Azerbaijan republic ministry of transport road transport service department

4.2Biological Environment

6. Fauna

Fauna biodiversity is not particularly high in the area of the Baku to Shamakhi corridor, especially in the eastern dry semi-desert areas. While some threatened species (of both national and international importance) of plants and animals have their natural habitat in the wider part of the region, these are not expected to be affected by the project as the rehabilitation will be confined within the existing 60 m ROW.

The following comments on the fauna of the region are mainly based on the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan, IUCN Red Data List and publications of BirdLife International. The superscript ‘a’ after a scientific name indicates species listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan; ‘b’ indicates IUCN species (World Red Data Book) and ‘c’ indicates species included in both the national and international Red Data Books. According to these sources, the common mammals of the area are the Jackal (Canis aureus) and the Wolf (Canis lupus) which follow the sheep flocks to the winter pastures in the lowlands and the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) which is a resident species of this area. Further characteristic mammals are the bat Western Barbastelle (Barbastella barbastella^b), the hare (Lepus europaeus), the Red-tailed Sanderling (Meriones lybicus) and the Social Vole (Microtus socialis).

The avifauna is characterized by Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus^a), Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca^c), Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus,migratory^b), Saker (Falco cherrug^a), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni^b), which is especially important, as this globally threatened species has a small nesting colony under some bridges over Ceyrankecmez river, Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax^c) and the resident species Chukar (Alectoris chukar), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis^a), Rock Dove (Columba livia), Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) and Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina).

Characteristic amphibian species are Spade-footed Toad (Pelobates syriacus^a), Common Toad (Bufo bufo), Green Toad (Bufo viridis) and the Common Frog (Rana ridibunda), which are found in the vicinity of rivers and ponds.

The reptile fauna of the area is made up of Viper Lebetina (Vipera lebetina), the Caucasian Agama (Agama caucasica), the Greek Tortoise (Testudo graeca^c), and the Caspian Turtle (Mauremys caspica).

As mentioned in Section 4.3, only common fish types occur in the area such that no threatened fish species are found in the rivers and streams of this region.

Characteristic and rare insects that may be encountered are the beetles - Carabus scabrosus and Calosoma sycophanta^a; and the butterflies Apollo (Parnassius apollo^c), Colias aurorina^a and Manduca atropos^a.

7. Flora

The eastern part of the study corridor is mainly used for winter pasture. Vine-growing, animal husbandry, grain cultivation and fruit growing dominate in the western zone where 35% of the land is used for pasture; 25% is arable lands and vineyards; 5% is forest and 35% is urban or unused lands.

The area to the west of Baku is characterized by saltwort ephemeral desert vegetation. Travelling westwards along the Baku to Shamakhi road, the saltwort-ephemeral desert landscape is gradually replaced by wormwood-saltwort semi desert. Spring vegetation is dominant over autumn vegetation. Saltwort vegetation is more widely distributed here than wormwood. Saltwort is edificatory for this area. Between km 30 and 70 wormwood-saltwort semi-deserts can be found. In this section, wormwood formations are generally developed on the basis of ephemeral grass vegetation. Artemisia hanseniania is main edificatory for this area. Beyond km 70, the natural vegetation is mountain-steppe landscape with mixed-grass vegetation.

According to the Red Book of Azerbaijan, up to 19 species of plants can be found in the Baku-Shamakhi area. Nine species (Ferula persica, Anabasis brachiata, Astragalus bakuensis, Iris acutiloba, I.reticulata, Avena ventricosa, Stipa pellita, Calligonum bakuense and Pyracanta coccinea), occur at the eastern part of the corridor in the desert and semi-desert landscape, which are all listed in the Azerbaijan Red Data Book of 1989. A further ten plant species, which originally occurred in this area have disappeared following the strong anthropogenic influence and the altering of the natural habitats for agricultural purposes (mostly for arable land).

RTSD has planted narrow strips of trees in various sections alongside the road, mainly in the area to the west of Narimankend. In accordance with the provisions of former Soviet Technical Norms and Rules SNIP 2.05.02.85 (3.9 and 9.15), the main purpose of these plantations is to reduce noise and air pollution and to protect the road from strong winds and snow.

Much of the land next to the road and even including the normal ROW (30 m to either side of the road) is under the ownership of the Cengi office of the State Forest Fund (SFF). Plantations were carried out under the Presidential Decree no. 1152 of February 18th 2003, which stipulates that the area of forestlands in Azerbaijan should be increased (this is also a MDG). According to local officials at Maraza, the land for these plantations was given to MENR, however, excluding the ROW. The plantations were extended within the ROW by MENR. If any of these plantations are likely to be affected by road construction or widening activities, an official plan has to be submitted by the MOT to MENR.

The SFF started planting trees in 2003 and has since then covered a total area of about 2,280 hectares. Along the project corridor, trees are planted some 5 to 6 meters from the edge of the road. As the plantations were just recently established, height of plantings is mostly below 0.5 meters although there are some areas with trees that have grown to over a meter high. The tree plantations are found intermittently starting at about km 55 until km 65 covering a total length of about 4 km. The longest strip of plantation is about 1.8 km between km 63.6 to 65.4. Species that are found suitable to the climatic and soil conditions of the area are trees such as mulberry, oleaster, pine, acacia, cypress, pomegranate and almond as well as the shrub ailanthus. SFF plans to provide vegetation cover adjacent areas along the entire stretch of the road that is within their jurisdiction (until about km 90).

Starting at about km 90 (near Maraza) until km 100, vegetation close to the road primarily consist of trees such as ash, almond, walnut, oak, elm, pistachio, platan and fustic. A plantation of mature pine trees, more than 10 m from the edge of the road is found at both sides of the corridor between km 100 and km 105, and as such, is not likely to be affected by the road rehabilitation. In Shamakhi, a single row of trees is mostly found close to the road at km 110, km 116-117 and starting at km 123 until km 132. Species noted are ash, acacia, elm, poplar, platan and walnuts.

8. Protected Areas and Other Ecologically Significant Sites

There are no areas designated under National Legislation within the Baku-Shamakhi study corridor, nor do areas of specifically high botanical or zoological value exist.

In the wider surroundings of the study corridor there are two sites of international conservation importance. These are so called 'Important Bird Areas' and are located around Gargabazar and Gushgaya mountains some 8-10 km directly south of Cengi village. These areas are important habitats for the globally threatened Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) as well as for the Lanner (Falco biarmicus) and the Alpine Swift (Apus melba).