CRTC for ITCAMP: Coastal Profiles. Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

INTRODUCTION:

Caspian Sea and the adjacent land represent a unit natural geosystem in which the geological, hydroclimatic, anthropogenic and cosmic factors interact complexly. Together with the specific natural factors the Azerbaijan sector of geosystem is characterized by high level of the anthropogenic load. It is connected with great number of population and industrial objects located in the coastal zone and the country cultivated lands as well. The successful reorganization of the economics allows prognosticating the consequent growth of the social and economical indices of the coastal zones of Azerbaijan in middle- and long-term prospect that predestines the further increase of the anthropogenic influence upon the region. So the important element of stable development with keeping the natural balance of the Caspian geosystem must be the planning and management of the coastal zone on national and transborder levels.

The National Report "Azerbaijan National Shore Profile" is used for aims of planning and management of the coastal zone. This report is made according to methodical instructions of the Caspian Regional Thematic Centre (CRTC) for Integrated Transboundery Coastal Area Planning and Management (ITCAPM). The coastal zone of Azerbaijan includes the national sector of the Caspian Sea and the continental stripe with average width 50-60 km. This stripe includes the territories of Gusar, Guba, Khachmaz, Devechi, Siazan, Khyzy, Apsheron, Gobustan, Gajibulag, Sabirabad, Saatly, Salyan, Neftchala, Bilasuvar, Jalilabad, Masalli, Lenkaran, Yardymly, Lerik and Astara administrative regions, and also the territories subordinated to executive power of Baku, Sumgayit and Ali-Bairamly cities. Administrative-territorial zonation of the coastal zone is given on Fig. 1.

National Report represents the first systematized review and valuation of resource potential of the coastal zone and situations in the field of this potential utilization in Azerbaijan. Great volume of analytic and statistic information, gained in the state and scientific organizations, and also the numerous publication on the region had been used for this National Report compilation. Senior specialists and scientists from the corresponding organizations had been involved as the experts to analyze and summarize these materials for this report compilation.

Talat Nasrulla oglu Kangarly - candidate of geologic-mineralogical sciences, head of department of nature utilization economics and ecology of Ministry of Economics of Azerbaijan Republic was the general supervisor of this project. The following experts took part in National Report compilation:

Aliyev Ali Mamed oglu	State Committee of Geology and Mineral Resources, candidate of geologic-mineralogical sciences
Ahmedbeyli Farhad Sultan oglu	Geology Institute of Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, doctor of geologic-mineralogical sciences, professor
Veliyev Fikret Imraly oglu	Ministry of Agriculture, candidate of technical sciences
Gadjiyev Gilinj Abdul oglu	State Committee of Hydrometeorology, candidate of geographical sciences
Gadjiyeva Svetlana Bala gizi	Institute of Mineral Resources, State Committee of Geology and Mineral Resources, candidate of biological sciences
Gambarli Vasif Ali oglu	Ministry of Economy
Israfilov Yusif Gabib oglu	Institute of Water Problems of Committee of Reclamation and Water Economy, candidate of geologic-mineralogical sciences
Mamedov Islam Amiraslan oglu	Executive Power, Baku city
Mamedova Tatyana Vitalievna	Ministry of Labour and Social Defense of Population
Mardanly Fuad Aliovsat oglu	Ministry of Health, doctor of medical sciences
Mahmudov Rustam Teimur oglu	Ministry of Economy
Muradov Aydin Ibragim oglu	Ministry of Economy
Muradov Feyzulla Mazair oglu	Ministry of Economy
Suleymanov Manaf Bibiguly oglu	Ecological Union of Azerbaijan, candidate of geographical sciences
Tagiyev Ramiz Isa oglu	State Committee on Ecology and Nature Utilization Control

Each of the listed national experts made contribution to executive their tasks. While compiling the National Report members of the expert group widely used oral advises and information of the outstanding scientists and specialists of Azerbaijan, as:

Gadjiyev Vahid Jalal oglu	Botanic Institute of Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, academician
Zamanov Yusif Jumshud oglu	State Committee of Geology and Mineral Resources, deputy of Committee chairman, chief geologist
Israfilov Rauf Gabib oglu	Geology Institute of Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, doctor of geologic-mineralogical sciences
Kasymov Abdul Guseinali oglu	Zoology Institute of Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, academician
Mamedov Ramiz Makhmud oglu	Geography Institute of Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, doctor of geographical sciences
Musayev Musa Abdurahman oglu	Zoology Institute of Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, academician
Yagubov Gasham Shamil oglu	State Project Institute of Land Arrangement, candidate of agriculture sciences

Their consultations deserve high valuation and gratitude.

It is necessary to mention that in spite of high qualification of the expert group and maximal volume of used material, the prepared National Report doesn't reflect completely the actual state of the coastal zone the resource potential of which is not realized completely and requires additional studies. Thus, the present report must be considered as the first-step. We hope that studies will be kept on this direction.

At the same time the authors realize that this National Report can contain some mistakes and inexactness as the work done in limit terms. Objective critics will allow making the necessary corrections during the following works on compilation of National Strategy of planning and management of the coastal zone and other projects and programs connected with the examined problem.