D1 - Nationally designated protected areas of the Republic of Azerbaijan
What progress has been made with regard to the national designation of protected areas as a tool for biodiversity conservation?
Figure 1 - Change in the number and size of nationally designated protected areas in the Republic of Azerbaijan (1929-2018)
Data sources:
(6.1) Specially protected areas provided by the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Figure 2 - Share of nationally designated protected areas of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2018)
Data sources:
(6.1) Specially protected areas provided by the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
The territory of Azerbaijan, a part of the Southern Caucasus, is one of the regions distinguished by its rich biological diversity. Since 2000, Azerbaijan has been a State Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992). In line with the fundamental principles of the Convention, a number of constructive measures related to the protection of biological diversity have been implemented, notably the expansion of the network of nationally designated protected areas, i.e. strictly protected areas, national parks, nature reserves, sanctuaries and protected forests. By means of this expansion, the total protected area has been increased from 382 000 ha in 1990 to 893 000 ha in 2018, which corresponds to an increase of 133.8 %.
Intensifying protection of biodiversity has been always at the core of national environment policies. After the country gained its indepence, the legal empowerment of the protected areas was improved by establishing Zangazur National Park named after Academician Hasan Aliyev in 2003, which was followed by the establishment of Shirvan and Aghgol National Parks.
The adoption of the national development plan, Azerbaijan – 2020: Look into the Future, Concept of Development in 2012 provided intersectoral strategic policy implementation for protecting the biodiversity across the country. Under this strategy, public agencies should take biodiversity protection into account in their work plans and programmes. Furthermore, the national strategy for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2017-2020 was adopted in 2016.
As a result of the policy measures since 2003, the total territory of the protected areas has been increased to 10.3 % of the territory of Azerbaijan. However, it should be noted that much effort is needed to meet the Aichi biodiversity target 11 of the Convention of Biological Diversity.
Figure 3 - Progress in protected areas by nationally designated types in Azerbaijan (1990-2018)
Data sources:
(6.1) Specially protected areas provided by the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Figure 4 - Nationally designated protected areas by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) management categories (1990-2018)
Data sources:
(6.1) Specially protected areas provided by the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan has very diverse protected area management categories, which vary in size, aim and management approaches. The existing structure of Azerbaijan’s protected area system includes three major categories of national and local importance: (1) nature reserves correspond to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categories Ia and Ib; (2) national sanctuaries are equivalent to IUCN category II; and (3) national parks in Azerbaijan are managed in a similar way to the management practices of the habitat and species management areas of IUCN category IV, which have gained focus since 2003.
Analysis shows that the most common IUCN category of terrestrial protected areas in Azerbaijan have been strict nature reserves/wilderness area (categories Ia and Ib) and nationa parks (category II), but that after the 2000s, habitat/species management area (category IV) have become equally important.
In the context of implementation of various protected areas management categories, the state nature reserves in Azerbaijan are designated as areas of nature conservation and as scientific institutions or organisations established for the purpose of preserving characteristic and unique natural complexes and objects in their natural condition, and for studying the course of natural processes and phenomena.
National parks are areas of special ecological, historical, aesthetic and other important natural complexes and nature conservation and also scientific institutions or organisations that are used for conservation, enlightenment, scientific, cultural and other purposes.
State nature sanctuaries are areas that are of special importance for preservation or restoration of natural complexes or their components, as well as for the preservation of ecological balance.
As a result of a lack of data, complementarity analyses on European desgination (Emerald Network) and national desgination could not be performed. However, during recent years, Azerbaijan has nominated 17 sites in the Emerald Network, with a total area of 1 679 533 ha, which corresponds to 19.4 % of the country’s territory (Roeakaerts and Opermanis, 2018).
Indicator specification
Indicator definition
The proposed definition is a combination of the D1 UNECE Environmental Indicator and of the Streamlined European Biodiversity Indicators (SEBI) 007 indicator.
The indicator shows the terrestrial area protected in compliance with the national legislation and its development over time. It reflects both the extent of protected areas and their share in the total area of the country.
The indicator can be further broken down by IUCN management categories and by category of national designation (national park, strict nature reserve, protected landscape etc.). In addition, a sub-indicator showing the relation between nationally designated areas at national level and areas designated as Emerald sites can be developed.
Units
Area (ha) of nationally protected areas as a percentage of the country territory.
Rationale
Justification for indicator selection
Establishment of protected areas is a direct response to concerns over biodiversity loss, so an indicator of protected area coverage is a valuable indication of commitment to conserving biodiversity and reducing loss at a range of levels.
The indicator demonstrates the change over time in one form of protection afforded to components of biodiversity. It provides a measure of the response to the degradation of ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity in a country. It demonstrates the extent to which areas important for conserving biodiversity, cultural heritage, scientific research (including baseline monitoring of processes in the ecosystems), recreation, natural resource maintenance and other environmental values are protected.
This indicator is also a measure of the distance to the global target, i.e. the Aichi biodiversity target and shows the national contribution to the global network of protected areas.
Scientific references
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Dudley, N., (Editor), 2008. Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. x + 86pp. WITH Stolton, S., P. Shadie and N. Dudley (2013). IUCN WCPA Best Practice Guidance on Recognising Protected Areas and Assigning Management Categories and Governance Types, Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 21, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. xxpp. 978-2-8317-1636-7
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Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 2012. Azerbaijan 2020: Look into the Future, Concept of Development, United Nations Development Programme. (accessed 15 March 2019)
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Roekaerts, M. and Opermanis, O., 2018. Status of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest in 2018, Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks 9th Meeting, T-PVS/PA (2018) 11, Council of Europe, Strasbourg. (accessed 15 March 2019)
Policy context and targets
Context description
National policy context
The Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1999) on the specially protected natural areas and facilities aims to develop the national network of protected areas as a tool for conserving the country’s biodiversity richness of the. The legislation requires the development of environmental quality indicators to measure progress (accessed 15 March 2019).
The National strategy for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2017-2020 requires interagency coordination and collaboration to incorporate the biodiversity aspects of environmental protection into development plans.
International policy context
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity aimed at the establishment and maintenance of comprehensive, effectively managed and ecologically representative national and regional systems of protected areas.
Targets
National targets
The national strategy for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2017-2020 has identified a number of qualitative targets, such as, by 2020, the environmental and biodiversity conservation efficiency should be increased. However, no quantitative target has been specified at the national level.
International targets
Under the CBD, the strategic plan for biodiversity 2011-2020 was adopted, which requires that, by 2020, at least 17 % of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10 % of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes (Aichi biodiversity target 11).
Related policy documents
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Action Plan for Implementing the Programme of Work on Protected Areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity-Azerbaijan. Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 2000. Report submitted to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to CBD secretariat.
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The Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1999) on the specially protected natural areas and facilities aims to develop the national network of protected areas as a tool for conserving the country’s biodiversity richness of the. The legislation requires the development of environmental quality indicators to measure progress (accessed 15 March 2019).
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The national strategy for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2017-2020 requires interagency coordination and collaboration to incorporate the biodiversity aspects of environmental protection into development plans.
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Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 2012. Azerbaijan 2020: Look into the Future, Concept of Development, United Nations Development Programme. (accessed 15 March 2019)
Methodology
Methodology for indicator calculation
It is necessary for this indicator to have a database of all nationally protected areas in the country, including name of the protected area, date of establishment, protection regime in accordance with national legislation (and relevant international requirements), size and digital boundaries.
To break down results by IUCN management category, it is necessary for each protected area to be characterised according to the type of management applied, following the IUCN guidelines.
To assess the (spatial) complementarity between Emerald site designation and nationally protected areas, two datasets are necessary (to be overlaid): (1) spatial delineation of nationally protected areas; and (2) spatial delineation of Emerald sites (only candidate and officially designated Emerald sites to be considered).
The percentage of protected areas can be calculated by the formula:
Share of protected areas (%) = (total area of protected areas in hectares or km2/total area of the country in hectares or km2) × 100.
Protected area coverage can be calculated nationally and by sub-national administrative unit of terrestrial and/or marine area.
Methodology for gap filling
No methodology for gap filling has been specified.
Methodology references
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In Azerbaijan, three major protected area categories have been implemented, to meet different management objectives in line with the protection of biodiversity resources in the country:
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Nature reserves are equivalent to IUCN categories Ia and Ib. The overall management objectives are to protect the biodiversity and use the areas for scientific and educational purposes.
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State sanctuaries are close to IUCN category II, national parks. The primary management objectives are to protect biodiversity in a way that is more in harmony with tourism and recreation, in line with the principles of sustainable development.
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National parks are equivalent to the IUCN habitat/species management areas.
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Dudley, N. (Editor),2008. Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. x + 86pp. WITH Stolton, S., P. Shadie and N. Dudley (2013). IUCN WCPA Best Practice Guidance on Recognising Protected Areas and Assigning Management Categories and Governance Types, Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 21, Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. xxpp. 978-2-8317-1636-7
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EEA, 2005. EEA core set of indicators guide. EEA Technical report No 1/2005, ISBN 92-9167-757-4, Luxembourg.
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EEA, 2018. Nationally designated protected areas. CSI 008, SEBI 007.
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UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Data template – D1. Protected areas.
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UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Description of D1. Protected areas.
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UNECE, 2018. Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, Glossary of terms – D1. Protected areas.
Uncertainties
Methodology uncertainty
The indicator ‘Progress in the designation of protected areas by IUCN categories over time’ could not be clearly defined, as many national protected areas may include a territory with several IUCN categories. A specific definition of the IUCN category is possible by a separate expert assessment.
Data sets uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified.
Rationale uncertainty
The indicator does not describe the quality of management or whether or not the areas are protected from incompatible uses. The indicator needs to be complemented by information on management effectiveness or funding or by other elements that would indicate the potential of the designated area to protect biodiversity.
Data sources
Data sources:
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(6.1) Specially protected areas provided by the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
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Roekaerts, M. and Opermanis, O., 2018. Status of the Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest in 2018, Group of Experts on Protected Areas and Ecological Networks 9th Meeting, T-PVS/PA (2018) 11, Council of Europe, Strasbourg. (accessed 15 March 2019)