CBD Fourth National Report - Azerbaijan (English version)

Country Study on Biodiversity and Fourth National Report
The Republic of Azerbaijan
hydrophytes and halophytes are also represented. The majority of the plants described are
perennials (65%) and biannuals (27%), along with bushes (6%) and trees (2%).
Endemism
There are over 400 species of plants endemic to Azerbaijan. These include around 210
endemic lower plant species (including ten endemic species of lichen). Around 16 species of
algae are endemic to the Caspian Sea 13 . In addition, 210 higher plant species are considered
endemic to Azerbaijan, including species from 98 genera and 32 families. The centres of both
higher and lower plant endemism are in the regions of Nakhichevan, the Talysh Mountains,
and east of the Greater Caucasus.
The Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan is an important centre of plant endemism and
supports over 50% of the endemic plants found in Azerbaijan. Endemism is particularly high
within a number of botanical families, including legumes and peas, roses and wild cherries,
asters and wormwoods and grasses (Gramineae) 14 . Recent re-evaluations suggest the territory
has 112 country endemics, and 219 regional (Caucasian) endemics, and an additional 73
plants are locally distributed within Iran and Turkey. Approximately 65 endemic species and
sub-species are found only in Nakhichevan, including Scrophularia nachiczevanica, Stipa
isajevi, S. karjaginii and Pyrethrum ordubadica.
Conservation status
More than 10% of plants in Azerbaijan are considered to be under danger of extinction, 450
species of them were presented as exotic and extinct species in order to be included in second
edition of the Red Book of Azerbaijan Republic. (although only 140 of them are mentioned
in the current Red Book of Azerbaijan 15 ) and three species are listed as globally threatened in
1989 - Iris acutiloba, Calligonum bakuense and Astragalus bakuenses. In 1982 the
government recognised that 2,124 plant species in Azerbaijan are rare, endemic, threatened,
or of economic importance (Government Order number 167).
Just under 2% of the flora of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic is listed in the Azerbaijan
Red Data Book (54 species or subspecies are listed 16 ). In addition, some species have not
been found in the territory for a number of years and may have become locally extinct 17 .
1.1.5.5. Fauna
Invertebrates
Approximately 25 000 species of invertebrates have been recorded in Azerbaijan, of which
90% are within the phylum Arthropoda (invertebrates with jointed legs), of which a further
90% are insects (sub-phylum Insecta; see Table 3.6). The arachnids (spiders and mites)
represent the second largest group of arthropods in Azerbaijan, with 1,870 species recorded
within the three main orders (Araneae, Acariformes and Parasitiformes, each represented by
700 – 800 species). Fewer crustaceans (order Crustacea) have been recorded, with a total of
13 Four species of red algae, one species of brown algae (an endemic genus), one species of blue-green
algae and ten diatom species.
14 Endemism is high in Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae.
15 Red Book of Azerbaijan SSR, Published: Ishig, (1989). This classifies species by threat (0-4): extinct,
endangered, rare, vulnerable or data deficient.
16 Of particular note are Nectaroscordum tripedale, Ferula oopoda, Stenotaenia daralaghezica, Campanula
radula and Salsola tamamschjana
17 For example, Aristolochia bottae, Paeonia tenuifolia, Camranula minesterana and Triticum monococcum
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2009