Caucasian oak (Quercus macranthera). Seeds and cereals (walnut,
pistachio, hazelnut, tomato, pomegranate, etc.) are used to produce 21 types of products,
including doshabs (a national food).
Azerbaijan is one of the ancient origins of grains. The species used in the agriculture and their
wild progenitors have been widely represented in the country. Four hundred and fifty four
species of graminaceous plants (Poaceae) are found in Azerbaijan, 25 of which are cultivated.
This includes: 15 varieties of the wheat (Triticum); one species of maize (Zea mays), with 90
distinct genetic varieties; 10 species of barley (Hordeum), with 500 distinct varieties; five
species of rye (Secale); and one species of rice (Oryza sativa), with more than 80 local varieties
(including a number of traditional cultivars). Most of the native varieties are now either extinct,
or in danger of extinction. Only one of these native varieties (Secale cereale) is still under
cultivation. The Ministry of Agriculture has scientific-research institutes conducting studies for
selection of agro-biodiversity as well as their conservation. This includes the following:
commercial species (grains, cereals, legumes, tobacco, cotton); fruits (melons, berries);
viticultural species; and forage species.
1.2.2 Medicinal use
Around 800 plant species of medicinal value have been recorded in Azerbaijan, including
150 species used in pharmacology. For example,
Carpodium platycarpum which is grown
only in Nakhichevan is the source of camphor and other extracts having potential medical and
economic importance. Other key medicinal plants include elecampagne (Inula helenium),
origanum (Origanum vulgare), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), valerian (Valeriana officinalis),
and sandy immortelle (Helychrisum arenarium). Medicinal plants are dried, packaged and
mainly produced by “AzerfarmLtd”.
The population of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic use wild plants for medicinal,
food, wood, dyes and other purposes. Many of the species collected are rare, end emicor
endangered. A great number of plants (up to 750 species) are used in traditional remedies and
medicines, and resources of Nakhichevan can be seen as a ‘natural pharmacy’. The level of
collection of some natural products is relatively extensive. Currently, a few of these plants are
commercially cultivated by “Loqman” (Scientific-Production Co-operative for Medical
Plants), and further expansion of cultivation may be an option in future.
1.2.3 Wood
Various construction and furniture materials are made from the wood of native forest species,
including Hornbeam (
Carpinus spp.), Georgian oak (
Quercus iberica) and European yew