NCI 2024
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    Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, forming part of the South Caucasus region. Despite its relatively small size, Azerbaijan boasts a diverse range of landscapes and ecosystems. From the Caspian Sea coastline to the towering Caucasus Mountains and the arid plains of the interior, Azerbaijan offers a variety of habitats that support a rich array of wildlife. It also has a wide range of climates, from subtropical conditions along the coast and lowlands to temperate and alpine climates in the mountainous regions. This climatic diversity and the varied topography contribute to the country’s rich biodiversity.

    In addition to its natural beauty, Azerbaijan has established several protected areas and national parks to conserve its biodiversity. These include the Gobustan National Park, known for its ancient rock carvings and unique geological formations, and the Hirkan National Park, which protects the ancient Hyrcanian forests.

    Score Rank Change
    Total Score – NCI 2024 50.32 153 N/A
    Land Management 44 145 N/A
    Protected Areas (Terrestrial) 72 72 N/A
    Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 29 154 N/A
    Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 40 141 N/A
    Protected Areas (Marine) 2 98 N/A
    Pristine Habitat (Converted Land) 82 146 N/A
    Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution) 49 47 N/A
    Sustainable Pesticide Use 31 90 N/A
    Threats to Biodiversity 68 44 N/A
    Threatened Species (Terrestrial) 77 138 N/A
    Threatened Species (Marine) 60 82 N/A
    Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas 86 107 N/A
    Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas 100 1 N/A
    Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial) 26 112 N/A
    Species with Declining Populations (Marine) 0 10 N/A
    Depleted Fisheries
    Fishery Pressure in the High Seas 100 7 N/A
    Invasive Species Pressure 95 85 N/A
    Capacity and Governance 55 146 N/A
    Total Management Cost 92 112 N/A
    Conservation Culturomics 29 145 N/A
    Conservation Legislation 33 121 N/A
    Ratification of CBD 100 1 N/A
    Ratification of CITES 100 1 N/A
    Political Stability and Absence of Violence 30 124 N/A
    Control of Corruption 30 141 N/A
    Government Effectiveness 50 74 N/A
    Future Trends 35 131 N/A
    Climate Change Mitigation 35 131 N/A

    Four pillars elaborated:

    Land Management

     Azerbaijan is home to a diverse array of protected areas, including 11 state reserves, 8 national parks, and 24 state game reserves, which together cover over 10% of the nation’s land. This network has seen substantial growth over the past decade, with the area designated for protection doubling in size, underscoring Azerbaijan’s dedication to environmental conservation. This expansion plays a crucial role in preserving vital ecosystems and endangered species. The protected areas in Azerbaijan are categorized based on their specific conservation goals: national parks are dedicated to preserving both natural and cultural heritage, state reserves focus on scientific research and conservation efforts, and state game reserves are designed to manage and protect wildlife populations.

    Threats to Biodiversity

     Azerbaijan’s biodiversity faces significant threats from various pressures, including land degradation, characterized by extensive salinization, widespread soil erosion, unregulated building activities, and heavy use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides; habitat fragmentation due to timber harvesting, conversion of grasslands to agriculture, river damming, expansion of irrigation networks in steppe ecosystems, and frequent wildfires; unsustainable natural resource exploitation, including overgrazing, hunting of wild birds and game species, overfishing of sturgeon and other fish, and inadequately maintained water systems; pollution, from inadequate waste management infrastructure, insufficient hazardous waste storage, residual oil pollution, and cross-border industrial and agricultural waste; the spread of invasive species in both marine and terrestrial environments; and climate change, with limited capacity for adaptation and mitigation.

    Capacity and Governance

     The implementation of Azerbaijan’s National Strategy and Plan of Action on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (2006-2010) has led to the completion of two out of thirteen major activities outlined in the Action Plan, with the rest either ongoing or partially completed. Key achievements include the publication of the second edition of the Red Book of Azerbaijan in 2013, which highlights endangered species, and the assessment of ecosystems rich in biodiversity. Furthermore, the Ecoregion Conservation Plan for the Caucasus (2012) has identified key areas for conservation efforts in Azerbaijan’s section of the Caucasus, and the National Caspian Action Plan focuses on priority areas within Azerbaijan’s territorial waters of the Caspian Sea.

    Future Trends

     Azerbaijan has pledged to restore 170,000 hectares (1,700 km²) of degraded land by 2030 as part of the Bonn Challenge, a global effort targeting the restoration of 350 million hectares (3.5 million km²) of land by the same year. Additionally, the National Strategy of Azerbaijan focuses on promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural practices, emphasizing the development of organic farming and ecological production.


    Biodiversity

    Azerbaijan features nine distinct biomes, each rich in diverse flora and fauna, ranging from forests and steppes to wetlands and semi-deserts. This variety contributes significantly to the country’s unique biodiversity. Azerbaijan is home to 667 species of vertebrates, including various species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

    Among its diverse and endangered large mammal population are wild goats, chamois, red and roe deer, as well as their predators such as lynx, wildcat, and leopard. Additionally, Azerbaijan serves as a crucial migratory route for numerous bird species, including the globally threatened Lesser White-fronted Goose, which travels from Europe and Russia to destinations in Africa and Asia.

    In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Azerbaijan only):


    Species
    (World rank)    		 Threatened % Threatened Endemic % Endemic
    Mammals 112 (#99) 8 7.1%
    Birds 348 (#102) 17 4.9%
    Reptiles 63 (#113) 9 14.3%
    Amphibians 10 (#139) 1 10.0% 1 10.0%
    Fishes 88 (#187) 13 14.8%
    Plants 3,725 (#95) 44 1.2% 240 6.4%

    Go To 2024 National Nature Conservation Index Main Page

    Azerbaijan

    The 'Land of Fire', igniting the flame of rich biodiversity

    Score:

    50.32 / 100

    Rank:

    153 / 180