Nicola Arndt und Matthias Pohl - Neobiota

migrating routes lying across the Caucasus. B58, C46, F164, F172, M4, O7, O8 and P36 have less
than 5 % of their territory in protected areas. The area is under strong human impact.
Area VIII encompasses the extreme southern, arid part of the Caucasus. It is distinguished by the
diversity of high mountain vegetation, xerophytes and its large mammal fauna. Here B59 and C47
have zero representation, while units with less than 5 % representation are F170, F172 and O7. Recent
data on human impact are not available.
Area IX covers the area of the Talysh Mountains’ part of Hyrcanian refugia. Almost all units are
characteristic of the lowest index value: H2, H3, F166, F170, N8. The area suffers from serious human
impact. 2
5 Conclusions
It is clear from the preliminary and rather approximate analyses that the Caucasus Protected Areas
network calls for improvement.
Planning of the Econet by considering all necessary parameters (the implementation of which has been
already attempted by WWF) is rather time-consuming and requires much financial support. But until
these plans have been implemented, it is obvious that urgent measures should be carried out for
conservation of the following natural habitats and areas.
(a) Measures should be taken throughout the Caucasus for surviving floodplain forest (formation U)
remnants.
(b) Special attention should be focused to the survival of oak forests in the Caucasus. Furthermore,
urgent measures should be taken for surviving formations H and G remnants, as well as for expanding
the protection of units F166-F168, F170-F172. While prioritising the oak forest conservation needs,
the Areas IX, III, VII and VIII should be also considered.
(c) Protection of all three units of formation R should be given priority; also special attention should
be focused on the Areas I and IV.
(d) Urgent measures should be carried out for expanding protected areas in the Talysh Mountains (area
IX) (see corresponding reference on previous page).
(e) Development of the protected territory in Areas III and V will balance the network existing in the
Great Caucasus and will create a good opportunity for establishing wide transborder cooperation and
for creating a “Great Caucasus Green Corridor”.
(f) Establishment of protected areas within the framework of Area IX will guarantee the survival of
local Colchic relict endemic species and communities.
(g) Establishment of a protected territory in Areas VII and VIII is absolutely necessary for perfecting
the network of southern Caucasus and for survival of forest formations (especially F164, F170, F172),
subalpine forests (part of C46, C47), high mountain wetlands, large mammals and ornithofauna, here
threatened with extinction.
2 Recently, the Hyrcan Strict Nature Reserve (with an area less than 3,000 ha) was replaced by Hyrcan National
Park (21,435 ha), established according to decree of the President of Azerbaijan (February, 2004). WWF is
assisting the Azeri Government in the preparation of a management plan and providing core support for
implementation of infrastructure.
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