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ECOREGIONAL CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE CAUCASUS 2020 EDITION SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS ECOREGIONAL CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE CAUCASUS 2020 EDITION SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS TBILISI 2020 The Ecoregional Conser vation Plan for the Caucasus has been revised in the frame of the Transboundar y Joint Secretariat-Phase III Project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW Development Bank and implemented by WWF Caucasus Programme Office with the involvement of the AHT GROUP AG - REC Caucasus Consortium. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of organizations and institutions who were involved in preparing ECP 2020 or who provided financial support or support in kind. None of the entities involved assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information disclosed in the publication. Editors: N. Zazanashvili, M. Garforth and M. Bitsadze Ecoregional Maps: G. Beruchashvili and N. Arobelidze, WWF / © WWF Suggested citation for the publication: Zazanashvili, N., Garforth, M. and Bitsadze, M., eds. (2020). Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, 2020 Edition: Supplementary Reports. WWF, KfW, Tbilisi. Suggested citation for each repor t – see at the end of the repor ts. ISBN 978-9941-8-2374-9 Designed by David Gabunia Printed by Fountain Georgia LTD, Tbilisi, Georgia, 2020 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The 2020 Edition of the Ecoregional Conservation Plan (ECP) for the Caucasus is published in two parts. The first and main part – “Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus: 2020 Edition”– presents an overview of the Ecoregion’s biodiversity and the general threats which it faces, describes the main actors in the field of biodiversity conser vation in the Caucasus, explains the role of the ECP as a regional instrument for implementing international agreements related to biodiversity, discusses the main conceptual approaches for developing this edition of ECP, and presents the plan itself with its targets and actions. This second par t of the ECP presents supplementar y repor ts that include an explanation of the rationale for the Ecoregion’s boundaries, a detailed description of the Key Biodiversity Areas and Conser vation Landscapes (which form the basis of the Ecological Network envisaged by the ECP), and information about the status of the Ecoregion’s threatened species in the following groups: large carnivores, large herbivores, birds, amphibians and reptiles, freshwater fish and lampreys, and flora (vascular plants) and vegetation. The chapters also include information on physical-geographical features of the Caucasus, terrestrial ecoregions within the boundaries of the Caucasus combined ecoregion, biomes that create the basis of the main habitats, par ticular threats to the groups, and on-going conservation efforts and proposals for additional conservation actions. The compilers of each report represent all six countries of the Caucasus ecoregion: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia and Turkey. The order of the compilers’ names (after the first author who wrote the main text) usually follows the alphabetical order of the ecoregion’s countries’ names with some exceptions (when the co-authors’ order follows their input to the particular report). The editors and compilers of this publication are grateful to the governmental organizations and agencies who kindly provided data for the repor ts. We extend our thanks to all exper ts and specialists who suppor ted the preparation of ECP 2020 and its separate parts by providing materials or personal communications. Special thanks are owed to the Government of Germany, par ticularly, the German Federal Ministr y for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and KfW Development Bank for their crucial financial support for the revision and publication of ECP 2020. 3 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS TABLE OF CONTENTS TERMS AN D ABBREVIATION S 6 TH E BOU N D ARIES AN D BIO-PH YSICAL FEATU RES OF TH E CAU CASU S ECOREGION 9 compiled by N. Zazanashvili, K. Manvelyan, E. Askerov, M. Mousavi, V. Krever, S. Kalem and M. Garforth KEY BIOD IVERSITY AREAS IN TH E CAU CASU S ECOREGION 21 compiled by M. Bitsadze, K. Manvelyan, E. Askerov, M. Mousavi, V. Shmunk, S. Kalem, N. Zazanashvili, R. Mnatsekanov, S. Devranoglu Tavsel, M. Cevik, K. Ahmadova, G. Beruchashvili, A. Kandaryan and M. Garforth CON SERVATION LAN D SCAPES IN TH E CAU CASU S ECOREGION 29 compiled by N. Zazanashvili, K. Manvelyan, E. Askerov, M. Mousavi, V. Shmunk, S. Kalem, G. Beruchashvili, M. Bitsadze and M. Garforth STATU S OF LARGE CARN IVORES IN TH E CAU CASU S 37 compiled by E. Askerov, K. Manvelyan, Z. Gurielidze, M. Mousavi, V. Shm unk, S. Trepet, A.E. Kütükçü, A. Heidelberg and N. Zazanashvili STATU S OF LARGE H ERBIVORES IN TH E CAU CASU S 48 compiled by P. Weinberg, E. Askerov, K. Manvelyan, Z. Gurielidze, M. Mousavi, A.E. Kütükçü, A. Heidelberg and N. Zazanashvili STATU S OF BIRD S IN TH E CAU CASU S 72 compiled by Z. Javakhishvili, K. Aghababyan, E. Sultanov, M. Tohidifar, R. Mnatsekanov and S. Isfendiyaroğlu AMPH IBIAN S AN D REPTILES OF TH E CAU CASU S 83 compiled by B.S. Tuniyev, D. Tarkhnishvili, A.L. Aghasyan, S.N. Bunyatova, K. Kamali, S.M. Mirghazanfari, C.V. Tok and K. Çiçek FRESH W ATER FISH AN D LAMPREYS OF TH E CAU CASU S 97 compiled by J . Freyhof, S. Pipoyan N. Mustafayev, S. Ibrahimov, B. J aposhvili, O. Sedighi, B. Levin, A. Pashkov and D. Turan FLORA AN D VEGETATION OF TH E CAU CASU S 106 compiled by K. Batsatsashvili, A. Nersesyan, N. Mehdiyeva, R. Murtazaliev, Ö. Eminağaoğlu and K. Kavousi AN N EXES Annex 1: The IUCN Globally Threatened Species in the Caucasus Ecoregion 119 Annex 2: Key Biodiversity Areas with Associated Trigger Species 129 Annex 3: Summary of Species Parameters of Key Biodiversity Areas 153 Annex 4. Description of Conservation and Bridging Landscapes 159 Annex 5. Map of Key Biodiversity Areas, and Conservation and Bridging Landscapes 177 5 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Aggregation A geographically restricted clustering of individuals that typically occurs during a specific life history stage or process such as breeding, feeding or m igration. This clustering is indicated by highly localised relative abundance, two or m ore orders m agnitude larger than the species` average recorded numbers or densities at other stages during its life-cycle (IUCN, 2016). a. s. l. Above sea level Bern Convention Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats Biosphere Reserve The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally designated protected areas, each known as biosphere reserves. Each reserve prom otes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. BL Bridging Landscape BMZ Germ an Federal Ministry for Econom ic Cooperation and Developm ent Bridging Landscape A physical-geographical entity that physically connects Conservation Landscapes. 6 CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CEPF The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund CL Conservation Landscape CMS Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Anim als CNF Caucasus Nature Fund Conservation Landscape A geographically defined large area, typically larger than 5000 km², identified as priority for conserving biodiversity and m aintaining healthy ecological processes and environm ental services. CR Critically Endangered, category of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. DD Data Deficient, according to the IUCN Red List: a taxon is Data Deficient when there is inadequate inform ation to m ake a direct, or indirect, assessm ent of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/ or population status. ECF Eco-Corridors Fund for the Caucasus (WWF/BMZ/KfW long-term project) ECP The Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus Ecological Corridor A clearly defined geographical space that is governed and managed over the long-term to conserve or restore effective landscape connectivity, with associated ecosystem services and cultural and spiritual values (slightly modified from a draft definition by Hilty et al., 2019). Em erald network The Em erald network is a network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats of Europe, launched by Council of Europe under the Bern Convention. EN Endangered, category of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. European Diplom a for Protected Areas A prestigious international award granted since 1965 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. It recognises natural and semi-natural areas and landscapes of exceptional European im portance for the preservation of biological, geological and landscape diversity, which are m anaged in an exem plary way. FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations GEF The Global Environm ent Facility Geographically Restricted Species Species having a restricted global distribution, as m easured by range, extent of suitable habitat or area of occupancy, and hence largely confined or endemic to a relatively small portion of the globe such as bioregion, ecoregion or site (IUCN, 2016). Global 200 The Global 200 is the list (and the map) of ecoregions identified by WWF as priorities for conservation. Globally Threatened Species Species categorised in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU). IBA An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally im portant for the conservation of bird populations. 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS IDEA International Dialogue for Environm ental Action IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature KBA Key Biodiversity Area KfW KfW Developm ent Bank LC Least Concern, category of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Managed Nature Reserve This term is used for protected areas that are differently named in different countries, but all of them correspond to IUCN Category IV – Habitat/ Species Managem ent Area; synonym s of it are e.g. Sanctuary, Wildlife Refuge, in Russ. – Zakaznik. NACRES Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and Research, NGO Nature Reserve, State Nature Reserve We use the term Nature Reserve or State Nature Reserve (Zapovednik in Russ.) as synonym s of Strict Nature Reserve, IUCN Category I. NGO Non-governmental organization North Caucasus Geographical nam e used in Soviet and Russian geographic publications for the Russian part of the Caucasus, covering Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, KarachayCherkessia, Adygea republics, Stavropol and Krasnodar regions of the Russian Federation. NP National Park NT Near Threatened, category of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Other effective area-based conservation m easure (OECM) A geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and other locally relevant values (2018 UN Biodiversity Conference). Pers. com m . Personal com m unication: unpublished inform ation provided by experts to the Report’s authors. Protected Area (PA) In the ECP the term “protected area” has the meaning given to it by the IUCN, which is: a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective m eans, to achieve the long term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values. Ram sar Convention Convention on Wetlands of International Im portance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat Ram sar site A Ram sar site is a wetland site designated to be of international im portance under the Ram sar Convention. South Caucasus Political-geographical term, which includes the three Caucasus countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia. Southern Caucasus Not a com m on term . The ECP uses it as a nam e for the area covered by the South Caucasus countries, plus the Iranian and Turkish parts of the Caucasus. Southern Caucasus (Volcanic) Uplands Not a common term. The ECP uses it as a name for the geographical-geological entity covering the volcanic plateaus and ranges of the Southern Caucasus (within Arm enia, Georgia, Turkey and Iran) that by origin and by general character of landscapes do not belong to the Lesser Caucasus and the Talysh-Alborz mountain ranges. TJ S Transboundary Joint Secretariat for the South Caucasus financed by the German Government (BMZ/KfW) UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization VU Vulnerable, category of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species WHC Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage World (Natural) Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landm ark or area, selected by the UNESCO under WHC for having cultural, historical, scientific, natural or other form of global significance (outstanding value), which is legally protected by international treaties. WWF World Wide Fund for Nature 7 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS THE BOUNDARIES AND BIO-PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION N. Zazanashvili a,h, Com piled by K. Manvelyan E. Askerovc,d, M. Mousavie, V. Krever f, S. Kalem g and M. Garforth h,i b, WWF-Caucasus, Tbilisi, Georgia; b WWF-Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia; cWWF-Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan; d Institute of Zoology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku , Azerbaijan; eWildlife Conservation and Management Bureau, Iran Department of Environment, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; f WWF-Russia, Moscow, Russia; g WWF-Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; h Ilia State University, Institute of Ecology, Tbilisi, Georgia; iIndependent expert a Co n t e n t s : Introduction; Boundary definition; Physical-geographical features; Terrestrial Ecoregions; Biodiversity Hotspots; Conclusions; Acknowledgements; References; Suggested citation. In tro d u ctio n The boundaries of the Caucasus ecoregion (Map 1) were decided during the preparation of the first edition of the Ecoregional Conservation Plan. The boundaries incorporate several of the terrestrial ecoregions of the world defined in Olson et al (2001)1 and Global 200 Ecoregions described in Olson and Dinerstein (2002). For the stakeholders of the Caucasus, the term Caucasus ecoregion is accepted and easy to understand as a geographical hotspot of biodiversity. It is also quite commonly used in scientific and popular publications in the fields of biodiversity, geography and nature protection (GRID Arendal 2008; Lewis, 2012; Gorenflo et al., 2012; Bondirev, Davitashvili, Singh, 2015; see also the webpage of the Scientific Network for the Caucasus Mountain Region, http://caucasus-mt.net). During Soviet times the southern border of the Caucasus was defined by the political borders of the USSR, particularly by the southern borders of the Soviet Republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia (Dobrinin, 1948; Tushinsky, Davidova, 1976; Milkov, Gvozdetsky, 1986, etc.). After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and when work began in the late 1990s on identifying global biodiversity hotspots, a new definition of the region was needed (Mittermeier et al., 1999; Myers et al., 2000). The boundaries of the Caucasus ecoregion were delineated in a series of regional and national workshops in which more than 250 experts and stakeholders, representatives of academia, governmental and nongovernm ental organizations from all six countries of the Caucasus participated. The political situation at that time presented a challenge for an expert-driven, regional planning process (and continues to present a challenge today). In spite of the difficulties, the participants reached consensus and the new geographical shape of the Caucasus was published for the first time in the book “Hotspots: Earth’s Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World” (Mittermaier et al., 1999; Zazanashvili, Sanadiradze & Bukhnikashvili, 1999) and subsequently in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile for the Caucasus (CEPF 2003) and the first version of the Conservation Plan (ECP) for the Caucasus (Williams et al., 2006). The experts who participated in the first revision of the ECP agreed to keep the same shape (Zazanashvili et al., 2013), which also was supported by the experts who worked on this new edition (Map 1). With this shape, the Caucasus represents a com posite ecoregion partly or fully covering ten terrestrial ecoregions (Map 2). It is not the first interpretation of the Caucasus as a composite ecoregion: the Caucasus-Anatolian-Hyrcanian Temperate Forest of Global 200, which stretches from Bulgaria in the west to Turkm enistan in the east is also a com posite ecoregion, and covers six terrestrial ecoregions (Caucasus Mixed Forests, Euxine-Colchic Deciduous Forests, Northern Anatolian Conifer and Deciduous forests, 1 See also ecoregions2017.appspot.com 9 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Caspian Hyrcanian Mixed Forests, Elburz Range Forest Steppe and Kopet Dag Woodlands and Forest Steppe). In this case, the com posite ecoregion is form ed using typological principles and m ostly tem perate broadleaved and coniferous forest types. This is why forestless parts of Azerbaijan and the North Caucasus and some other areas of the Caucasus are omitted (Olson & Dinerstein, 1998, 2002). Within the boundaries of the Caucasus ecoregion there are several prom inent m ountain ranges and chains (with the highest peak being Mt. Elbrus, 5,642 m in the Central Greater Caucasus), and plateaus, plains and lowlands between them . The biodiversity of the Caucasus, the characteristics of which are exceptional for the temperate world, are defined mostly by the following conditions: (a) transitional geographical location between east and west, north and south that creates a large natural corridor effect; (b) location on the crossroads of different bio-geographical regions; (c) existence of sharp orographic barriers, which, together with characteristic m ovem ent of air m asses in the region, supported the creation of two warm and hum id refugia during the ice-ages (Colchic and Hyrcanian) with a number of relict and endemic species that continue to play a very important role in Caucasus biodiversity; (d) because of the wide variety of orographic-climatic conditions, great landscape diversity varying from tem perate rainforests (with m ean annual precipitation of 4,500 mm) to deserts (with 150 mm annual precipitation), and from marine and coastal ecosystems to alpine grasslands, glaciers and permanent snowfields; (e) two large (along the western Caspian and the eastern Black Sea) and several smaller flyways of migratory birds that cross the Caucasus. Kazbegi peak (5,054 m) at the border of the Central and Eastern Greater Caucasus Conservation Landscapes © N. Zazan ash vili 10 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Boundary definition A m ixed approach was taken to delineating the boundaries of the Caucasus ecoregion, com bining m ostly geographical (including historic-geographical) and some bio-geographical concepts. The northern boundary follows the so-called Kuma-Manych tectonic depression, which served as a natural channel between the Caspian and Black Seas in the geological past and which form ed during the Pliocene (Gvozdetsky, 1954; Dumitrashko et al., 1966).2 The depression is rich in lakes, wetlands, including som e of international importance (Sirin, 2012), and artificial channels; it serves as an ecological corridor for waterbirds (Ataev et al., 2016). The ecoregion’s southern border coincides with the boundary between the Black and Caspian Seas’ catchm ent basins and the catchm ent basins of the Indian Ocean and nearby large brackish lakes such as Van (Turkey) and Urmia (Iran). This interpretation closely matches the southern border of the Euro-Siberian phyto-geographical region and particularly its Pontic province within the section of the Caucasus (Zohary, 1973). The south-western and south-eastern borders are connected with two refugia of Tertiary flora: Euxine-Colchic Deciduous Forest (which is a distinct type of tem perate rainforest) and Caspian Hyrcanian Mixed Forests, also classified as rainforest (Nakhutsrishvili, Zazanashvili & Batsatsashvili, 2011; Nakhutsrishvili et al., 2015), and two distinct terrestrial ecoregions (Olson et al., 2001) (Map 2, see also ecoregions2017.appspot.com). The south-western border was drawn on the Melet river close to the city of Ordu (Turkey) because it is recognised by phyto-geographers as the border between the Colchic and Euxinian sub-provinces of the Euxinian province, dividing the relatively higher and wetter m ountainous area of the eastern Black Sea (Colchic) part with its higher density of species of Euxine-Colchic origin from the relatively drier and less mountainous western part (Davis, 1971; Dolukhanov, 1980; Browicz, 1989; Avci, 1996). Deciding the south-eastern border was more difficult. Iranian exerts proposed including the entire Hyrcanian region in the Caucasus ecoregion. From a purely biogeographical viewpoint this would have m ade sense, but the ecoregion would then have alm ost directly bordered Turkm enistan – part of Central Asia – which would have gone against the traditional, general geographical and historical-geographical understanding of the Caucasus as a piece of land or isthmus located between the Black and Caspian Seas (Encyclopaedia Britannica 2018). Finally, it was agreed to include in the Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot only the western, m ost hum id and m ost typical part of Caspian-Hyrcanian Mixed Forests and to draw the ecoregion boundary on the administrative border of Gilan province of Iran, close to the town of Ramsar. Within the Hyrcanian bio-geographical province, precipitation decreases quite steeply from west to east, while mean annual temperature increases in the same direction; as a result the summer-dry season is much longer in the east. These climatic difference affect vegetation character: in the east one can find semi-arid ecosystems, which are not typical for Hyrcanian forests, and elements of flora that are much more typical of Central Asia (Talebi, Sajedi, Pourhashemi, 2014; Tohidifar et al., 2016; Khalili & Rahimi, 2018, etc.). 2 Alignment of the northern boundary of the Caucasus with the Kuma-Manych tectonic depression follows the approach of Russian geographers. 11 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Map 1. The Caucasus Ecoregion Ex p la n a t io n : (a) dotted lines show the Ecoregion’s boundaries; (b) solid lines - state borders drawn according to UN map (http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/world.pdf); (c) hatched lines - territories of current political conflicts. 12 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Physical-geographical features The Caucasus ecoregion covers about 586,800 km², extending over all of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, the North Caucasian part of the Russian Federation (including the republics of Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygea, and the Krasnodar and Stavropol administrative regions of Russia), north-eastern Turkey, and part of north-western Iran. The forest biome covers around 20% of the region’s total area, freshwater ecosystems – nearly 12%, high mountains (more than 1,800 m above sea level) – 18%. The remaining 50% is covered by coastal ecosystems (there are 4,139 kilometres of coastline in the Ecoregion) and dry ecosystems (dry open woodlands and scrublands, steppes and semideserts). The Ecoregion has several major topographic features (Map 1): ● The North Caucasus Plains extend from the nor thern side of the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the Kuma-Manych Depression. The southern part of the plains belong mostly to the Pontic Steppe terrestrial ecoregion. The western par t of the plains is covered by cultivated lands, which were once grassland steppe, the eastern par t by sem ideser ts (used as winter pastures). The principal fauna species in the near past included the globally threatened Saiga Antelope, which is possibly extinct from the region because of the dramatic decline of the Kalmykia source population (Kuznetsov & Lushchekina, 2002; Neronov et al., 2013). The North Caucasus Plains lie entirely in the Russian Federation and contain the Kuma-Manych Conservation Landscape (see the chapter “Conservation Landscapes”). ● The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range extends across the Ecoregion from the nor thwest to the southeast for nearly 1,500 km extending into Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Russian Federation. The highest summits rise to more than 5,000 m in the central part (reaching 5,642 m on the summit of Mt. Elbrus, the highest peak of the Caucasus) and to more than 4,000 m in the western and eastern parts of the range. The main ecosystems include different types of forest, high mountain grasslands and shrubs, and sub-nival and nival ecosystems. It is considered to be one of the centres of origin of high mountain species (Dolukhanov, 1966). The principal fauna species include the globally threatened Leopard, Bezoar Goat and endem ic Western Tur, as well as Brown Bear, endem ic Eastern Tur, Caucasian Chamois and Caucasian Red Deer (see also the brief descriptions of Western, Central and Eastern Greater Caucasus Conser vation Landscapes in the chapter “Conservation Landscapes”). ● The Transcaucasian (or South Caucasus) Depression lies between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus mountain ranges and extends across Georgia and Azerbaijan. The Kura river (the longest river in the region – 1,515 km) flows through the eastern part of depression for much of its length on its way to the Caspian Sea. There are three prom inent elements within the depression: (a) humid Kolkheti Lowlands in the western part of the depression covered by endemic alder forests and wetlands (including unique percolation bogs) that are related to the Colchic refuge of Tertiary flora (Garsteki et al., 2017) and also classified as temperate rainforests (Nakhutsrishvili, Zazanashvili & Batsatsashvili, 2011); it is an important stopover site for migrating birds; (b) dry Kura-Ara(k)s Lowlands in the eastern (Caspian) part comprising steppes, semideserts and deserts, and flood plain (so called Tugai type) forests, fragmented remnants of which have survived along rivers; the fauna of this element includes the globally threatened goitered gazelle; (c) the Iori-Ajinour Plateau, located in the north-eastern part of the depression, and which is represented by low mountains and plateaus covered by a combination of dry pistachio-juniper open woodlands, steppes and semideserts. Fauna in the near past included the globally threatened Leopard. 13 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S The Kolkheti and Iori-Mingachevir Conservation Landscapes correspond to the “a” and “c” elements of the depression. The Caspian Conservation Landscape partly covers the m ost eastern part of Kura-Ara(k)s Lowlands. Also, important is the Likhi Bridging Landscape that divides the western and eastern parts of the depression and serves as a natural bridge between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. ● The Lesser Caucasus Mountain Chain (and the Doğu Karadeniz Dağlari)3 borders the Southern Uplands from the north, east, and west and extends across Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and into Iran. The highest summits rise to nearly 4,000 m. The main habitats include different types of temperate forests and high mountain grasslands. The north-western part of the chain mostly belongs to the Black Sea catchment basin. It is humid (with a maximum mean annual precipitation of 4,500 mm at Mt. Mtirala in Georgia) and covered by refugial Colchic forests with tall evergreen under wood and concentrations of Ter tiar y relict and endemic plant species. These forests are also classified as temperate rainforests (Nakhutsrishvili, Zazanashvili & Batsatsashvili, 2011). In contrast, the south-eastern part of the chain is much drier: juniper open woodlands, mountain steppes and xeric shrubs predominate along with drier types of temperate broad-leaved forests. Most of the Western and Eastern Lesser Caucasus Conservation Landscapes lie in this mountain chain. The fauna of the western part includes the relict and endemic Caucasian Salamander and Caucasian Viper, as well as Brown Bear, European Lynx and Caucasian Red Deer; in the eastern part the principal species are the globally threatened Leopard, Bezoar Goat and Mouflon. ● The Southern Uplands4, made up of lava ridges and a broad volcanic plateau, are surrounded by the Lesser Caucasus mountain chain. The Southern Uplands extend across par ts of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan), Turkey, and Iran. The feature has an average elevation of 1,700-1,900 m and rises to more than 5,000 m at its highest point). The area is dry, mostly forestless, covered by mountain steppes, high mountain grasslands and dr y shrub com munities; it is moderately rich in lakes and wetlands. Fauna includes Brown Bear, European Lyn x and a variety of reptiles. The Sarikamish-Maku and South Caucasus Uplands Conservation Landscapes and three Bridging Landscapes lie in this area. ● The Talysh-Western Alborz Mountains in the south-eastern Caucasus extend along the Caspian Sea across the border between Azerbaijan and Iran. These mountains, which rise to more than 4,000 m (within the Caucasus boundaries), are separated from the Lesser Caucasus mountain chain by river depressions and mountain ridges. Lower slopes (up to 800-1,000 m) facing the Caspian Sea are covered by relict humid Hyrcanian broad-leaved forests; at higher elevations the climate becomes drier and Hyrcanian forests are replaced by temperate broad-leaved forests and mountain steppes. Principal fauna species are Leopard, European Lyn x and Brown Bear. The Hyrcan Conservation Landscape almost fully coincides with the area. ● The Sabalan (Savalan) mountain range, named after the inactive volcano Sabalan (4,811 m), is formed from parallel ridges and serves as a natural bridge between the Lesser Caucasus and Talysh-Alborz mountains within north-western Iran. Its main habitats include mountain steppes (up to 2,300-2,500 m) and high mountain grasslands with thornbush communities at higher elevations up to approximately 4,000 m (Encyclopaedia Iranica 2011). The principal fauna species is Leopard. The Arasbaran Conservation Landscape partly coincides with the Sabalan mountain range. Doğu Karadeniz Dağlari – Eastern Black Sea Mountains of Turkey that we consider as the most western part of the Lesser Caucasus mountain chain. Southern Uplands or Southern Caucasus Uplands – we use this toponym for all mountainous areas, ridges and plateaus bounded by the Lesser Caucasus mountain chain from west, north and east. 3 4 14 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Terrestrial Ecoregions The Caucasus Ecoregion fully or partly covers the following terrestrial ecoregions (Map 2), see also the interactive map at ecoregions2017.appspot.com); Fully: ● Caucasus mixed forests (https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0408); ● Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe (https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa1305); Partly: ● Western part of Caspian-Hyrcanian mixed forests (https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0407); ● Eastern part of Crimean- Submediterranean forest complex (https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0416); ● The most northern portion of Eastern Anatolian deciduous forests (https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0420); ● Eastern, Colchic part of Euxine-Colchic deciduous (broadleaf) forest (https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0422; shape of this terrestrial ecoregion needs substantial revision, see e.g. Nakhutsrishvili et al., 2011); ● A small portion of the most western part of Elburz Range Forest Steppe (https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0507); ● A small portion of the most eastern part of Northern Anatolian Conifer and Deciduous Forest (https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0515); ● A small portion of the Northern part of Eastern Anatolian Montane Steppe (https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0805); ● A small portion of the Southern part of Pontic Steppe (https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0814). The Caucasus Ecoregion’s southern borders are m ostly in line with biogeographical concepts accepted by Caucasus specialists (Davis, 1971; Zohary, 1973, Dolukhanov, 1980; Browicz, 1989; Avci, 1996, etc.). Furtherm ore, the im portance of geographical barriers, such as m ain watersheds, larger river valleys in determ ining clim atic patterns and correspondingly patterns of vegetation has been known for a long tim e; it was used for one of the first botanical-geographical divisions of the Caucasus that is partly valid even today (Kuznetsov, 1909). Delineation of the northern border is based mostly on geological criteria because there is no obvious biogeographical border. Looking at the interactive m ap of terrestrial ecoregions, we see that the Pontic Steppe (PA0814) ecoregion extends far beyond the Caucasus boundaries up to the Ural mountains in the north-east. Unlike this ecoregion, the Crimean Submediterranean Forest Complex (PA0416) has much closer phytogeographic and geographic relations with the Caucasus (Kuznetsov, 1909; Doluhanov mit Bohn, 2000-2003; Doniţă et al., 2000-2003). 15 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Map 2. Terrestrial Ecoregions within boundaries of the Caucasus 16 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Biodiversity Hotspots At the time the boundaries of the Caucasus Ecoregion were being decided, 25 Biodiversity Hotspots were identified worldwide (Mittermeier et al., 1999; Myers et al., 2000). Since then, more Hotspots have been added and the shapes of some Hotspots revised: today, 36 Biodiversity Hotspots are considered as priorities for global conservation (Marchese, 2015)5. In the early 2000s, the Irano-Anatolian Biodiversity Hotspot was mapped. Covering 1,384,926 km² 6, the hotspot extends from the western part of central Turkey (western Anatolia) through Iran to Turkm enistan in the east, and from southern Georgia in the north alm ost to the Indian Ocean in the south, coinciding to a large degree with the western part of the Irano-Turanian Floristic Region (Takhtajan, 1986). During this exercise, the boundaries of the Caucasus Hotspot were revised: along with some other changes, the most northern part of the Terrestrial Ecoregion PA0805 Eastern Anatolian Montane Steppe, initially included in the Caucasus, was cut and added to the newly delineated Irano-Anatolian Hotspot (Mittermaier et al., 2004). The m ap of the Caucasus Hotspot with its revised boundaries is attached to the corresponding chapter of the second edition of the World’s Hotspots book (Zazanashvili et al., 2004). Those boundaries are supported by a number of concepts (Gagnidze, 1999; Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000; Olson & Dinerstein, 2002, etc.), but some parts of the boundary are highly questionable. Especially doubtful is the northern-most part of the Eastern Anatolian Montane Steppe ecoregion, represented by the volcanic uplands of Djavakheti (Georgia), Arpi Lake (Arm enia) and Childir Lake (Turkey). This part of the Caucasus is a single continuous assem blage of high m ountain and freshwater ecosystem s where steppe plant com m unities occur along with widespread m esic subalpine and alpine grasslands and herb lands that are also typical for other parts of the Caucasus. Other characteristic elem ents are the rem nants of Caucasian subalpine pine (on drier slopes) and poplar-ash-birch woodlands that were quite common in the past in certain habitats (Troitsky, 1927; Sosnovsky, 1933; Gulisashvili, 1952; Dolukhanov, 2010, etc.). The area’s fauna, particularly mammalian fauna, is also quite “circumboreal” (it is not similar to the fauna of the Irano-Turanian region of the Ancient-Mediterranean subkingdom, according to Takhtajan, 1978, 1986) and does not differ substantially from other parts of the Caucasus. From the perspective of conservation planning and m anagem ent, Caucasian specialists also think that it does not make much sense to include a small portion of the Caucasus into the Irano-Anatolian hotspot: e.g. Armenia’s portion of the Irano-Anatolian hotspot is less than 1% of its total area, Georgia’s portion – around 0.2%, and the same for Azerbaijan (part of Nakhchivan). Conclusions The Caucasus ecoregion’s boundaries are based on a m ixed concept and the process of deciding them was driven by stakeholders and experts. While the boundaries are still conditional, they are m uch m ore natural than the political-administrative borders that defined the Caucasus during the Soviet period. At the same time, we retain the initially agreed concept of the Caucasus (Biodiversity Hotspot) boundaries (Mittermaier et al., 1999; Williams et al., 2006), noting that revision of the agreed boundaries would require a considerable amount of research to identify the proportions of Caucasian (in a broad sense) and non-Caucasian biogeographic features within the areas of interest. Acknowledgements We are grateful to all of the experts and stakeholders who have contributed, and who continue to contribute to conservation planning for the Caucasus ecoregion. We acknowledge in particular the contribution of Prof. Dr. Niko Beruchashvili to defining the boundaries of the ecoregion and his preparation of several basic them atic GIS m aps of the region. His untim ely passing was a great loss. 5 6 See also https://www.cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-hotspots/hotspots-defined See https://www.cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-hotspots/irano-anatolian and https://atlas-for-the-end-of-the-world.com/hotspots/irano-anatolian.pdf 17 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S References Ataev, Z. V., Bratkov, V. V., Abdulaev, K. A., Balguev, T. R., Gadzhibekov, M. I. (2016): Geographical Aspects of Biological and Landscape Diversity in the Designed Sam ur National Park in the Eastern Caucasus. Dagestan State Pedagogical University. J ournal. Natural and Exact Sciences 10 (3), 91-102. [In Russ. with Engl. sum m ary]. Avci, M. (1996): The floristic regions of Turkey and a geographical approach for Anatolian diagonal. Review of the Department of Geography, University of Istanbul, 3, 59-91. CEPF 2003. 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(2004): Caucasus. Pp. 148-153 in Mittermeier, R. A., Robles Gil, P., Hoffmann. M., Pilgrim, J., Brooks, T., Mittermeier C.G., Lam oreux, J ., da Fonseca G.A.B., eds. Hotspots Revisited: Earth’s biologically richest and m ost endangered terrestrial ecoregions. CEMEX/ Agrupacion Sierra Madre, Mexico City. Zohary, M. (1973): Geobotanical Foundations of the Middle East, Vol. 1-2. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart und Swets & Zeitlinger Am sterdam . Su g g e s t e d cit a t io n : Zazanashvili, N., Manvelyan, K., Askerov, E., Mousavi, M., Krever, V., Kalem, S. & Garforth, M. (2020). The boundaries and bio-physical features of the Caucasus Ecoregion. Pp. 9-20 in Zazanashvili, N., Garforth, M. and Bitsadze, M., eds. Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, 2020 Edition: Supplementary Reports. WWF, KfW, Tbilisi. 20 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS KEY BIODIVERSITY AREAS IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION Com piled by M. Bitsadze , K. Manvelyan , E. Askerov , M. Mousavie, V. Shm unk f, S. Kalem g, N. Zazanashvilia,h , R. Mnatsekanovf, S. Devranoglu Tavselg, M.Cevik i,j, K. Ahm adova c, G. Beruchashvilia , A. Kandaryan b and M. Garforth h,k a a b c,d WWF-Caucasus, Tbilisi, Georgia; b WWF-Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia; cWWF-Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan; d Institute of Zoology of Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan; eWildlife Conservation and Management Bureau, Iran Department of Environment, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; f WWF Russian Caucasus Branch, Krasnodar, Russia; g WWF-Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; h Ilia State University, Institute of Ecology, Tbilisi, Georgia; iAcademia Consulting, Ankara, Turkey; jNature Research Society, Ankara, Turkey; kIndependent Expert Co n t e n t s : Introduction; Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas; Key highlights from the process of KBAs identification; Conclusions; Acknowledgements; References; Suggested citation. In tro d u ctio n The concept of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) - defined as “sites of global significance for biodiversity conservation” (Eken et al. 2004, Langhammer et al. 2007) or “sites that contribute significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity” (IUCN 2016) - is widely acknowledged. KBAs are identified through the application of standard criteria that cover all levels of ecological organisation, including genetic diversity, species and ecosystems (KBA Standards and Appeals Committee 2019). The first significant steps towards the identification of sites of global importance for biodiversity conservation in the Caucasus were taken during the developm ent of the regional conservation program m e (Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot Profile) of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), co-facilitated with the support of Conservation International’s Center for Applied Biodiversity Science and WWF Caucasus in the 2000s. The Caucasus Profile defined conservation outcomes for the Hotspot at three levels: (i) Species Outcom es – target species that were globally threatened according to the m ost recent IUCN Red List for that time. A total of 51 species of six taxa – mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and plants - were considered as the species outcomes; (ii) Site Outcom es – areas that were im portant for the conservation of globally threatened target species. The CEPF identified 205 site outcomes that harboured the target species and covered around 19% of the Caucasus Hotspot; and (iii) Corridor Outcomes – large-scale landscapes allowing persistence of biodiversity by ensuring connectivity and maintaining ecological processes (CEPF 2003). The CEPF`s methodological approach for the identification of sites critical for the conservation of threatened biodiversity is still valid. In the ECP 2020, the core concept of the CEPF approach has been expanded and the m ain principles of the IUCN Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (IUCN 2016) have been followed in identifying KBAs in the Caucasus Ecoregion. 21 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas The identification of KBAs in the Caucasus for ECP 2020 was built on the experience of defining the site outcomes for the CEPF Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot Profile (CEPF 2003); in particular, 205 site outcomes were used as the baseline for identifying KBAs in the Ecoregion. The inform ational base also included 56 priority conservation areas and 60 corridors identified for the very first Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus using a species-based methodology adapted from the one developed by the scientific unit of WWF-US (Williams et al., 2006). Identification of KBAs was based on principles that approximate to the criteria defined in the above-mentioned IUCN global standard for identifying KBAs that contribute to the global persistence of threatened species (criterion A1), individual geographically restricted species (criterion B1) and demographic aggregations of species (criterion D1). Species categorized in the IUCN Red List of Globally Threatened Species (IUCN 2019) as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU) were applied with criterion A1, species with restricted distribution with criterion B1, and species that aggregate in particular areas during a specific life-history stage or process such as breeding, feeding or migration with criterion D1. The process of KBAs identification involved over 100 experts from the Ecoregion, representing scientific, governmental and non-governmental organizations, working together at national and regional meetings and in distance consultations. The process of identifying KBAs followed six steps: ● Identification of globally threatened species (trigger species under criterion A1) occurring in the Caucasus Ecoregion. ● For the South Caucasus countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia – the second step was to compile basic data and map the distribution of identified globally threatened species. In the case of Iran, Russia and Turkey, the second step was to refine the borders of previously identified CEPF site outcomes taking into con sideration changes to the threat categor ies of species in the IUCN Red List and the distr ibution s of newly listed globally threatened species. ● Overlaying GIS layers of CEPF site outcomes (used as the baseline) and areas of distr ibution of globally threatened species, and delineating KBAs. ● Assessing delineated KBAs again st two more cr iter ia: individual geographically restr icted species (tr igger species under criterion B1) and demographic aggregations of species (trigger species under criterion D1). ● Assessing whether potential tr igger species meet the relevant thresholds in delineated KBAs. ● Refining the delineated boundaries of KBAs by considering other existing important biodiversity areas, such as protected areas, Impor tant Bird Areas, Ram sar sites and Emerald sites as well as topographic features. A total of 362 globally threatened species triggering criterion A1, 14 species triggering criterion B1 and 66 species triggering criterion D1 were considered during the identification of KBAs. Out of the globally threatened species, 121 are listed as vulnerable, 119 as endangered and 122 as critically endangered; they comprise 276 species of plants, 17 species of mammals, 23 species of birds, 21 species of reptiles, two species of amphibians, 22 species of fish and one species of crustaceans (Table 1, Annex 1). 22 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Table 1. The IUCN Globally Threatened Species of the Caucasus Ecoregion (2019) Distribution by Countries Vulnerable En dan ge re d Critically En dan ge re d Armenia Azerbaijan Ge o rgia Iran Russia Tu rke y IU CN Cate go ry Mammals 17 9 5 3 9 8 10 7 12 5 Birds 23 15 5 3 17 21 19 20 23 19 Reptiles 21 8 7 6 6 8 8 4 8 13 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 22 8 2 12 3 11 12 9 14 10 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Plants 276 78 100 98 73 46 63 1 49 90 Total 362 121 119 122 108 95 114 42 106 138 Taxa Number of Species Amphibians Fish Crustaceans At the conclusion of the process, 231 KBAs were identified in the Ecoregion. The KBAs vary in size from 0.44 km² to 3,757.4 km². The total area of all KBAs is 130,113 km² - about 22.2 % of the Ecoregion`s entire territory (Map 1, Annex 2, Annex 5). As at 2020, 36.5% of the area covered by KBAs in the Ecoregion is protected through different categories of PAs and 6.2% of the area is under strict protection as it is covered by PAs of IUCN Category I - Strict Nature Reserve (Table 2, Map 2). Table 2. KBA coverage and portion protected by country Number of KBAs Area of KBAs (km²) KBAs Pro te cte d (km²) KBAs Pro te cte d (%) KBAs under strict protection (km²) KBAs under strict protection (%) Armenia 22 10,294 3,718 36.1 351 3.4 Azerbaijan 48 15,846 8,184 51.6 1,156 7.3 Ge o rgia 60 21,335 6,616 31.0 1,206 5.7 Iran 15 16,483 4,390 26.6 0 0 Russia 54 38,861 20,108 51.7 5,316 13.7 Tu rke y 32 27,293 4,512 16.5 15 0.1 231 130,113 47,527 36.5 8,044 6.2 Co u n try Total 23 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Map 1. Key Biodiversity Areas S o u r c e s : Important Bird Areas Database, Birdlife International; Ramsar Sites Database, Secretariat of Ramsar Convention; Emerald Sites Database, Secretariat of Bern Convention; Protected Areas - see sources of Map 2 below; KBAs database (2016 update) of Nature Society (Doğa Derneği), Turkey; Outputs of ECP 2020 National and Regional Workshops and Experts’ Review. 24 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Map 2. Coverage of KBAs by all categories of Protected Areas S o u r c e s : Ministry of Environment, Armenia; Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Azerbaijan; Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture/Agency of Protected Areas, Georgia; Department of Environment, Iran; Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry/General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, Turkey; WWF Caucasus Programme Office; WWF Armenia Branch; WWF Azerbaijan Branch; WWF-Russia. 25 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Key highlights from the process of KBAs identification The Caucasus is a region of global im portance for biodiversity conservation, being one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots with its exceptionally rich biodiversity and high level of endemism (Mittermaier et al., 1999, 2004). Over 70% of all trigger species for KBA identification are local, country or regional endemics. All plant trigger species are endemics and they are covered by the threatened species criterion (A1). As for fauna, over 20% of all animal trigger species and around 40% of threatened trigger species are endemics and they are covered by the threatened species (A1) and individual geographically restricted species (B1) criteria. Endemics are represented in over 70% of KBAs and their number varies from 1 to 32 species in KBAs (Annex 3). Around 34% of KBAs are triggered by the single criterion A1, 60% of KBAs -by two criteria (A1-B1 or A1-D1), and 6% of KBAs – by all three criteria (A1-B1-D1). The number of all trigger species in KBAs varies from 1 to 43 (Annex 3). When all KBAs had been delineated, there remained 22 species out of the 362 initially identified globally threatened species which are out of any KBAs in the Ecoregion, including 12 critically endangered species. Defining whether potential trigger species met the relevant population-size threshold at delineated KBAs was the most challenging part of KBA identification because the required data was often lacking or not sufficient in most cases. More intense and consistent research and comprehensive assessment are required to compile all the necessary information and confirm that KBAs meet the quantitative threshold associated with the KBA identification global standard. Threatened species have a relatively high probability of extinction and even small populations of these species can contribute to their conservation and survival (Eken et al. 2004). It is important not to miss or exclude KBAs which may harbour populations of global conservation significance sim ply because of lim itations in research and lack of relevant data. The application of thresholds was approached differently for plant and animal trigger species. In the case of plants, for over 95% of trigger species, it was assessed whether they satisfy the relevant population-size threshold at respective KBAs. In the case of fauna, an absolute threshold for the occurrence of trigger species in KBAs was applied. The endem ism rate of the globally threatened trigger species should be considered in relation to population-size threshold because a high rate of endemism substantially lowers risks associated with disregard of the population-size threshold. The application of the absolute threshold for the occurrence of trigger fauna species provides a reasonable basis for further intense research and monitoring of the identified KBAs to fill data gaps and better inform relevant stakeholders. Conclusions The 231 KBAs identified as geographic priorities for ECP 2020 will underpin the conservation planning and the developm ent of protected areas networks at both national and regional levels in the Caucasus Ecoregion. Furthermore, together with the information collated during their identification, the KBAs can be used to guide investments in conservation, foster biodiversity research in areas where data are insufficient, increase political recognition, and support inform ed decisions for biodiversity conservation, sustainable developm ent and m anagem ent practices. Although the KBAs are sites of global significance for preventing biodiversity loss, it does not mean that the KBA approach is sufficient by itself and that no other sites are important for biodiversity conservation. The identification of areas of significance for the conservation of nationally and regionally threatened biodiversity is also crucial (Langhammer et al., 2007; IUCN 2016). Besides, further detailed assessment of identified KBAs from the perspective of their importance for nationally and regionally threatened biodiversity is a very im portant additional step ahead towards proper planning and prioritization of relevant conservation m easures and establishm ent of better m anagem ent practices. 26 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Many KBAs have been form ally designated as protected areas and at the sam e tim e, m any protected areas have been identified as KBAs. However, the identification of KBAs does not imply that all identified sites should be legally protected: form al protection m ay not be feasible or relevant for all KBAs. It is im portant to m anage the identified KBAs in a way that ensures the persistence of trigger species or other biodiversity elements for which the particular KBAs were recognized. KBAs which fall outside of protected area system s m ay be managed by a variety of approaches (Dudley et al., 2014). Finally, it should be highlighted that KBAs identification and refining of their boundaries is an iterative process as our environm ent is dynam ic, the knowledge of biodiversity is changing over tim e and new data becom es available continuously. Generally, all KBAs should be considered as priorities for research as data on conservation targets triggering the KBAs need to be updated and reconfirmed (Langhammer et al., 2007; IUCN 2016). Acknowledgements We would like to thank all those experts who contributed to the revision and updating of the geographic priorities of the KBAs. We are also grateful to Birdlife International for providing us with the last version of the m ap of Caucasus IBAs. References CEPF 2003. Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Ecosystem Profile, Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot. https://www.cepf.net/sites/default/files/final.caucasus.ep_.pdf Dudley, N., Boucher, J.L., Cuttelod, A., Brooks, T.M., and Langhammer, P.F. (Eds). 2014. Applications of Key Biodiversity Areas: end-user consultations. Cambridge, UK and Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. Eken, G., Bennun, L., Brooks, T.M., Darwall, W., Fishpool, L.D.C., Foster, M., Knox, D., Langham m er, P., Matiku, P., Radford, E., Salaman, P., Sechrest, W., Smith, M.L., Spector, S. & Tordoff, A. (2004): Key biodiversity areas as site conservation targets. BioScience 54, 1110-1118. https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/54/12/1110/329687 Freyhof, J ., Khorozyan, I., Sadigov, F., J aposhvili, B., Batsatsashvili, K., Fayvush, G., Shukurov, E. (lead authors), et al. (2015): Freshwater key biodiversity areas: critical sites for threatened freshwater biodiversity. Pp. 8-21 in Garforth, M., ed. Towards sustainable dam and hydropower in the South Caucasus. WWF, Tbilisi. IUCN 2016. A Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas, Version 1.0. First edition. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. IUCN 2019. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2019-3. <https://www.iucnredlist.org> KBA Standards and Appeals Committee 2019. Guidelines for using a Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas. Version 1.0. Prepared by the KBA Standards and Appeals Committee of the IUCN Species Survival Com m ission and IUCN World Com m ission on Protected Areas. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. viii + 148pp. Langham m er, P.F., Bakarr, M.I., Bennun, L.A., Brooks, T.M., Clay, R.P., Darwall, W., De Silva, N., Edgar, G.J ., Eken, G., Fishpool, L.D.C.,3 Fonseca, G.A.B. da, Foster, M.N., Knox, D.H., Matiku, P., Radford, E.A., Rodrigues, A.S.L., Salaman, P., Sechrest, W., and Tordoff, A.W. (2007): Identification and Gap Analysis of Key Biodiversity Areas: Targets for Comprehensive Protected Area Systems. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. Mittermeier, R.A., Myers, N., Robles Gil, P. & Mittermeier, C.G., eds. (1999): Hotspots: Earth's biologically richest and most endangered terrestrial ecoregion. CEMEX/ Agrupación Sierra Madre, Monterrey. 27 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Mittermeier, R.A., Robles Gil, P., Hoffmann. M., Pilgrim, J., Brooks, T., Mittermeier C.G., Lamoreux, J., da Fonseca G.A.B., eds. (2004): Hotspots revisited: Earth’s biologically richest and most endangered ecoregions. CEMEX/ Agrupacion Sierra Madre, Mexico City. Solomon, J., T. Shulkina & J.I. Schatz, ers. (2013): Red List of the Endemic Plants of the Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia and Turkey. Monographs in System atic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden (MSB) 125. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Saint Louis. Williams, L., Zazanashvili, N., Sanadiradze, G. & Kandaurov, A., eds. (2006): An Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus. WWF, BMZ, KfW, CEP, MacArthur Foundation, Tbilisi. Su g g e s t e d cit a t io n : Bitsadze, M., Manvelyan, K., Askerov, E., Mousavi, M., Shmunk, V., Kalem, S., Zazanashvili, N., Mnatsekanov, R., Devranoglu Tavsel, S., Cevik, M., Ahmadova, K., Beruchashvili, G., Kandaryan, A. & Garforth, M. (2020). Key Biodiversity Areas in the Caucasus Ecoregion. Pp. 21- 28 in Zazanashvili, N., Garforth, M. and Bitsadze, M., eds. Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, 2020 Edition: Supplementary Reports. WWF, KfW, Tbilisi. 28 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS CONSERVATION LANDSCAPES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION Com piled by N. Zazanashvili , K. Manvelyan , E. Askerov , M. Mousavie, V. Shm unk f, S. Kalem g, G. Beruchashvilia , M. Bitsadze a and M. Garforth h,i a,h b c,d WWF-Caucasus, Tbilisi, Georgia; b WWF-Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia; cWWF-Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan; d Institute of Zoology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan; eWildlife Conservation and Management Bureau, Iran Department of Environment, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; f WWF Russia Caucasus Branch, Krasnodar, Russia; g WWF-Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; h Ilia State University, Institute of Ecology, Tbilisi, Georgia; iIndependent expert a Co n t e n t s : Introduction; The first large landscape attempt; Conservation landscape approach of ECP 2020; Conservation Landscapes of ECP 2020 and Corridor Outcomes of CEPF 2003; Brief analysis; Conclusions; Acknowledgements; References; Suggested citation. In tro d u ctio n Large landscape approaches to nature conservation, especially approaches that originated in the USA, are being applied increasingly around the world. As the Center for Large Landscape Conservation explains 7, “Large landscape conservation looks beyond national parks, beyond strict lines on m aps between civilization and wilderness, to connect and sustain vast areas where wildlife live and m ove freely, clean water and other ecological benefits are supplied, working lands support sustainable communities, indigenous cultures thrive, and the places that are special to us and vital to the Earth’s ecology rem ain healthy for present and future generations. Large landscape conservation transcends boundaries – crossing political jurisdictions, cultures, socio-economic barriers, and disciplines of knowledge – to safeguard intact, healthy landscapes for the lasting benefit of nature and people the world over.” In our rapidly industrialising world, habitat fragm entation is one of the m ain threats to biodiversity (Haddad et al., 2015; Tucker et al., 2018). This is why “connectivity” is now one of the most important considerations in conservation. But maintaining or restoring connectivity at the large landscape level requires healthy ecosystems and ecological processes, and these can be achieved only with the active involvem ent of the local population and cross- and trans-boundary cooperation (Worboys, Francis & Lockwood, 2010; Correa Ayram, 2016; Curtin & Tabor, 2016; Tabor et al., 2019). Especially important is the role the local population could play in the development of OECMs - “other effective area-based conservation measures”, which will be crucial if the world is to protect and manage land for biodiversity on the scale that is needed (Wilson, 2016; Dudley et al., 2018).8 The first Large Landscape attempt In the Caucasus the Large Landscape approach was applied for the first time during planning and implementation of the regional conservation programme of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) in the 2000s. The CEPF’s approach was based on three pillars: species outcomes (globally threatened species); site outcomes (subsequently transformed into the concept of Key Biodiversity Areas); and so called corridor outcomes (CEPF 2003). The third pillar - corridor – conceptually is the same as large landscape: as the CEPF explains, “Corridor outcomes are large-scale landscapes that need to be conserved in order to allow persistence of biodiversity. While protecting sites alone will not be sufficient to conserve biodiversity in the long-term, conservation of landscapes (corridors) 7 8 https:/ / largelandscapes.org/ see also https:/ / natureneedshalf.org/ 29 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S large enough to allow the persistence of biodiversity must be anchored on core areas (site outcomes), embedded in a matrix of other natural habitat and anthropogenic land uses. The CEPF identified and delineated corridors within the Caucasus using the following criteria: coverage of site outcomes; existence of large-scale intact biota assemblages; needs of wide-ranging (landscape) species; connectivity of habitats; and opportunities for maintaining ecological and evolutionary processes. Areas that were considered for corridors included intact rivers and landscapes, natural mountain passes, known migratory corridors and areas with spatial heterogeneity that could serve as steppingstones for many species” (CEPF 2003). Map 1. Corridor Outcomes, CEPF 2003 Ex p la n a t io n : 1- Kuma-Manych; 2 - Greater Caucasus; 3 - Caspian; 4 - West Lesser Caucasus; 5 - Javakheti; 6 - East Lesser Caucasus; 7 - Iori- Mingachevir; 8 - Southern Uplands; 9 - Arasbaran; 10 - Hyrcan. 30 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS During the CEPF’s planning, the experts for the Caucasus hotspot identified and delineated ten conservation corridors/large landscapes: Kuma-Manych; Greater Caucasus; West Lesser Caucasus; Javakheti; East Lesser Caucasus; Iori- Mingachevir; Caspian; Hyrcan; Arasbaran; and Southern Uplands (Map 1). The total area of the ten corridor outcomes was 20.8 million hectares, constituting 35.5 percent of the hotspot. Corridor outcomes contained the majority of the globally threatened species that occur in the Caucasus (according to IUCN Red List 2002) and were - and still are important areas for Caucasian endemics. The majority of the protected areas in the hotspot fell within the boundaries of the 10 corridors. Corridors included 84 percent of the sites by number identified in site outcomes, and 94 percent by area. Of the ten corridors, using certain criteria, five were determined to be priority (target) corridors for conservation and CEPF investments (CEPF 2003). Conservation Landscapes approach of ECP 2020 The CEPF’s conceptual approach is still valid but in the 2020 edition of the ECP, instead of “site outcomes” we apply the more recent and widely-adopted concept of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) (IUCN 2016) and instead of the CEPF’s “large-scale intact biota assemblages” we focus on relatively large areas with undisturbed or less disturbed ecosystems (in the Caucasus, “large-scale intact biota assemblages” have survived only in the highest belt of high mountain landscapes). The criteria which were used to identify the Conservation Landscapes in ECP 2020 are: (a) Coverage of KBAs, including Important Bird Areas (IBA) and Freshwater KBAs (Freyhof et al., 2015); (b) Possibility to address habitat fragmentation and consequently to maintain or restore ecological connectivity at the large landscape level, which: (b1) implies the existence, and takes account of the needs, of species that range over large landscapes, and the existence of large areas of undisturbed or less disturbed ecosystems; and (b2) supports the maintenance of the whole spectrum of ecological and evolutionary processes and environmental services, taking into account regional patterns of global climate change. During 2016-2018 nine national and two regional workshops were convened to review and revise the thematic and geographical priorities of ECP 2020, including Conservation Landscapes. Additionally, national experts did a substantial amount of homework between workshops to correct and perfect the shapes of the Conservation Landscapes. The results were screened and adopted by experts and stakeholders from all six countries of the Caucasus at a final regional workshop in December 2018. The final outcome was 13 Conservation Landscapes and the experts also mapped seven so called Bridging Landscapes (Map 2, Annex 4, Annex 5). With one exception which is discussed below, Bridging Landscapes are not large enough to perform all the functions of Conservation Landscapes but they have an important connectivity role as corridors for wide-range species, supporting genetic flow between populations of different Conservation Landscapes. Conservation Landscapes of ECP 2020 and Corridor Outcomes of CEPF 2003 In the ECP 2020, the shapes of six CEPF 2003 Corridor Outcomes are slightly changed while four are substantially changed: Greater Caucasus, West Lesser Caucasus, East Lesser Caucasus and Caspian (Table 1). Caucasian experts concluded that the Greater Caucasus, which extends across the Caucasus from the northwest to the southeast for nearly 1,500 kilometres, is too large and diverse to be considered a single landscape for conservation planning. Following the traditional physical-geographic division of the range (Gvozdetsky, 1954; Maruashvili, 1986; etc.), it was divided into three smaller segments: Western, Central, and Eastern Greater Caucasus. Elbrus and Kazbegi Peaks are the major landmarks between these segments. Thus, instead of the single Corridor Outcome in 2003, the ECP 2020 has three Conservation Landscapes. 31 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S From the West Lesser Caucasus Corridor Outcom e, its littoral part represented by the Kolkheti lowlands has been rem oved and m apped as a separate landscape (Kolkheti Conservation Landscape): although the Western Lesser Caucasus and Kolkheti Lowlands have some integrated processes, they are significantly different both in origin and ecosystems (Gerasimov, 1966; Svanidze, 1989; Kiknadze, 1990). Armenian experts drew a new shape for the East Lesser Caucasus Corridor Outcome with the effect that in ECP 2020, the equivalent Eastern Lesser Caucasus Conservation Landscape extends from the northern to the southern borders of the country covering half of the territory of Arm enia. The Caspian Corridor Outcome was significantly narrowed within the coastal area of Azerbaijan and at the sam e tim e, it was expanded by a narrow strip along the Kura river. The m ain reason for this was to create the possibility in the future of restoring the pathways of anadromous fish, especially globally threatened sturgeon species. Table 1. Corridor Outcomes, CEPF 2003 and Conservation Landscapes, ECP 2020: changes of shapes # and name, CEPF 2003 # and name, ECP 2020 Main changes 1. Kuma-Manych 1. Kuma-Manych Eastern part slightly extended. 2. Greater Caucasus 2. Western Greater Caucasus 3. Central Greater Caucasus 4. Eastern Greater Caucasus (a) Divided into three parts; (b) Enlarged, especially on the northern slope of the range in Russia: here the border coincides with the 1,000 m a.s.l. isoline. 3. Caspian 5. Caspian (a) Narrowed within the coastal area of Azerbaijan; (b) expanded by a narrow strip along the Kura river. 4. West Lesser Caucasus 6. Kolkheti 7. Western Lesser Caucasus (a) A sm all part (Erusheti volcanic m assif) rem oved and added to J avakheti/ South Caucasus Uplands; (b) Kolkheti Lowlands with coastal and littoral areas m apped as a separate landscape. 5. Javakheti 8. South Caucasus Uplands See (a) in the row im m ediately above. 6. East Lesser Caucasus 10. Eastern Lesser Caucasus Enlarged. 7. Iori- Mingachevir 11. Iori- Mingachevir Alm ost no changes. 8. Southern Uplands 9. Sarikamish-Maku Small, western-most portion removed and included in the Sarikamish-Posof Bridging Landscape 9. Arasbaran 12. Arasbaran Alm ost no changes. 10. Hyrcan 13. Hyrcan Alm ost no changes. Brief analysis Of the thirteen Conservation Landscapes, ten are transboundary, covering m ore than one country, and three are “national” (Table 2): Kolkheti (Georgia), Arasbaran (Iran) and Kuma-Manych (Russia). Kolkheti directly borders the Western Greater Caucasus and Western Lesser Caucasus. Arasbaran directly borders the Eastern Lesser Caucasus and Hyrcan and almost borders Sarikamish-Maku. Kuma-Manych geographically is comparatively isolated; from a biodiversity viewpoint it is a landscape mostly for birds and fish that migrate long distances. The total area of the thirteen Conservation Landscapes is 251,408 km² (terrestrial – 243,492 km² and marine – 7,916 km²), comprising approximately 43% of the Caucasus region compared with 35.5% for CEPF Corridor Outcom es. Conservation Landscapes contain alm ost all globally threatened species which occur in the region and are im portant areas of waterfowl congregations and Caucasian endem ics. Conservation Landscapes include 189 of the Ecoregion’s 231 KBAs (more than 81%, by number, which is almost the same percentage as for CEPF 2003). Bridging Landscapes include a further 10 KBAs, taking the total to 199 or over 86%. The remaining 32 KBAs (around 14%) lie outside Conservation and Bridging Landscapes. 32 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Map 2. Conservation Landscapes and Bridging Landscapes Ex p la n a t io n : Co n s e r v a t io n La n d s c a p e s : 1 - Kuma-Manych; 2 - Western Greater Caucasus; 3 - Central Greater Caucasus; 4 - Eastern Greater Caucasus; 5 - Caspian; 6 - Kolkheti; 7 - Western Lesser Caucasus; 8 - South Caucasus Uplands; 9 - Sarikamish-Maku; 10 - Eastern Lesser Caucasus; 11 - Iori-Mingachevir; 12 - Arasbaran; 13 - Hyrcan. B r i d g in g La n d s c a p e s : A - Likhi; B - Trialeti-Gombori; C - Algeti-Loqi; D - Sarikamish-Posof; E - Aras; F - Bazum; G - Aragats. S o u r c e s : Corridor Outcomes (CEPF 2003); Maps of KBAs and PAs – see above; Outputs of ECP 2020 National and Regional Workshops, and Experts` Review; Report on Mapping of Anatolian Steppe and Ecosystem Types in Anatolian Steppe (FAO/UN, 2019). In terms of area, over 86% of KBAs are in the Conservation Landscapes and over five percent of KBAs fall within the Bridging Landscapes while around nine percent of KBAs are out of the Conservation and Bridging Landscapes. In addition, the majority of the 362 protected areas in the Caucasus fall within the boundaries of ECP 2020 Conservation Landscapes. The proportion of the area of each Conservation Landscape and of the area of KBAs within them which are included in Protected Areas is shown in Table 2. 33 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Overall, around 20% of the area of Conservation Landscapes and 38.8% of the area of KBAs within the Conservation Landscapes are covered by PAs. PA coverage is highest in the three Conservation Landscapes of the Greater Caucasus: in the Western section, 42.2% in total and 66.9% for KBAs; in the Central section, 24.3% and 40.4%; in the Eastern section, 31.5% and 82.3%. The Kolkheti, South Caucasus Uplands, Eastern Lesser Caucasus and Arasbaran Conservation Landscapes have a PA coverage of more than 22% of their total areas and more than 30% of the KBAs inside them. The Western Lesser Caucasus and Hyrcan Conservation Landscapes have only a little more than 10% of PA coverage of their total areas and little more than 20% of the KBAs inside them : this is too low considering that these Conservation Landscapes are the two m ain areas of concentration of tertiary relict species and unique temperate rainforests. Bridging Landscapes on average are considerably sm aller than Conservation Landscapes and contain far fewer KBAs and protected areas (Table 3, Annex 5). The only exception is the Sarikamish-Posof Bridging Landscape in Turkey which connects Sarikamish-Maku Conservation Landscape with Western Lesser Caucasus and South Caucasus Uplands Conservation Landscapes. KBAs cover more than 76% of Sarikamish-Posof, but the PA coverage is inadequate: only 5% of the total area of KBAs is covered by PAs. Table 2. Conservation Landscapes, KBAs and PAs (inside CLs) # Conservation Landscape Countries a Area (km²) Number of KBAs Area of CL covered by KBAs (%) Number of PAs Area of CL covered by PA (%) Area of KBAs covered by PA (%) 1 Kuma-Manych RU 23,769b 10 42.8 4 4.4 9.6 2 Western Greater Caucasus GEO, RU 26,070c 18 55.5 28 42.2 66.9 3 Central Greater Caucasus GEO, RU 21,133 14 56.6 22 24.3 40.4 4 Eastern Greater Caucasus AZ, GEO, RU 38,445 23 25.9 36 31.5 82.3 5 Caspian AZ, RU 21,835d 25 34.5 20 16.9 48.5 6 Kolkheti GEO 1,970e 8 71.4 2 22.7 31.7 7 Western Lesser Caucasus GEO, TR 33,237f 24 50.3 35 10.2 20.2 8 South Caucasus Uplands AM, GEO, TR 5,648 15 57.8 10 22.6 39.1 9 Sarikamish-Maku IR, TR 20,905 12 41.9 4 6.4 13.1 10 Eastern Llesser Caucasus AM, AZ 15,347 14 62.6 34 23.1 36.2 11 Iori-Mingachevir AZ, GEO 10,729 16 52.3 17 14.2 27.2 12 Arasbaran IR 13,643 5 48.8 6 28.2 52.5 13 Hyrcan AZ, IR 18,677 8 31.9 17 10.9 23.6 251,362.2 192g 44.4 252 19.8 38.4 Total Ex p la n a t io n : (a ) Abbreviations: AM – Armenia, AZ – Azerbaijan, GEO – Georgia, IR – Iran, RU – Russia, TR – Turkey; ( b) Including both terrestrial (22,424 km²) and marine (1,345 km²) parts; (c) Including both terrestrial (25,847 km²) and marine (223 km²) parts; (d ) Including both terrestrial (16,266 km²) and marine (5,570 km²) parts; (e) Including both terrestrial (1,449 km²) and marine (521 km²) parts; ( f ) Including both terrestrial (32,980 km²) and marine (257 km²) parts; (g ) overall, there are 189 KBAs within the Conservation Landscapes: three KBAs - #42 (Gorge of the Eshkakon and Malka rivers), # 62 (Svaneti 2) and #63 (Range Kodori) fall in both Western and Central Greater Caucasus Conservation Landscapes, which gives a total count of 192 KBAs. 34 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Bridging Landscapes are poorly protected: three of the seven have one or no protected areas. KBAs inside Bridging Landscapes also are mostly not covered by protected areas. Protected area coverage exceeds 10% in only one Bridging Landscape (Trialeti-Gombori). In contrast, only two Conservation Landscapes (KumaManych and Sarikamish-Maku) have a protected area coverage of less than 10%. Table 3. Bridging Landscapes, KBA and PAs (inside BLs) # Brid gin g Landscape Countries Area (km2) Number of KBAs Area of BL covered by KBAs (%) Number of PAs Area of BL covered by PA (%) Area of KBAs covered by PA (%) A Likhi GEO 1,032 0 0 0 0 0 B Trialeti-Gombori GEO 1,972 1 10.7 2 11.2 100 C Algeti-Loqi GEO 1,461 1 9.6 2 0.7 0 D Sarikamish-Posof TR 6,955 3 76.1 5 3.8 5.0 E Aras TR 2,523 2 11.9 3 3.8 32.4 F Bazum AM 404 0 0 1 6.6 0 G Aragats AM 1,179 3 61.7 1 0.3 0.4 10 42.9 14 4.0 8.6 Total 15,527 Conclusions Connectivity has becom e one of the m ost im portant considerations in conservation: without m aintaining or restoring connectivity at the landscape level, it is not possible to guarantee long-term survival of viable biodiversity, healthy ecological processes and associated ecosystem services. Experts from the six countries of Ecoregion delineated 13 priority Conservation Landscapes and 7 Bridging Landscapes to provide a spatial framework for ECP 2020 targets and actions. The Conservation and Bridging Landscapes are not equally protected, but all of them need equal attention for addressing connectivity issues using different approaches and methodologies, including establishment of traditional PAs and other effective area-based conservation m easures, transboundary cooperation where feasible, and creation of ecological corridors with participation of local com m unities. Acknowledgements We would like to thank all those experts who contributed to the revision and updating of the geographic priorities of the ECP. We are also grateful to Birdlife International for providing us with the last version of the m ap of Caucasus IBAs. References CEPF 2003. Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Ecosystem Profile, Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot. – https://www.cepf.net/sites/default/files/final.caucasus.ep_.pdf Correa Ayram, C.A., Mendoza, M.E., Etter, A. and Salicrup, D.R.P. (2016): Habitat connectivity in biodiversity conservation: a review of recent studies and applications. Progress in Physical Geography 40 (1), 7-37. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309133315598713 Curtin, S.G. & Tabor, G.M. (2016): Large Landscape Conservation: Addressing the Realities of Scale and Com plexity. In Scott Elias (Ed.-in-Chief). Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.09210-1 35 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Dinerstein, E., Olson, D., J oshi, A., Vynne, C., Burgess, N.D., Wikram anayake, E., Hahn, N., Palm interi, S. Hedao, P., Noss, R. et al. (2017): An ecoregion-based approach to protecting half the terrestrial realm. BioScience 67(6), 534-545. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/bix014 Dudley, N., Jonas, H., Nelson, F., Parrish, J., Pyhälä, A., Stolton, S., Watson, J. E. W. (2018): The essential role of other effective area-based conservation measures in achieving big bold conservation targets. Global Ecology and Conservation 15, e00424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00424 Eken, G., Bennun, L., Brooks, T.M., Darwall, W., Fishpool, L.D.C., Foster, M., Knox, D., Langham m er, P., Matiku, P., Radford, E., Salaman, P., Sechrest, W., Smith, M.L., Spector, S. & Tordoff, A. (2004): Key biodiversity areas as site conservation targets. BioScience 54, 1110-1118. Freyhof, J ., Khorozyan, I., Sadigov, F., J aposhvili, B., Batsatsashvili, K., Fayvush, G., Shukurov, E. (lead authors), et al. (2015): Freshwater key biodiversity areas: critical sites for threatened freshwater biodiversity. Pp. 8-21 in Garforth, M., ed. “Towards sustainable dam and hydropower in the South Caucasus”. WWF, Tbilisi. ISBN 978-9941-0-8588-8 Gerasimov, I.P., ed. in chief (1966): Caucasus. Nauka, Moscow. [In Russ.]. Gvozdetsky, N.A. (1954): Physical Geography of the Caucasus, v. I. 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(2010): Connectivity conservation management: a global guide. Earthscan, London. Su g g e s t e d cit a t io n : Zazanashvili, N., Manvelyan, K., Askerov, E., Mousavi, M., Shmunk, V., Kalem, S., Beruchashvili, G., Bitsadze, M. & Garforth, M. (2020). Conservation landscapes in the Caucasus Ecoregion. Pp. 29 - 36 in Zazanashvili, N., Garforth, M. and Bitsadze, M., eds. Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, 2020 Edition: Supplementary Reports. WWF, KfW, Tbilisi. 36 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS STATUS OF LARGE CARNIVORES IN THE CAUCASUS Com piled by E. Askerov , K. Manvelyan , Z. Gurielidze d , M. Mousavie, V. Shm unk f, S. Trepet g, A.E. Kütükçü h , A. Heidelbergi and N. Zazanashvilij,d a,b c WWF-Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan; b Institute of Zoology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan; cWWF-Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia; d Ilia State University, Institute of Ecology, Tbilisi, Georgia; eWildlife Conservation and Management Bureau, Department of Environment, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; f WWF Russia Caucasus Branch, Krasnodar, Russia; g Tembotov Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nalchik, Russia; h WWF-Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; i WWF-Germany, Berlin, Germany; jWWF-Caucasus, Tbilisi, Georgia a Co n t e n t s : Introduction; Leopard; Striped Hyena; Eurasian Lynx; Brown Bear; Conclusions; Acknowledgements; References; Suggested citation. In tro d u ctio n There are five large carnivore species in the Caucasus: Leopard (Panthera pardus), Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx), Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) and Grey Wolf (Canis lupus). Four are listed in the Bern Convention, nam ely Brown Bear, Grey Wolf, Leopard (all listed in Appendix II), and Eurasian Lynx (Appendix III) (Breitenmoser, 2010). However, in this review we do not discuss the status of Grey Wolf: it is common and widespread throughout the ecoregion. Indeed, Grey Wolf is a main actor in human-wildlife conflicts reported from the majority of administrative districts of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan and some parts of the Iranian Caucasus.9 Other larger or medium-size carnivores widespread in the region are Golden J ackal (Canis aureus), Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Eurasian Badger (Meles meles) and rarer J ungle Cat (Felis chaus) and Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra). Le o p ard The Leopard (Panthera pardus)10 is recognised as a flagship animal in the Caucasus ecoregion (Williams, Zazanashvili, Sanadiradze & Kandaurov, 2006; Caucasus Leopard Working Group, 2017). Despite concern that this globally threatened species, assessed as Vulnerable according to the IUCN criteria (Stein et al., 2016), had disappeared from the region altogether, surveys organised in 2002–2005 within the framework of the WWF Leopard Conservation Programme in the South Caucasus showed that the Leopard still inhabits four “islands”. These are: (1) Nakhchivan/Azerbaijan-southern Armenia-Karadag range, Iran, (2) Talysh mountains of Azerbaijan and Iran, (3) Iori-Ajinour Plateau (south-eastern Georgia - north-western Azerbaijan), and (4) eastern Greater Caucasus (Georgia-Daghestan/Russian Federation). Considering the results of those surveys, WWF Caucasus Programme Office has focused on assisting governments in establishing new protected areas (PAs), improving their capacity, management effectiveness and monitoring Leopard and its prey species. As research in Georgia shows, the main ecological and socio-economic reasons of the wolf’s ability to survive in landscapes greatly modified and occupied by humans are: reduction in the number wild prey; existence of open land fills close to settlements that attract some carnivores; changes in land use and husbandry (particularly switching from agriculture to cattle breeding after the collapse of the USSR because of changed m arket dem and; corresponding appearance of m any unskilled farm ers who lacked the ability to protect dom estic anim als); also changes in landscape com position such as restoration of scrubs, abandonment of tea and some other plantations, etc. that some carnivores use as shelters (Kopaliani et al., 2009). 9 Previously, the Leopard subspecies that occurs in the Caucasus was identified as Persian (P.p. saxicolor) or Caucasian (P.p. ciscaucasica) Leopard. Recently the taxonom y of Panthera pardus has been revised: all southwest Asian subspecies, including saxicolor and ciscaucasica, are now unified under one of the former names - tulliana (Kitchener et al., 2017). Therefore, today we also use Panthera pardus tulliana as the scientific name for the Caucasian Leopard, also known as Persian Leopard. 10 37 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S In 2007, with the support of the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group, a regional status report was produced (Breitenmoser & Breitenmoser, 2007) in which the above mentioned findings of Leopard distribution were presented (Lukarevsky et al., 2007) and a Caucasus Regional Strategy for Leopard Conservation was prepared based on inputs of national experts (Ch. Breitenmoser, U. Breitenmoser, Mallon, & Zazanashvili, 2007). Development of the strategy was followed by the elaboration of corresponding National Action Plans in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The Regional Strategy11 and National Action Plans in turn facilitated further development of conservation actions, especially expansion of PAs and monitoring in those three countries. What do we know exactly about the Leopard’s status in the Caucasus? Leopard in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan © WWF One point that we be certain about is that the status of the Leopard is significantly improved in the Eastern Lesser Caucasus Conservation Landscape, which covers the Southern Armenia-Nakhchivan region of Azerbaijan and is linked with Kiamaki Wildlife Refuge in Iran (Askerov et al., 2015). In southern Armenia, the first two Leopard photos were obtained and 19 scats collected in 2004-2005 from 3 sites (Khorozyan & Abramov, 2007; Khorozyan, Cazon, Malkhasyan, & Abramov, 2007). Leopard survey in the Nakhchivan section of the Eastern Lesser Caucasus brought the first hard evidence as recently as 2012 (Avgan et al., 2012). Since then, because of the hunting ban in Nakhchivan, the establishment of new PAs in the Eastern Lesser Caucasus (mostly during the 2000s both in Armenia and Azerbaijan), and acceleration of monitoring activities under the WWF Programme (and, consequently, the growing population of Leopard here), hundreds of Leopard photo-video materials, as well as considerable amount of scats, have been collected (Table 1). Recently, the number of individuals that inhabit this area was estimated as 20-24 (Askerov et al., 2019), including 10-12 animals living in Kiamaki (Sanei et al., 2016), but it seems that the number of individuals could be even more: such supposition is based on photos depicting the second event of reproduction here - a different mother with two cubs. The first such event was documented in 2016 with three cubs (Breitenmoser et al., 2017). Thus, we can say that the Eastern Lesser Caucasus population is still vulnerable, but quite stable and has a good reproductive potential. The strategy was revised in 2017 (Caucasus Leopard Working Group 2017): updating of the National Acton Plan in Armenia is completed and in Azerbaijan is going on. 11 38 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS We also know that the second reproductive nucleus in the region is the Talysh mountains of Azerbaijan: two cubs were captured by camera-trap in 2016 (Breitenmoser et al., 2017). On the other hand, this area is more affected by poaching (Askerov et al., 2015; Maharramova et al., 2018) and this may be the main reason why the Leopard population size here is smaller: approximately half of the Eastern Lesser Caucasus population. The question of connecting these two populations via bridge ridges located within north-western Iran is still open and needs more detailed research. In Iran, according to the last information provided by expert E. M. Moqanaki (2017), Leopard occurs in the following PAs: Arasbaran Protected Area and National Park, Kantal National Park and Kiamaki wildlife Refuge, Dizmar Protected Area,12 Marakan Protected Area, Siahroud Roudbar, Sarvelat va javaherdasht and Gashtrudkhan Protected Areas, also Dorfak-Deylaman No Hunting Area (see also Table 2). Table 1. Number of photo and video records of Leopard obtained in the period of August 2014 - June 2019 in the South-Eastern Lesser Caucasus (from the Khosrov Reserve to Nakhchivan) and the Talysh Mountains Cameratrap sites Le o p ard photos/ videos Female and male together Female with cubs Identified Leopards Killed Leopards re p o rte d Nakhchivan, AZ, 11/2014-06/2019 80 251/66 6 10 10 0 Talysh, AZ 05/2015-06/2019 21 23/3 0 1 6 1 S. Arm enia 09/2014-06/2019 72 53/23 0 0 8 0 Area/ Time period No t e s : (a) a sequence of images/footages taken within several minutes at the same site was counted as one photo/video; (b) among four Leopards (2 and 2 ) forming 3 coupling combinations, Leopards Eve and Basat are caught together only once, Eve and Araz are caught on two occasions, Burla and Basat – on three occasions; (c) six records of a female with cubs in Nakhchivan show Eve and four records show Burla; (d) several of the same individuals have been recorded in Nakhchivan and in Armenia; three animals have been identified for Armenia that have not been recorded in Nakhichevan; it means that during the observation period the total number of identified individuals for southern Armenia-Nakhchivan/Azerbaijan is not 11+8, but 11+3=14 individuals. Table 2. C1/Hard Fact records in Iranian Caucasus since 2008 # Ye ar Number of observations Locality Province 1 2008 1 Dorfak-Deylaman No Hunting Area Gilan 2 2012 1 Dorfak-Deylaman No Hunting Area Gilan 3 2015 3 Dorfak-Deylaman No Hunting Area Gilan 4 2016 1 Dorfak-Deylaman No Hunting Area Gilan 5 2006 1 Siahroud Roudbar Protected Area Gilan 6 2010 1 Siahroud Roudbar Protected Area Gilan 7 2014 1 Sarvelat va javaherdasht Protected Area Gilan 8 2016 1 Sarvelat va javaherdasht Protected Area Gilan 9 2015 1 Gashtrudkhan Protected Area Gilan 10 2008 2 times Kantal National Park East Azarbaijan 11 2009 5 times Kantal National Park East Azarbaijan 12 2014 1 Kantal National Park East Azarbaijan 13 2015 1 Kantal National Park East Azarbaijan In Iran the term “protected area” has two meanings: (a) protected area as a common term and (b) Protected Area as one of the categories of protected area m anagem ent in Iran (approxim ately corresponding to the IUCN Category IV). 12 39 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Within the fram ework of the Program m e of Persian Leopard reintroduction in the Russian Federation, three individuals were released in the Western Greater Caucasus in 2016: one female and two males were reintroduced to the Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve (WWF 2016), but unfortunately, two of them have not survived (one was poached outside the Reserve’s border and one died of unclear causes). In 2018, one male was added to that population (WWF-Russia’s and internet information). A small population appears to have survived in the Eastern Greater Caucasus: in February 2015, one individual was occasionally recorded on video in Dagestan/ Russian Federation, close to Tlyarata Managed Nature Reserve (Yarovenko & Zazanashvili, 2016). Two further sightings were reported in North Ossetia (Interfax 2017). Also, two more individuals were released here from Sochi Leopard Breeding Centre in July 2018 (WWF 2018). This year (2020), it is planned to release five Leopards in the Western Greater Caucasus and North Ossetia (WWF Russia’s inform ation). As for the 4th “island” of Leopard occurrence – Iori plateau and Turianchay Nature Reserve13 (eastern Georgia, north-western Azerbaijan), located between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus - one male Leopard was frequently caught by camera-traps in Vashlovani National Park (Georgia) between 2004 and 2008 (Lortkipanidze, Darchiashvili, Kopaliani, 2004). Its footprints were also observed on the left bank of the Alazani river in the Akhar-Bakhar section of Ilisu Nature Reserve (Azerbaijan). However, since 2009 this individual has not been recorded again (Presentation of B. Lortkipanidze, NACRES at the regional Leopard conservation workshop, Tbilisi, October 2014). Expert V. Lukarevsky, who surveyed the area in May 2019, has concluded that currently there are no Leopards within the whole of this Conservation Landscape, which is generally rich in wildlife. More surveys need to be conducted in the Turkish Caucasus for the presence of Leopard in this part of the ecoregion, especially in its eastern part, close to the state border with the countries where the species occurs (Spassov, Ignatov & Acosta-Pankov, 2016). Strip e d H ye n a The Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is on the verge of extinction in the Caucasus. This globally Near Threatened (NT) species (AbiSaid & Dloniak, 2015) is included in the Red Lists or Red Data Books of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Russian Federation as Critically Endangered. The Striped Hyena used to be widespread in the eastern Caucasus, m ostly in dry landscapes (sem ideserts, steppes and dry open Pistachio-Juniper woodlands) from lowlands to middle mountains (Heptner & Sludsky, 1972; Tembotova, 2015), but Hyena number decreased drastically in the first half of the 20th century mostly due to their persecution by hunters. According to N. Vereschagin (1959), in the 1930s, a small population of Hyena survived in sparsely populated areas of western Azerbaijan and eastern Georgia: between 1930 to 1940, 26 individuals were killed in the area and only 5-6 during next 10 years, indicating a strong negative trend. In Georgia, from 1950 to 1970, only one to two individuals were recorded each year, m ostly in rem ote gorges of the Vashlovani Strict Nature Reserve and in sanctuaries along the Iori river floodplain. In Armenia, after more than 60 years with no sightings, in October 2010, a dead Striped Hyena was found entangled on an orchard’s barbed-wire fence in the extreme south of the country (WWF 2010; Khorozyan, Malkasyan & Murtskhvaladze, 2011). In Azerbaijan, since 2003 Hyena has been recorded a few times in Zuvand (dry, upper part of Talysh mountains) and in arid landscapes around Mingechevir Water Reservoir. The last hard evidence (photo) is dated May 2009 in north-eastern Azerbaijan, Shabran district (Baghirov & Aliyev, 2013). We use the term “Nature Reserve” or “State Nature Reserve” (Zapovednik in Russ.) as synonyms of Strict Nature Reserve, IUCN Category I. Kavkazsky and Teberdinsky Biosphere Reserves in Russia also correspond to that category. 13 40 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS In the mid 1990s, researchers from the NACRES found traces of Hyena in arid landscapes of eastern Georgia at the border with Azerbaijan (Mills & Hofer, 1998; Butkhuzi, 2002), but since that time no more hard evidence has been docum ented in the country. The sam e unprom ising status is com m unicated by the Departm ent of Environm ent of Iran. There have been no recent sightings of Hyena in the Turkish Caucasus (Kasparek et al., 2004). The last record was in 1970 when one individual, which was shot and injured by villagers in Sebinkarahisar district (Giresun province), was later found dead in a garden. The pelt of the anim al was sold to a rich m an in Ankara (Ref: Ahm et Em re Kütükçü, upon personal com m unication with locals). Therefore, before discussing conservation m easures for survival of Striped Hyena, com prehensive regional surveys need to be taken to identify if the anim al is extant in the Caucasus. Eurasian Lynx Eu r asian Lyn x (Lynx lynx) 14 is ca t egor ized in the IUCN’s Red List as Least Concern (LC) (Breitemoser, U. et al., 2015), but special studies to assess the species’ status in the Caucasus ecoregion have never been conducted. One field study was carried out in Iran in a single protected area located outside the boundaries of the ecoregion (Moqanaki et al., 2015). In the Soviet Union, for a long tim e the Lynx’s fur was considered as a natural resource; statistics on the num ber of killed anim als can therefore be considered to be an indicator of population dynam ics. In the Russian Caucasus: ● between 1924-1932, from 54 to 152 animals were killed per year; ● between 1956-1960, an average of 63 animals a year; ● between 1961-1970, an average of 29 animals; ● between 1971-1975, an average of 30 animals; and ● between 1971-1975, an average of 14.5 animals (Red Data Book of Krasnodar Krai 2007-2008). As Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia at that time were part of Soviet Union, the same negative trend can be extrapolated to the South Caucasus. The same source indicates that an opposite trend was observed after 1975, particularly between 1980-2005, when the number of Lynx in the North Caucasus increased from 140 to 550. This trend can also be extrapolated to the South Caucasus. The reason for this reversal is that since the 1980s in the USSR and its successor states, more attention has been paid to nature conservation. The first Red Data Books were published in the 1980s and enforced; e.g. Lynx was included in the Red Data Books of Georgia (Kacharava et al., 1982) in the category “species on the verge of extinction” and Azerbaijan in the category “rare subspecies” (Alekperov, 1989). It needs to be underlined that even in case of the North Caucasus we are talking only about a trend, not about exact num bers: data are provided m ostly by hunting authorities rather than conservation authorities and are not fully reliable. According to today’s assessm ents, the species occurs in the Russian Caucasus in sm all numbers (Kavkazsky 2018). Reliable data provided by Prof. Dr. A.N. Kudaktin via personal communication to the Red Data Book of Krasnodar indicates 12-16 individuals for Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve. In Sochi National Park, no Lynx were recorded during the regular winter census in 2018 (Sochi National Park 2019), which indicates that the num ber of individuals is very low. The subspecies of Eurasian Lynx distributed in the Caucasus mountains, south to Turkey, Iraq and Iran is identified as Lynx lynx dinniki (Satunin, 1915; Breitenmoser, U. et al., 2015) 14 41 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Eurasian Lynx, Vashlovani National Park, Georgia © WWF The current situation in the South Caucasus appears to be better than in the North. WWF’s and its partner organizations’ camera-trap photo-video materials show that this species is quite widespread in the South Caucasus: Lynx occur in many forested PAs here. During the last 5-6 years, camera-trap materials depicting Lynx (som etim es with cubs) have been obtained from the following PAs: ● in Ar men ia – Arevik National Park, Khosrov Forest State Reser ve, Shikahogh State Nature Reser ve, Khustup and Zangezur Managed Nature Reser ves;15 ● in Azerbaijan – Zagatala State Nature Reserve, Illisu State Nature Reserve (including Akhar-Bakhar section), Shakhdag National Park, Korchay Str ict and Managed Nature Reser ves, Hyrcan National Park, Zangezur National Park; ● in Georgia – Lagodekhi Strict and Managed Nature Reserves, Tusheti, Vashlovani and Borjomi-Kharagauli Strict Nature Reserves and National Parks, Pshav-Khevsureti National Park and Managed Nature Reserve, Mtirala and Kintr ishi National Parks. In addition, Lyn x was registered outside PAs as well. The species is widespread in the Iran ian Caucasus, occur r ing in the following PAs: Arasbaran Biosphere Reser ve, Kantal National Park and Kiam aki wildlife Refuge, Marakan Protected Area, Lisar Protected Area and Dorfak-Deylaman No Hunting Area (Mousavi et al., 2016). The most recent assessment for the Turkish Caucasus puts the number of individuals at between 100-200 with a decreasing trend (Kütükçü, 2019). The main reason for the trend could be habitat fragmentation and conversion of natural habitats into urban and agr icultural lands. It is not possible to give a more accurate assessment of the status of Lynx in the Caucasus without a dedicated study. Managed Nature Reserve – this term is used for protected areas that are differently named in different countries of the region, but all of them more or less correspond to the IUCN Category IV – Habitat/ Species Managem ent Area; synonym s of it are e.g. Nature Sanctuary, Sanctuary, Wildlife Refuge, in Russ. – Zakaznik. 15 42 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Brown Bear The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is a keystone species 16 and top predator in the food chain in m ost habitats in the Caucasus. Together with Leopard, the Brown Bear serves as an indicator, reflecting the state of ecosystem s and biodiversity as a whole. Brown Bear has a wide range and occupies m ountain forests but it also occurs in high mountain meadows, mountain steppes, flood plain forests and open woodlands in foothills and low mountains; it occurs in almost all forested and many non-forested PAs of the Caucasus. Poaching is the m ain threat along with habitat loss. While the Brown Bear is categorised in the IUCN Red List as LC (McLellan et al., 2017), in the National Red Data Books or Lists of South Caucasus countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) it is assessed as being at higher risk. Together with Grey Wolf, Brown Bear is a main “actor” in human-wildlife conflicts reported from many rural areas of the region.17 B. Lortkipanidze (2010) tentatively assesses the Brown Bear population in the South Caucasus countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) as 2,000-2,500. A.C. Burton et al. (2018), based on a study conducted in May-October in Vayots Dzor district of Armenia, write: “Bears occurred throughout most of our study area, and the estimated density - 59 Bears/1,000 km², corresponding to an abundance of 171 Bears across our 2,900 km² state-space — exceeds estimates for many Brown Bear populations in North America and Europe. Furthermore, it exceeds previous ad hoc estimates from the South Caucasus by nearly 5-fold (13/1,000 km²Lortkipanidze, 2010), highlighting the risk of relying on limited data for local and regional conservation planning. Without extending our surveys spatially and temporally, it is difficult to know whether our study area supported a high density of Bears or densities in other areas have been underestimated”. According to official data provided by the Department of Environment of Iran, Brown Bear is common in the Iranian Caucasus too (Moqanaki, 2017). Brown Bear occurs in the following PAs: Lisar, Siahroud Roudbar, Sarvelat va javaherdasht, Gashtrudkhan Protected Areas and Dorfak-Deylaman No Hunting Area, Brown Bear with cubs, Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve, Russia © S. Trepet, Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve, Russia A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance. Keystone species play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the com m unity. 17 In general, Grey Wolf, Brown Bear and Leopard are the main carnivores involved in human-wildlife conflict worldwide (Torres, Oliveira & Alves, 2018). In the Caucasus, the Leopard is occasionally registered as the actor of the conflict with humans that could be explained by law number of Leopards in the region. 16 43 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Arasbaran Protected Area and National Park, Kantal National Park and Kiam aki Wildlife Refuge, and Dizm ar Protected Area. DNA analysis of Bear scats shows an abundance of the anim al in Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve – 40 individuals (2.5–97.5% Bayesian Credible Intervals = 27–70; density = 4.88 bears/100 km²) (Moqanaki et al., 2018); there are also reports of human-Bear conflict from some parts of Iranian Caucasus. In the North Caucasus, Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve reports around 400 individuals in early summer (Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation 2017). There is also information indicating 80-90 individuals in Teberdinsky Biosphere Reserve (Donbay info 2015). In the early 2000s, 240 to 330 individuals were counted in Sochi National Park (Laysheva, 2006); today the Park still reports 211 individuals as a mean number from long-term surveys, and an actual number of 265 (Sochi National Park 2019). However, it needs to be considered that at least 80% of individuals inhabiting Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve and Sochi National Park is a shared population (about 300 individuals); this means that the bear population in these two large protected areas together is still high, at slightly less than 400 individuals (Trepet et al., 2020). It seem s that, within Russia, in the eastern part of Greater Caucasus the population is lower, perhaps because coverage by PAs is m uch lower in the east; still, the species occurs in all PAs in this part of the ecoregion too (National Park Alania, Erzi State Nature Reserve, Tlyaratinsky Federal Managed Nature Reserve, etc.); SeveroOssetinsky Nature Reserve (around 30,000 ha) reports a population of 30-35 individuals (ru.wikipedia 2019). Totally, the Brown Bear population in the Russian Caucasus could be estimated as 2,000-2,100 individuals (WWF Russia’s inform ation). In the Turkish Caucasus, according to an estimate made by A.E. Kütükçü (2019), Brown Bear population size could be from 500 to 1,000 individuals with a decreasing trend: Brown Bear occur in almost all PAs located within the Turkish Caucasus. Conclusions Based on the above review, we can state that the Striped Hyena has the worst status am ong carnivores in the Caucasus ecoregion. The Leopard's status has im proved considerably during last decade, but the species is still at risk in the ecoregion and active conservation measures need to be continued, including science-based monitoring with the engagement of local enthusiasts, measures for mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts and awareness raising. The Leopard is the m ain focal species for the Eastern Lesser Caucasus ecological corridor, which is under creation within WWF’s Eco-Corridors Fund project (ECF) supported by the German Governm ent (BMZ/ KfW) 18. The project is being implemented in close cooperation with the local population and significantly contributing to the conservation of Leopard and other focal species in the region. The Eurasian Lynx is evidently com m on for the Caucasus forest areas, but the lack of dedicated studies does not provide an opportunity for m ore accurate assessm ents of the species’ status. Brown Bear has the best status of the four large carnivores discussed in this chapter, but even for this species, regional studies need to be conducted to determine more exactly the status of the different Bear populations and the existing threats. The situation with law enforcem ent within PAs appears to be satisfactory in every part of the region. Conservation efforts need to focus on species protection outside PAs: measures could include line-type and further creation of stepping-stone type ecological corridors with the active involvement of the local population, and implementation of anti-poaching activities and other measures. 18 https:/ / www.ecfcaucasus.org 44 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Acknowledgements We are grateful to the respective Governm ental organisations of all the countries of the region for providing inform ation. Special thanks are due to the Departm ent of Environm ent, Iran, Dr. Boris Tuniyev, Sochi National Park, Russia and Mr. Sedat Kalem, WWF-Turkey for general support and providing the most recent data. Last but not least, our thanks also go to all field supporters, including local enthusiasts. References AbiSaid, M. & Dloniak, S.M.D. 2015. Hyaena hyaena. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T10274A45195080. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T10274A45195080.en. 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WWF discovers Striped hyaena in Armenia for the first time after more than 60 years of disappearance. – http://wwf.panda.org/?195611/WWF-discovers-Striped-hyaena-in-Armenia-for-the-first-time-aftermore-than-60-years-of-disappearance WWF 2016. Persian Leopards return to the Caucasus. – https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/persianLeopards-return-to-caucasus WWF 2018. Two Persian Leopards released into the wild of North Ossetia. – http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/ press_releases/local_press_releases/?331912/Two-Persian-Leopards-released-into-the-wild-of-NorthOssetia Yarovenko, Yu. & Zazanashvili, N. (2016): Recent hard evidence for the occurrence of the Leopard, Panthera pardus (Mammalia: Felidae), in the Eastern Greater Caucasus. Zoology in the Middle East 62, 1: 88-90. Su g g e s t e d cit a t io n : Askerov, E., Manvelyan, K., Gurielidze, Z., Mousavi, M., Shmunk, V., Trepet, S., Kütükçü, A. E., Heidelberg, A. & Zazanashvili, N. (2020). Status of large carnivores in the Caucasus. Pp. 37 - 47 in Zazanashvili, N., Garforth, M. and Bitsadze, M., eds. Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, 2020 Edition: Supplementary Reports. WWF, KfW, Tbilisi. 47 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S STATUS OF LARGE HERBIVORES IN THE CAUCASUS Com piled by P. Weinberg , E. Askerov , K. Manvelyan d , Z. Gurielidze e, M. Mousavif, A.E. Kütükçü g, A. Heidelbergh and N. Zazanashvilii,e a b,c Severo-Ossetinsky State Nature Reserve, Alagir, Russian Federation; b WWF-Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan; cInstitute of Zoology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan; d WWF-Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia; eIlia State University, Institute of Ecology, Tbilisi, Georgia; f Wildlife Conservation and Management Bureau, Iran Department of Environment, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; g WWF-Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey; h WWF-Germany, Berlin, Germany; i WWF-Caucasus, Tbilisi, Georgia a Co n t e n t s : Introduction; Eastern and Western Turs; Bezoar Goat; Mouflon; Goitered Gazelle (Djeiran); European Bison (Wisent); Northern Chamois; Red Deer; Conclusions; Acknowledgements; References; Suggested citation. In tro d u ctio n Ten species of large herbivores are found over a relatively sm all area of the Caucasus today: East Caucasian (Eastern) and West Caucasian (Western) Turs (Capra caucasica and Capra cylindricornis) 19, Bezoar Goat (Capra aegagrus), Northern Cham ois (Rupicapra rupicapra), Mouflon (Ovis orientalis) 20, Red Deer and particularly its Caucasian subspecies (Cervus elaphus maral) 21, Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) 22, European Bison (Bison bonasus) 23, European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). An eleventh species - Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica) - was frequently observed by one of the co-authors of this review (N. Zazanashvili) during the springs of 1987 and 1988 in herds of 80–120 in their natural habitat on the Kizlyar steppes and semideserts in northern Dagestan, which is part of the ecoregion (Zazanashvili & Bolkvadze, 1989). Nowadays, it seems this globally Critically Endangered species, which historically was distributed even into the north-eastern corner of the South Caucasus, is extinct in the region mostly due to the dramatic decline of the Kalmykia source population (Kuznetsov & Lushchekina, 2002; Neronov et al., 2013). Consequently, Goitered Gazelle is the only remaining representative of the Antilopinae subfamily in the Caucasus. From the ten large herbivore species listed above, five are considered to be globally threatened: Western Tur Endangered (EN), Bezoar Goat, Mouflon, Goitered Gazelle and European Bison - Vulnerable (VU). The status of Eastern Tur was reassessed several years ago: the species is now categorised in the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened (NT), though it is still listed as nationally threatened in the Red List of Georgia. Two other species are listed as nationally threatened in the Red Lists/ Books of South Caucasus countries: Red Deer (Arm enia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and Northern Chamois (Azerbaijan and Georgia). This review is focused on the five globally threatened species and the three species listed as threatened in the National Red Lists/ Books. There is no consensus among scientists as to whether Eastern and Western Turs are separate species (Lydekker, 1913; Nasimovich, 1950; Tsalkin, 1955; Sokolov, 1959; Vereshchagin, 1959; Heptner et al., 1961; Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1966; Kotov, 1968; Kuliev & Mamedov, 1974; Schaller, 1977; Baryshnikov 1981; Aiunts & Kolomyts, 1986; Veinberg, 1993; Kazanskaya, 2007; Weinberg, Akkiev & Buchukuri, 2010, and others). The IUCN Red List refers to them as separate species. 20 According to the last assessments accepted by IUCN (Valdez, 2008), all Mouflons and Urials are considered to be one species (Ovis orientalis Gmelin, 1774). At the subspecies level, the IUCN Red List recognises Ovis orientalis gmelinii (with the common name Armenian Sheep) as a taxa occurring within the boundaries of the Caucasus (see https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15739/5076068#taxonomy). However, there are still different, sometimes controversial, opinions about the taxonomy of Mouflon species and subspecies (Shackleton & Lovari, 1997; Valdez, 2011a). Taxonomic disputes do not change the actual status of Mouflon, which differs morphologically from all neighbouring wild sheep taxa. 21 Caucasian Red Deer, together with Crimean (C. e. brauneri) and European (C. e. elaphus) subspecies, are now considered as more closely related to each other forming the elaphus group of subspecies (Gubb, 1990; Grubb & Gardner, 1998). 22 Previously a single species, Goitered Gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), commonly known in the Caucasus as Djeiran, was recently divided into two: Goitered Gazelle, retaining the original Latin name, and Arabian Sand Gazelle (Gazella marica) (Wacher, 2010; IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2017). 23 Bison taxonomy is contradictory. Some authors consider American and European Bison as a single species due to genetic closeness and despite evident morphological differences, others as two separate species: European (Bison bonasus) and American (Bison Bison) (see Danilkin, 2005). 19 48 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Eastern and Western Turs Turs are endem ics of the Caucasus and particularly of the Greater Caucasus m ountain range. Turs occur in all three countries sharing the Greater Caucasus: Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russian Federation. The westernm ost area still harbouring Tur is Mt. Abago in the Tchugush m ountain m assif in Adygea. The eastern limit is quite distinct, being situated on Mt. Babadagh massif in Azerbaijan. The total length of the contemporary area of distribution is about 750 km with a width of up to 65 km in the basins of the Avar Koisu and Andi Koisu rivers in Dagestan (Magomedov, Akhmedov & Yarovenko, 2001), and up to 80 km closer to Mt. Elbrus (Zalikhanov, 1967; Kopaliani & Gurielidze, 2009; M. Akkiev pers. comm.). The area of distribution is narrowest (about 12 km) in North Ossetia (Veinberg, 2000). Tur are mostly absent from the southern branches of the Greater Caucasus’ Main (Watershed) 24 Range such as the Kodori and Svaneti ranges in Georgia (Gavashelishvili, 2004; Kopaliani & Gurielidze, 2009). Because of the steepness and narrowness of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, especially its eastern part, the Tur’s range there is naturally narrow. The situation is better on the northern slope, which is considerably wider and where anim als usually inhabit the parallel structural ranges of the Greater Caucasus, mainly in Kabardino-Balkaria and partly in Karachay-Cherkessia (Zalikhanov, 1967; M. Akkiev pers. comm.) and North Ossetia. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the total number of Tur in the North Caucasus was estimated at 46,000 animals (Ravkin, 1975). These data are fairly reliable, except those for Krasnodar region, including the Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve, where 26,000 and 16,000 animals were counted respectively; this obviously was an overestim ation. Later, a revised estim ate for that period based on the sam e census results put the number in the Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve at a maximum of 6,900, (Romashin, 2001; Trepet, 2014). We can conclude that the number of Tur in the North Caucasus was around 35,000. Western (West Caucasian) Tur, Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve, Russia © S. Trepet, Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve, Russia The Greater Caucasus has a com plicated geom orphological structure consisted of three parallel (longitudinal) Ranges (Main, Side and Rocky) and m any perpendicular (lateral) branches. The Main or Watershed Range of the Greater Caucasus is the Range that forms the watershed between the north-flowing and south-flowing waters belonging to the Black Sea’s (in the western part) and the Caspian Sea’s (in the eastern part) catchment basins. The Side Range is located to the north of and close to the main Range; the highest points of the Greater Caucasus – Mount Elbrus (5,642 m), Kazbegi peak and some others – are situated on the Side Range. The Rocky Range is the final Range to the north and the lowest of the three. 24 49 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S In Georgia, the number started to fall in the mid-seventies (Eriashvili, 1990). The population also fell in Russia, but starting later, in the mid-1980s, continuing through the 1990s during the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The decline was the m ost drastic in the western Caucasus and North Ossetia, and particularly evident in Nature Reserves (Kavkazsky, Teberdinsky and Severo-Ossetinsky) where numbers dropped by up to two thirds (Romashin, 2001; Trepet, 2014; Weinberg, 2000). The situation was considerably better in Kabardino-Balkaria and Dagestan. On the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus in Russia, the Western Tur is found only west of Teberda, m ostly in Krasnodar region and Adygea where the majority of animals inhabit the Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve (Trepet, 2014); only a little more than 100 individuals occur outside the reserve (State Report on status of land-use and nature conservation in Krasnodar Kray 2018). The number of individuals in the Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve is considerably lower than in the 1960-80s but still exceeds 3,000 individuals, after having dropped to about 1,000 at the beginning of the 2000s. However, the population trend is distinctly positive now (Trepet, 2018). In Georgia, the number of Western Tur is very low (Table 1). Tur occurs in Svaneti and probably Racha regions; there is a hybridization zone between the upper reaches of the Enguri and Rioni rivers (Kopaliani & Gurielidze, 2009), which closely corresponds to the headwaters of the Kuban and Bezengi rivers on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus in Russia. Reports of Western Tur num ber in Georgia are contradictory. In the 1990s, numbers were estimated to be 2,500 individuals (NACRES 1996) and in the 2000s, 1,000 individuals (Kopaliani & Gurielidze, 2009). Data for 2013 indicates about 100 Western Turs in Georgia (Gurielidze, 2013, 2018), but recent more precise survey in Svaneti region provides a more realistic figure – approx. 520 (Gurielidze, Daraselia, Kerdikoshvili, 2019; Table 1). Such absolutely different figures may have been caused by different approaches to Tur taxonomy or survey methodology. Tur populations of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria in Russia might be considered as hybrid. Their total numbers are about 12,000 and growing at a moderate rate (State report on status of nature conservation in Karachay-Cherkessia Republic 2014 and 2018; State report on status of nature conservation in Kabardino-Balkaria Republic 2018; Akkiev, 2018). Out of the 12,000, 1,470-1,940 inhabit Teberdinsky Biosphere Reserve and about 500 – Daut Managed Nature Reserve (J. Tekeev, pers. comm.), and up to 6,000 occur in Kabardino-Balkarsky Nature Reserve (M. Akkiev, pers. comm.). The distribution of the Eastern Tur is m uch wider and the num ber is m uch higher. In Russia, it occurs in North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan. The total population in the Russian North Caucasus is about 19,000, of which up to 2,300 individuals occur in Severo-Ossetinsky Nature Reserve and Alania National Park, with a positive trend (State report on status of nature conservation in Chechen Republic 2018; Weinberg, 2018; Yu. Yarovenko & A. Yarovenko, 2018). In Georgia, the species range runs eastwards from the Tergi (Terek) river basin. Numbers reached 3,300 at the beginning of the 2000s. Later, in 2013-14, estimates based on aerial surveys put the number of Tur in Georgia between 3,000 and 5,800 (Table 1). Table 1. Current Tur numbers Taxon Co u n try Russia Georgia Azerbaijan Total Total Western Tur H ybrid Eastern Tur 3,0001 5202 12,0003,4 19,0005,6,7 4,0008 7,000 –8,0009 34,000 4,520 7,000-8,000 3,520 12,000 28,000* 43,520* So u r ce s: Trepet, 2018; Gurielidze, Daraselia, Kerdikoshvili, 2019; State report on status of nature conservation in Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, 2018; 4Akkiev, 2018; 5State report on status of nature conservation in Chechen Republic 2018; 6Weinberg, 2018; 7 Yarovenko & Yarovenko, 2018; 8 average figure from results of surveys in 2012-2014 - Gurielidze, 2013; Report 2015; 9this study). No t e: *totals of the Eastern Tur have been calculated considering the transboundary character of the populations in Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. 1 50 2 3 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS In the mid-1940s, about 2,000 Turs were hunted and killed annually in Azerbaijan (Vereshchagin, 1947). If that data is accurate, the number of individuals in Azerbaijan could have been at least 20,000 animals. The population has declined since then. In 2006-2007, 5,300 Turs were counted on the southern slope, and 1,000 more could have occurred on the northern slope (Guliyev, Weinberg & Askerov, 2009). An overall census has not been carried out in Azerbaijan since then, but extrapolation of results of surveys conducted in summer 2013 came up with more than 13,000 animals (Yarovenko & Weinberg, 2013), which might be an overestim ate. It should be noted that even in m iddle of the last century, Tur density in the eastern section of Azerbaijan’s part of the Greater Caucasus (the Shahdag area) was considerably lower than in the western part (in Gabala, Sheki, Gakh and Zagatala districts). Our best estim ate of current num bers is the following: total population in Azerbaijan up to 10,000 but more likely to be 7,000-8,000 individuals; of those, in 2018, less than 2,000 occurred in Zagatala and about 1,300 in Ilisu Nature Reserves [A. Muradov’s pers. comm.]. Thus, we estimate the total number of the Eastern Tur to be 28,000 (Table 1). Eastern (East Caucasian) Tur, Lagodekhi State Reserve, Georgia © G. Sulamanidze, Lagodekhi State Reserve, Georgia 51 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Western Tur is listed as Endangered (A2ad) in IUCN Red List (Weinberg, 2008a), and Eastern Tur as Near Threatened (Weinberg, 2008b). Both Tur species are included in the Red List of Georgia: Eastern Tur as Vulnerable (VU) and Western Tur as Endangered (EN) (Government of Georgia 2014). Turs, and especially Western Tur, need stronger m easures to protect them from poaching, which is the m ain threat. Measures could include: creation of protected areas in the Svaneti-Racha section of the Greater Caucasus in Georgia; improvement of law enforcement outside protected areas (training, proper equipping of responsible staff, increasing the number of staff); awareness raising of the local population including schoolchildren; engaging with local hunters and creating incentives for them to get involved in species conservation activities). The idea of creating a restoration centre for Western Tur in Georgia also exists (Gurielidze, 2018). Eastern Tur is a target species for the Ecoregional Corridor Fund (ECF) project, which aims at creating an ecological corridor in the Eastern Greater Caucasus Conservation Landscape in Azerbaijan (see chapter on Conservation Landscapes); the ECF is funded by the Germ an Governm ent (KfW/ BMZ). The CNF with support of WWF and TJS, together with Georgian NGO NACRES and experts from Azerbaijan, recently initiated regular m onitoring of Tur (and Red Deer) in the transboundary area of Lagodekhi (Georgia) and Zagatala (Azerbaijan) in the Eastern Greater Caucasus, including satellite monitoring using radio collars which will show patterns of Tur m ovem ent and contribute to better planning of conservation actions. The CNF, through a GEF grant, currently runs a wildlife m onitoring program m e for a num ber of selected PAs in South Caucasus countries that will also contribute to the stability and im provem ent of the status of Tur populations. Be zo ar Go at The Bezoar Goat’s geographic range extends from Pakistan to Turkey. In the Caucasus, there are two distinct populations: one inhabits the Lesser Caucasus and is connected with Iranian and Turkish populations; the other inhabits the Greater Caucasus and is isolated from other populations. In the Greater Caucasus, Bezoar Goat occurs in its eastern part, in the river basins of Argun (Georgia and Chechnya), Andi Koisu (Georgia and Dagestan) and Avar Koisu and in Chirakhchai in south-eastern Dagestan (Babaev et al., 2017). In the Lesser Caucasus mountain chain, the species survives only in the its south-eastern part. Bezoar Goat, Khosrov Forest State Reserve, Armenia © A. Malkhasyan, WWF 52 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Being residents of forested steep slopes, it is difficult to survey Bezoars by methods of direct counting traditional for m ountain ungulates. This explains the variability in population data for the Greater Caucasus, which were often based on rough estimations provided by state hunting authorities (e.g. Ravkin, 1975; Tochiev, 1975). Data for the Dagestan part of the species’ range are the m ost detailed and presum ably m ore precise, especially for the 1990s-2010s: surveys conducted by zoologists indicated 1,500 animals in the 1990s (Weinberg, 1999) and 2,500 at the end of the 1990s–beginning of 2000s (Magomedov et al., 2014). Thus, the data do not show significant population growth in Dagestan in the 1970s-1990s (Table 2). Data for Chechnya are poor: estimates for the 1970s suggest 250-600 individuals (Ravkin, 1975; Tochiev, 1975; Batkhiev, 1980) and there are even suppositions that the species is close to extinction or is already extinct there (e.g. Magomedov et al., 2014). In any case, the bulk of the Bezoar Goat population in the Greater Caucasus inhabits Dagestan, where hum an im pact is growing and Bezoar num bers are decreasing; currently there are about 1,500 individuals (Babaev et al., 2017). All sources for Georgia state that there were just 100-300 animals in Tusheti and Khevsureti from the 1970s to 2010s (Kapanadze, 1978; Arabuli, 1989; Veinberg, 1999; Mallon et al., 2007; NACRES 2010; Gurielidze, 2013; NACRES 2013; Report 2015). Based on the national data, the current Bezoar Goat population in the Greater Caucasus is up to 1,500 animals (Table 2). Table 2. Dynamics of Bezoar Goat numbers in the Greater Caucasus Area (Country) Chechnya (Russia) Dagestan (Russia) Khevsureti-Tusheti (Georgia) Total 2501 - 6002 350-3603 550 1 200-3004 1,0001 1980s 1,000 5 300 6 1,300 1990s 1,5007 Ye ar 1970s 1,500 1998-2010s 2,500-2,600 125 2010s 1,200-1,50010 18011-31012,13 8 9 2,600-2,700 1,200-1,500 S o u r c e s : Ravkin, 1975; Tochiev, 1975; Batkhiev, 1980; Kapanadze, 1978; Prilutskaya and Pishvanov, 1989; 6Arabuli, 1989; 7 Weinberg, 1999; 8Magomedov et al., 2014; 9Mallon et al., 2007; 10Babaev et al., 2017; 11NACRES 2010; 12average figure from results of surveys in 2012-2013 - Gurielidze, 2013; Report 2015; 13NACRES 2013. 1 2 3 4 5 In Georgia, Bezoar Goat is being protected in Tusheti Strict Nature Reserve (IUCN Category I) and Tusheti National Park (Cat. II), Pshav-Khevsureti National Park (Cat. II) and Asa Managed Nature Reserve (Cat. IV). In Russia, there are no strict nature reserves or national parks within the range of Bezoar Goat; there are just one federal and two regional m anaged nature reserves (IUCN Cat. IV).25 In the Lesser Caucasus, Bezoar Goat occurs in Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the 1970s, the population in Azerbaijan was estimated at 1,800-2,000, almost all of it in Nakhchivan region (Alekperov, Yerofeeva & Rakhmatulina, 1976). At the beginning of the 2000s, the population was estimated at 800-1,200 animals, again almost all of it in Nakhchivan (Guliyev, 2013d), and for 2006-2007, 1,000 Bezoars were estimated for Nakhchivan (Talibov et al., 2009). More than 500 animals were counted during the latest surveys in 2018 in the south-eastern part of the region. Results indicate definite growth of the population in Nakhchivan since 2006-2007 (Weinberg, 2019a); so, there are undoubtedly more than 1,200 animals there, no less than 50% of which inhabit Zangezur National Park and Ordubad Managed Nature Reserve. 25 There are two types of Managed Nature Reserve (Zakaznik) in Russia: Federal - centrally managed and Regional – managed by regional authorities. 53 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S In Armenia, there were reported to be 400-700 animals in the 1970s (Ayrumyan and Gasparyan, 1976), which was almost certainly an underestimate. Surveys carried out in 2006-2007 showed a much higher number - 1,000-1,500 individuals (Khorozyan, Weinberg & Malkhasyan, 2009). In 2009-2013, 1,134 Bezoars were counted in 10 areas, 235 of those in the central section of the Zangezur range, 258 in Nrnadzor area (now Arevik National Park and Zangezur Managed Nature Reserve), 168 in Noravank Canyon (Arpa Protected Landscape/Community Conserved Area), and 145 in Khosrov State Forest Reserve (Weinberg & Malkhasyan, 2011, 2013). These areas are only a small proportion of the whole Bezoar Goat range in Armenia, so total numbers definitely exceed 2,500 animals. In Turkey, Bezoar Goat inhabited several protected areas in the Turkish part of the Caucasus (Kence and Tarhan, 1997) but no numbers are available. During a survey in Barhal Valley of Kaçkar mountains stretching along the south-eastern coast of the Black Sea, 64 individuals were counted. Surveys carried out by the National Parks – Hunting and Wildlife Directorate of Artvin in 2008 counted 898 Bezoars on an area of 235 km² in the Çoruh river basin from Artvin to Uzundere (Diker et al., 2009). Moreover, an estimated population of 300 is reported from the Giresun area on the most western end of the Caucasus region by WWF-Turkey based on regular observations in the region by wildlife expert staff. The latest report from the General Directorate of Nature Conservation & National Parks (2018) estimated 1,980 animals occurring in the sam e area now, indicating that the population is increasing. However, the species is still facing num erous threats in the country including feral dogs, illegal hunting and diseases from domestic animals such as rinderpest. In Iran, in 1991, 4,000 Bezoar Goats inhabited Alborz-Markazy Protected Area26 (Ziaie, 1997) but no data were available on populations closer to Ara(k)s river. Census data for Bezoar Goat from 2009 to 2018 are presented in Table 3 (DoE 2018). The current population in protected areas in the Iranian Caucasus exceeds 4,500 animals. Table 3. Dynamics of Bezoar Goat numbers in the Iranian part of the Caucasus Area (Province) Ye ar Marakan (West Azarbaijan) Kantal & Kiamaki (East Azarbaijan) Arasbaran (East Azarbaijan) Alamdardaghi & Ye kan at (East Azarbaijan) Gilan Province 2009 1,925 984 953 158 100 2010 1,227 1,186 806 164 41 2011 ? 1,075 689 83 133 2012 2,165 1,119 704 133 51 2013 2,006 981 494 70 68 2014 2,694 1,067 504 62 184 2015 2,001 1,378 789 109 125 2016 2,221 1,378 598 98 199 2017 3,150 1,181 827 87 159 2018 2,458 1,476 711 5 135 In Iran, the term “protected area” has two meanings: (a) protected area as common term and (b) Protected Area as one of categories of protected area m anagem ent in Iran (corresponds to approx. IUCN Category IV). 26 54 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Based on the data for each country, the total estim ated num ber of Bezoar Goat in the ecoregion is around 10,000 animals, at least 7,500 of which inhabit protected areas of different categories. Bezoar Goat is categorised as Vulnerable (VU) in the IUCN Red List (Weinberg et al., 2008). In the current Red Data Book of the Russian Federation, the species is categorised as “Diminishing and being on the periphery of the distribution” (Weinberg, 2000). In the proposed new version of the Red List of Russia the species is listed as Vulnerable. In the Red List of Georgia, Bezoar Goat is categorised as Critically Endangered (Government of Georgia 2014). Consequently, hunting of the species is prohibited in the country. It is listed as Vulnerable (VU B2ab; C2a) in the Red Book of Armenia (Malkhasyan, 2010a), and as a “Species whose number has declined in the past and still is low” in the Red Book of Azerbaijan (Guliyev, 2013d). In Iran, Bezoar Goat is considered as a Protected Species according to Iran environm ental conservation laws & regulations. Bezoar Goat is also listed in Appendix III of CITES (as Capra hircus aegagrus). Improvement of the status of Bezoar Goat in the region and particularly in the Greater Caucasus, requires the creation of new protected areas in the Russian part of the species range and strengthening the m anagem ent of existing protected area. In the mid-2000s, reintroduction of the Bezoar Goat to the northern part of the Lesser Caucasus (from Armenia to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park) was attempted but was unsuccessful. Learning from that failed attempt, a new reintroduction plan could be prepared and implemented in the mid-term (after all necessary resources have been identified and secured). In Armenia and Azerbaijan/Nakhchivan, protection is provided by the responsible governmental organizations and by WWF as part of the Leopard Conservation Program m e for the South Caucasus (Bezoar Goat is one of the main prey species of Leopard). Bezoar Goat is also a target species for the ECF project which is aim ing to create an ecological corridor in the Eastern Lesser Caucasus Conservation Landscape in Arm enia (see the chapter on Conservation Landscapes); ECF is funded by the Germ an Governm ent (KfW/ BMZ). CNF’s wildlife m onitoring program m e, which is being im plem ented in a num ber of selected protected areas of South Caucasus countries, will also contribute to im proving the status of Bezoar Goat in the region. Mouflon The Lesser Caucasus is the north-western limit of the Mouflon’s range. Within the Caucasus ecoregion Mouflon occurs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. There was an indication of Mouflon presence in Georgia, at the border with Turkey (Arabuli, 1989), but this was not supported by other sources. In Armenia, earlier information on Mouflon describes its distribution but does not specify population size or density (Sarkisov, 1944). The first population census was carried out in the 1970s and produced a figure of 350400 animals for Armenia and the Nakhchivan region of Azerbaijan together (Yavruyan, 1975). There are two apparently isolated areas of Mouflon distribution in Armenia: the first on Aiotszor Massif and the adjoining Urts range, near the western part of Nakhchivan/Azerbaijan; the second on the Zangezur range (southern Armenia and eastern Nakhchivan) and the adjoining Bargushat Range; this second population extends into Nakhchivan (see below). During the latest surveys, 50 animals were counted on Urts, and 104 on Zangezur and Bargushat ranges; the total number for Armenia was estimated as not less than 250 (Weinberg & Malkhasyan, 2010). Anim als counted on Zangezur and Bargushat occur in Arevik National Park and Zangezur Managed Nature Reserve of Armenia. Despite the fact that later counts show a larger number of animals, Mouflon numbers in Armenia have definitely declined since the 1950s-70s, as observed by all zoologists, hunters, shepherds and other knowledgeable persons we interviewed. It should also be noted that the political conflict and increased military infrastructure on both sides of Armenia-Nakhchivan/Azerbaijan border worsened the situation here. 55 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Mouflon, Zangezur Mountain Range, Armenia © A. Malkhasyan, WWF In Azerbaijan, data on the Mouflon population from the first half of the 20th century are vague (Dinnik, 1910; Sarkisov, 1944). In the 1970s, the Nakhchivan population was estimated to be 1,000-1,200 individuals (Alekperov, Yerofeeva & Rakhmatulina, 1976), while another source estimated 350-400 animals for both Armenia and Nakhchivan together (Yavruyan, 1975, see above). In 1993, 1,200-1,500 animals were estimated for Nakhchivan (Guliyev, 2000b). Nowadays, in Nakhchivan region, as in Armenia, there are two areas of Mouflon distribution: one in the western part and the other in the eastern part of the region (Talibov et al., 2009). The latest counts, conducted in December 2018 in the south-eastern ‘corner’ of Nakhchivan, produced the largest Mouflon number since 2006: 119 individuals on Negramdagh Plateau and 90 ones on the Darydagh Massif and its foothills. The estimate of the total number of individuals is 150 and 120 respectively for each surveyed area (Weinberg, 2019a). The Mouflon population in Nakhchivan has undoubtedly grown since the beginning of 2000s, but we should take into consideration that this population is transboundary with Armenia. However, all Mouflons were spotted rather far from the Zangezur range, in the lowland part of Nakhchivan, closer to the Ara(k)s river. There are lowland areas west from the Zangezur range, in Nakhchivan, but no such areas east of the range, in Arm enia. It m ay happen that winter conditions and disturbance along the border restrict Mouflon movement across the Zangezur range. In that case, numbers on the Arm enian and Nakhchivan slopes of Zangezur shouldn’t be sum m ed up. However, a conservative estim ate might be about 400 Mouflons in Nakhchivan. In Turkey, according to Kence and Tarhan (1997), Mouflon occurs along the border with Iran. H owever, th ere are n o estim ates of th e size of th e Turkish population . In Iran, there is no data on Mouflon for the north-western part of the country before the 2000s. According to the latest data (DoE 2018), there are the following Mouflon populations in PAs of East and West Azarbaijan Provinces of Iran: Kantal National Park and Kiamaki Wildlife Refuge – 25 individuals, Marakan Protected Area – 965 individuals. Personal communications also substantiate information on the number and density of Mouflon there. Census data of Mouflon from 2009 to 2018 is presented in Table 4 (DoE 2018). 56 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Table 4. Mouflon census data for Iranian part Area (Province) Ye ar Marakan (West Azarbaijan) Kantal & Kiamaki (East Azarbaijan) 2009 1,486 44 2010 984 29 2011 ? 66 2012 1,670 36 2013 2,397 24 2014 1,373 44 2015 1,411 39 2016 1,373 37 2017 1,073 65 2018 965 25 Based on the most recent estimates of national population sizes, the total number of Mouflon in the Caucasus could be around 1,900-2,000 individuals. Mouflon is listed as Endangered (EN) in the Red Data Book of Armenia (Malkhasyan, 2010b), and as a “Species whose number declined in the past and is still low” in the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan (Guliyev, 2013e). In Iran, the Mouflon is also considered as a Protected Species according to Iran environmental conservation laws & regulations. It is listed as Vulnerable (VU) in the IUCN Red List. In Azerbaijan/Nakhchivan and Armenia, measures to protect Mouflon are taken by responsible governmental organizations and by WWF under the Leopard Conservation Programme for the South Caucasus (Mouflon is one of the main prey species of Leopard). Mouflon (like Bezoar Goat) is also a target herbivore species for WWF’s ECF project, which is aiming to create an ecological corridor in the Eastern Lesser Caucasus Conservation Landscape in Arm enia (see the chapter on Conservation Landscapes); the ECF is funded by the Germ an Governm ent (KfW/ BMZ). One of the most effective measures significantly contributing to the recovery of Leopard numbers and the number of its prey species, including Mouflon, is the enforcement of a total hunting ban in Nakhchivan since 2001. However, considering the low rate of Mouflon population growth, it may be necessary to identify and implement additional measures for Mouflon conservation in the region. The CNF wildlife monitoring programme will also contribute to Mouflon conservation as well as to the other species included in the program m e. Goitered Gazelle (Djeiran) In the Caucasus, Goitered Gazelle populated the Kura-Ara(k)s river lowlands entirely until after the start of the 20th century, almost reaching Tbilisi; its range in the South Caucasus was considered to be the northwestern limit of the specie's distribution. By 1938, their numbers had decreased to between five and six thousand and the species range had split into several fragm ents due to intensive hunting and agricultural expansion (Vereshchagin, 1939). 57 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S In the 1960s, the species became extinct in Georgia (Mallon, Askerov and Zazanashvili, 2016) and the total number of animals in Azerbaijan dramatically decreased to 20027 (Safarov, 1961). However, after 1961, several managed nature reserves were established for Gazelle protection and consequently, Gazelle numbers started increasing. For example, in the 1960s, in Byandovan Managed Nature Reserve on the Shirvan Steppe, there were just 70 animals and by 1975, in Shirvan Nature Reserve, established in the same area, there were already 1,700 individuals and the population in the whole of Azerbaijan reached 2,700 (Kotlyarov, 1975). By 1981, the population reached 3,000-3,500 (Alekperov & Kuliev, 1981). In addition, in 2003, Shirvan National Park was established with the m ain purpose of Gazelle conservation. The population continued to grow and in 2015, a census revealed more than 6,200 animals in Azerbaijan. Today, Shirvan National Park protects about 90% of the Gazelles in Azerbaijan. A small population survives in Korchay Protected Areas south from Mingechevir water reservoir in the eastern and central sectors of Bozdag mountains – a landscape of low ridges and hills with flat steppe plains. The estimated population here was 250 in 2004 and, probably, about 600 in 2015 (Mallon, Askerov & Zazanashvili, 2016). After a feasibility study conducted in 2008 by Dr. David Mallon, reintroduction activities started in Azerbaijan in different areas suitable for Gazelle. In 2013, the Azerbaijan-Georgia transboundary area was included in the reintroduction activities. Altogether, around 250 individuals have been translocated from Shirvan to several sites in Azerbaijan and the Georgian part of the Samukh Steppe. According to the 2019 autumn census, 157 animals occur on the Ajinour Steppe (A. Muradov, pers. comm.). Animals can move freely across the state border and the population can already be considered as transboundary. Based on regular field monitoring, the estim ated num ber on the Georgian side, particularly in Sam ukh Steppe, currently is about 120-130 individuals (Report 2019).28 Goitered Gazelle is categorised in the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable (VU) (IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group 2017). In the Red Book of Azerbaijan, it is listed as a “species distributed at the edge of its global range, which can become extinct without protection measures” (Guliyev, 2013b). In the Red List of Georgia, the species is listed as extinct in the country (Government of Georgia 2014) but if the further stages of the species’ restoration in Georgia are successful, it will be re-categorised. Reintroduced Gazelles, Samukhi plain, Georgia © V. Kochiashvili, WWF The figure of 200 may be an underestimate because aerial counts usually omit single animals and small groups. Nevertheless it is clear that the population in the South Caucasus was close to extinction at that tim e. This extremely important initiative of species restoration was made possible by many different organisations, but particular thanks go to the Government of Azerbaijan and IDEA – International Dialogue for Environmental Action, also the Governments of Georgia and Germany and WWF. 27 28 58 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Measures that need to be taken to further im prove the species’ conservation status in the Caucasus are the continuation of translocation activities and im provem ent of m onitoring, especially transboundary monitoring (first attempts for establishing joint transboundary monitoring are being made by WWF with the involvement of scientists and experts from academia, NGOs and protected areas of Azerbaijan and Georgia). European Bison (Wisent) At the beginning of the 20th century, the Caucasian subspecies of European Bison B. b. caucasicus survived in the West Caucasus but became extinct soon afterwards (Vereshchagin, 1959). In 1940, the first Bison bonasus × B. Bison hybrids were translocated from Askania-Nova Nature Reserve (Ukraine) to an enclosure in the Kavkazsky Zapovednik (Strict Nature Reserve). Later, individuals of B. bonasus were added to m inim ize the occurrence of B. bison genes in the population; in addition, hybrid males were excluded from reproduction. In 1955, the animals were set free and in 1960, supplementary winter feeding was stopped (Trepet, 2014). Since then, the Bison population in Kavkazsky Zapovednik and adjoining areas has grown to 1,100 individuals (TASS 2018). This population is the largest one in the Caucasus, but is considered as an inter-specific hybrid and is not included in the European Bison Pedigree Book29. In 1968, 16 B. b. bonasus × B. b. caucasicus were released in Kizgich Valley in the Arkhyz branch of Teberdinsky Zapovednik. The Kizgich herd never exceeded 55, and by 2012 had shrunk to 5 animals (Semyonov, 2014). In 2012 and 2013, 8 and 10 animals respectively were added. However, the release area was not well-chosen: animals cannot survive there without supplementary winter feeding. In the period of 1959-1975, two more attempts at reintroduction of Bison in North Caucasus were not successful (Lipkovich, 1988). Bison in reintroduction site, Shahdag National Park, Azerbaijan © Z. Seydova, WWF 29 The European Bison Pedigree Book has its Editorial Office in Bialoveja National Park, Poland. 59 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S In 1964-68, 47 B. b. bonasus×B. b. caucasicus were translocated to Tseisky Managed Nature Reserve (Federal Zakaznik) in North Ossetia. The population grew steadily until the beginning of 1990s, reaching about 220-250 animals within the Zakaznik and in the adjoining area of the Severo-Ossetinsky Strict Nature Reserve. Besides, 27 animals inhabited the neighbouring State Game Reserve. In 1992, the population started decreasing and it consisted of about 50 animals by 1997 (Weinberg and Komarov, 2004). This decline continued up to 2011. In 2010, 10 animals were brought in from Prioksko-Terrasny Breeding Center and 10 more in 2012. This triggered growth of the population and 96 animals were registered in February 2019 (Weinberg, 2019b). In 2018, a new reintroduction, initiated by WWF, was started in North Ossetia. Ten pure-bred animals from Oksky Breeding Centre and Sweden were brought to Turmon Regional Managed Reserve (Weinberg, 2019b). In the South Caucasus, until very recently, only one attempt had been made at reintroduction: in 1969, 12 animals were released on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus in the newly founded Ismaily Managed Nature Reserve in Azerbaijan (later reorganized into a Nature Reserve that finally became part of Shahdag National Park). The reintroduction was not successful (Gajiev, 2000; Askerov et al., 2014). A new reintroduction initiative was started in 2019 in almost the same area in a joint effort of the Azerbaijan Government, IDEA and WWF through the TJS. 12 genetically appropriate animals, collected in European Zoos, were transported to a specially created and arranged reintroduction site. Thus, excluding the very recently established small Azerbaijan/Ismaily population, currently there are just three free-ranging pure-bred (B. b. bonasus × B. b. caucasicus) populations in the Caucasus, all of them in protected areas on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus in Russia: (1) Tseisky Federal Managed Nature Reserve and North-Ossetinsky Strict Nature Reserve – 96 animals, (2) Turmon Regional Managed Reserve – 10 animals (newly released), and (3) Arkhyz Branch of Teberdinsky Biosphere Reserve – 20-25 animals; altogether – about 120 individuals. European Bison is listed as Vulnerable (VU, D1) in the IUCN Red List (Olech, 2008). It is categorised in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation as “Under threat of extinction” (Danilov-Danilyan, 2000), which corresponds to the IUCN category Endangered (EN). For restoration of the species on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, reintroduction efforts need to be continued and strengthened. In Azerbaijan, individuals need to be added to the Ismaily population and com plem entary activities m aintained. Restoration of the species on the southern slope of the central section of Greater Caucasus in Georgia is under discussion by government officials and conservation experts. Northern Chamois Cham ois inhabits the Greater and the Lesser Caucasus; however, in the Lesser Caucasus it is presently confined to the northern and western parts in the Adjara-Imereti mountain range (Vereshchagin, 1947; Gurielidze, 2015). In Azerbaijan, there is evidence that Chamois occurred in the Lesser Caucasus, on the Murovdagh range, until the early decades of the 20th century (Vereshchagin, 1959), but probably became extinct in that area by the 1940s (Vereshchagin, 1947). In the Greater Caucasus, Chamois sporadically inhabits all three highest, longitudinal ranges - the Main, the Side and the Rocky - and sometimes occurs at lower altitudes on pastures and in forests. The outer limits of distribution in the Greater Caucasus has not changed much during the last 50 years, except the westernmost part, where they do not occur anym ore. The species range in the Greater Caucasus is considerably larger than the ranges of both Tur species, but it is m uch m ore fragm ented. The actual area occupied by Cham ois is therefore m uch sm aller and their num ber is m uch lower than those of Tur. In 1972, about 9,000 Chamois where estimated to occur on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus in Russia, almost 6,000 of them in Krasnodar region (5,000 of those in the Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve) 60 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS and 1,200 in Stavropol region (Ravkin, 1975). The population declined and by the beginning of the 2000s, there were estimated to be 1,500 individuals in the Western Greater Caucasus (without Kavkazsky Reserve), up to 1,300 in the Central Greater Caucasus, and more than 400 animals in Dagestan (Danilkin, 2005). In addition, there were about 1,000 Chamois in the Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve (Trepet, 2014). Thus, the total population in the Russian North Caucasus was about 5,500. The most recent data are as follows: about 3,500 individuals in the Western Greater Caucasus, up to 1,000 in the central part, and about 800 in Chechnya and Dagestan: totally about 5,300 in the Russian Caucasus (State Reports on the Status of Nature Conservation for the respective regions, see References). Of these, about 1,200 animals occur in the Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve (Trepet, 2018), 300 in Sochi National Park (Semyonov, 2018), about 200 animals in Teberdinsky Biosphere Reserve (J. Tekeev, pers. comm.), about 250 in the North Severo-Ossetinsky Nature Reserve, Tseysky Managed Nature Reserve and Alania National Park (Weinberg, 2018). In Georgia, in the 1970s, numbers were estimated at 20,000 (Kapanadze, 1978), but this figure was clearly too high. Just 10 years later, at the end of 1980s, only 5,000 were estimated (Arabuli, 1989), and in 2013, combined aerial counts and ground surveys produced about 3,260 individuals in the Greater Caucasus and 500-600 in the Lesser Caucasus (Gurielidze, 2015). Chamois, Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve, Russia © S. Trepet, Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve, Russia 61 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S In the 1950-60s, on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus in Azerbaijan, there were 2,000-2,500 animals. The population was shrinking and by the end of the 1990s, only 600-800 individuals remained (Guliyev, 2000a). In Zagatala Nature Reserve, 341 animals were counted in 2015 and 315 in 2018; in Ilisu Nature Reserve, in the same years, 24 and 18 animals were counted (A. Muradov, pers. comm.) (Table 5). Unfortunately, there are no data from Shahdag National Park – the largest protected area in Azerbaijan located in the Eastern Greater Caucasus. The total number of individuals on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus is about 4,000 animals and the total for the entire Greater Caucasus, approximately 9,000. Numbers are declining (Table 5). Table 5. Dynamics of Chamois number in the Greater Caucasus Co u n try Ye ar 1960s -1970s Russia Ge o rgia Azerbaijan 9,000 1 20,000 4 2,000-2,500 7 1980s Total 31,000 5,000 5 1990s 600-800 7 2000s 5,500 2 2010s 5,300 3 3,300 6 400 8 9,000 S o u r c e s : 1Ravkin, 1975; 2Danilkin, 2005; 3State reports 2017, 2018; 4Kapanadze, 1978; 5Arabuli, 1989; 6Gurielidze, 2015; Guliyev, 2000a; 8A. Muradov, pers. comm. 7 In Turkey, Chamois occurs only in the north-eastern part of the country, mainly the mountains situated along the south-eastern coast of the Black Sea especially in Rize and Artvin regions as well as Erzurum with the southernm ost population observed in Gum ushane. Cham ois was known to occur in a num ber of PAs in that part of Turkey in the 1990s (Kence and Tarhan, 1997) but data on population size were not available until the 2000s. Nowadays, according to the General Directorate of Nature Conservation & National Parks of Turkey (2018), there are about 25 animals in their north-eastern PAs. The population size estimate based on work of WWF-Turkey is more than 100. Chamois is listed in the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan as a “Species whose number declined in the past and is still low” (Guliyev, 2013c). In the Red List of Georgia, it is categorised as Endangered (EN/A2a) (Government of Georgia 2014). Chamois is expected to be included in the new Red List of the Russian Federation (it was not included in previous versions). It is categorised as Least Concern (LC) in the IUCN Red List. Directly or indirectly, Chamois conservation is ongoing within the framework of WWF’s ECF project funded by the Germ an Governm ent (BMZ/ KfW): Cham ois is one of the target species for the creation of ecological corridors within Georgia’s part of the Western Lesser Caucasus and Azerbaijan’s part of the Eastern Greater Caucasus Conservation Landscapes (see the corresponding chapter). However, those measures are not enough: Chamois is now quite rare in the Caucasus; larger scale, com prehensive, regional or transboundary surveys need to be organized to better understand the reasons for the population declining and to provide a sound basis for planning further m easures to im prove Cham ois’ conservation status. 62 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Re d D e e r The range of the Caucasian subspecies of Red Deer extends over the entire Caucasus, the adjoining Alborz mountains and Kopetdagh (Baryshnikov, 1981). Until the mid-20th century, Red Deer were com m on in the Caucasus, though its distribution was already sm aller than it was at the beginning of 20th century, especially in the foothills and the adjoining plains (Dinnik, 1910). In the 1920-30s, Red Deer was extirpated in the mountainous part of the Central Caucasus – North Ossetia and Kabardino-Balkaria (Naniev, 1956; Tembotov & Shkhashamishev, 1984). Approximately at the same time, the previously continuous range of Red Deer started to separate into two different and isolated groups of habitats: montane forests and subalpine meadows, and lowland riverside forests (Khekhneva, 1972). Red Deer vanished from Armenia in the first part of the 20th century (Dahl, 1954), but sporadic migrations from neighbouring countries may have occurred until recently (Khorozyan, 2010). In Azerbaijan, Red Deer was extirpated in the Lesser Caucasus at the end of 19th century and in the Talysh m ountains at the beginning of 20th century. Reintroduction activities were conducted in the Lesser Caucasus in the 1960s: the number of animals in Goygol Reserve in mid-1980s reached 125, but in the 1990s, because of the Armenia-Azerbaijan armed conflict, the population dramatically declined again. A very small population survives in the Kura river flood plain forests in Garayazi-Aghstafa protected areas. The larger part of Azerbaijan’s Red Deer population occurs on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, e.g. in Zagatala and Illisu reserves (Vereshchagin, 1959; Guliyev, 2012). In the 1960s, individuals of the Crimean and European subspecies were introduced into Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia. At the beginning of the 1970s, there were about 10,000 Red Deer on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus in Russia, almost 9,000 of them in Krasnodar region, including 7,000 in Kavkazsky Biosphere Reserve (Ravkin, 1975). Nowadays, Krasnodar region in the north-western Caucasus harbours the largest Red Deer population, including: ca. 1,800-1,900 animals concentrated in Kavkazsky Strict Nature Reserve – possibly it is the m axim um viable num ber considering the carrying capacity of the Reserve’s ecosystem s (the population has been growing there since the 1990s; Trepet, 2018; S. Trepet pers. comm.), 400 in Sochi National Park (Semyonov, 2018) and about 200-250 outside protected areas. The number in Karachay-Cherkessia, including Teberdinsky Strict Nature Reserve, is much lower (Trepet, 2014). There are fewer than 200 non-native Red Deer individuals in Kabardino-Balkaria (Akkiev, 2018), about 350 in North Ossetia (Weinberg, 2018), and a sm all num ber of aboriginal Deer in Terek river’s riparian forests. In Chechnya, the State Report on Nature Conservation (2018) mentions 120 individuals in 2017, but the dynamics of the population are not certain. In Dagestan, there are about 500 individuals, almost all of which belong to population that inhabits the Greater Caucasus Range; the majority spend winters on the southern slope of the range in Georgia and Azerbaijan (Yu. Yarovenko and A. Yarovenko, 2018). A small population survives in the riparian forests of Terek and, probably, Sulak rivers. Thus, the total number of Red Deer on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus is about 3,500 (Table 6) mainly in two completely isolated (western and eastern) populations - almost two thirds fewer than in the 1970s - mainly because of much lower numbers in Krasnodar region, including Kavkazsky Reserve. Numbers in the Eastern Greater Caucasus have not changed significantly since the 1970s (Ravkin, 1975). However, the trend now is m oderately positive in the Western Caucasus and stable in Dagestan. As is shown in the report of the Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia (APA 2018), after a dramatic decrease in Red Deer populations in the 1990s to the beginning of 2000s, when numbers fell to 200 individuals, the trend has been positive, especially since 2013. At the beginning of 2019, there were about 1,100 animals in the country, mostly in two locations: (1) around 350 animals in Lagodekhi Strict Nature Reserve and Managed 63 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Red Deer in the breeding centre, Dilijan National Park, Armenia © WWF Nature Reserve in the south-eastern Greater Caucasus at the border with Azerbaijan (adjacent to Zagatala Nature Reserve) and Dagestan/Russia (adjacent to Tliarata Federal Managed Nature Reserve), and (2) an isolated population of around 650 animals in Borjomi–Kharagauli Protected Areas (Strict Nature Reserve, National Park and Managed Nature Reserve) - in the northern part of the Lesser Caucasus (central Georgia). Small self-restored populations are reported from Tusheti Protected Areas (Strict Nature Reserve and National Park) and Tbilisi National Park 30 (Saguramo Branch of the Greater Caucasus) – around 50 individuals each. It is possible that a very small population of 10-12 individuals survives in Gardabani Managed Nature Reserve (in what remains of the Kura river floodplains) bordering Azerbaijan (adjacent to Garayazi-Aghstafa protected areas). A study by NGO NACRES also shows that the largest population is concentrated in Borjomi-Kharagauli Protected Areas – up to 500 individuals (for 2015). The Lagodekhi population was assessed as 350 animals (National Geographic Georgia 2016; Lagodekhi Protected Areas Facebook 2015). In Azerbaijan, as it was mentioned above, the main population occurs on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus: Zagatala Nature Reserve reports more than 700 individuals in 2018 and Ilisu Nature Reserve about 70 (A. Muradov, pers. comm.) (Table 6). The range of this population, which is connected with the Lagodekhi population in Georgia, continues eastwards towards Ism aily (Shahdag National Park) and extends into Dagestan (see above). The overall trend is m oderately positive. A sm all population survives in floodplain forests adjacent to the Kura river in Garayazi-Aghstafa protected areas (transboundary with Gardabani, Georgia, see above). Because of armed conflict, the Lesser Caucasus population which existed in the recent past in Goygol National Park (formerly Strict Nature Reserve) (Guliyev, 2014) is most likely extinct or survives in a very sm all num ber. 30 There are som e doubts about the presence of Red Deer in this location. 64 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS The total number of Red Deer in Azerbaijan is probably about 800-1,000, shared with Russia and partly with Georgia. Based on the above-mentioned figures, the Red Deer population in the Greater Caucasus (Russian Federation, Georgia and Azerbaijan) might be 4,000 animals (Table 6) and in the Lesser Caucasus about 700 individuals, 85-90% of which inhabit Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park and adjacent areas. Table 6. Dynamics of Red Deer numbers in the Greater Caucasus Ye ar Co u n try Russia 1960s -1970s 10,000 1 2010s 3,500-3,600 2,3,4,5 Ge o rgia Azerbaijan ~ 400 6 800-10,008 Total ~ 4,500* S o u r c e s : 1Ravkin, 1975; 2Trepet, 2018; S. Trepet pers. comm.; 3Semyonov, 2018; 4State report Chechen Republic, 2018; Yarovenko and Yarovenko, 2018; 6 Lagodekhi Protected Areas Facebook 2015; APA 2018; 8A.Muradov, pers. comm. * Considering transboundary character of the populations. 5 In Iran, according to official data, about 87 individuals occur in the wild in Gilan Province (the Alborz range) but it is believed that almost all of them are males (DoE 2018). In the recent past, the population of Red Deer in Iran was higher, especially outside the Caucasus, in the east of the Alborz range, Golestan National Park – around 2,000 individuals in 1970s and 500 individuals in 2003 (Kiabi et al., 2004). There are 103 individuals of unknown origin in north-western Turkey (General Directorate 2018). Thus, the total number of Caucasian Red Deer in the ecoregion is about 5,000 with an overall stable trend and m oderately positive one in certain areas. Red Deer is listed as a “Species whose number declined in the past and is still low” in the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan (Guliyev, 2013a), and as Critically Endangered (CR D) in the Red Book of Armenia (Khorozyan, 2010) and the Red List of Georgia (CR) (Government of Georgia 2014). Red Deer is considered as a Protected Species according to Iran environm ental conservation laws and regulations. Red Deer is not listed in the Red Book of Russia but it is included in the Red Books of the Republics of Adygea and Kabardino-Balkaria. The IUCN Red List categorises Red Deer as Least Concern (LC). Priority conservation m easures for Red Deer in the Caucasus are better protection against poaching, creation of connectivity for isolated populations, and translocations or reintroduction. WWF (through the TJ S) with CNF is currently supporting the Governm ent of Arm enia in reintroducing Red Deer into the country: a Red Deer breeding centre has been established in Dilijan National Park. Thanks to the Government of Iran, 8 animals have been already received and put into a 10 ha enclosure at the Breeding Centre (5 more animals are expected in near future); 3 individuals have been born there. Red Deer is a target species for the Western Lesser Caucasus (Georgia) and Eastern Greater Caucasus (Azerbaijan) ecological corridors that are under creation with the active participation of the local population in the framework of the ECF project funded by the German Government (BMZ/KfW) and which is being im plem ented by WWF. CNF and WWF (through TJS) together with the NGO NACRES and experts from Azerbaijan recently established transboundary monitoring of Red Deer in Lagodekhi-Zagatala area. Establishing a breeding centre in Georgia is under consideration and is being discussed am ong national experts, responsible governm ental organizations and international conservation organizations. As m entioned above, the CNF currently operates a wildlife m onitoring program m e for a num ber of selected protected areas of South Caucasus countries that will contribute to Red Deer conservation. 65 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Conclusions All the species discussed in this chapter need special attention for stabilising their status and/ or recovering or restoring their populations. Appropriate measures are reflected in targets and planned actions of this new edition of the ECP (see the first volume – Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus). Restoration of large herbivore species is a major challenge but also a priority: in many parts of the region relevant habitats are “empty” – large herbivores are hardly visible; this situation negatively affects some basic ecological processes and reduces eco-tourism potential and the corresponding potential for alternative income for the local population. For these reasons, on-going initiatives of species restoration should be supported and continued, and new programmes and projects initiated. Weak law enforcement and inadequate monitoring, determined by different factors, are probably the main root causes that need to be addressed for effective mitigation of direct threats such as poaching and habitat destruction. Acknowledgements We are grateful to the responsible governm ental organisations of all countries of the region for supporting and providing data. Our thanks also go to all our colleagues who provided inform ation via personal com m unication and to all our field supporters. References APA 2018. Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia, Report for 2018. – https://apa.gov.ge/ge/angariSebi [In Georg.]. Aiunts, K.R. & Kolomyts, E.G. (1986): Morphological index of variability in Caucasian Tur and its connection with highland clim ate. Proceedings of the Highland Geophysical Institute 64, 3-21 [In Russ.]. Akkiev, M.I. 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(1967): Tur in Kabardino-Balkaria. Kabardino-Balkarskoye Knizhnoye Izdatel’stvo, Nal’chik. [In Russ.]. Zazanashvili, N. & Bolkvadze, I. (1989): Some results of geo-botanical survey of Kizlyar winter pastures. Nature Protection in Georgia, 17, 44–54. [In Georg.]. Ziaie, H. (1997): Iran. Pp. 49-55 in: Shackleton, D.M. ed. Wild sheep and goats and their relatives. International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland and Cam bridge, UK. Su g g e s t e d cit a t io n : Weinberg, P., Askerov, E., Manvelyan, K., Gurielidze, Z., Mousavi, M., Kütükçü, A.E., Heidelberg, A. & Zazanashvili, N. (2020). Status of large herbivores in the Caucasus. Pp. 48 - 71 in Zazanashvili, N., Garforth, M. and Bitsadze, M., eds. Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, 2020 Edition: Supplementary Reports. WWF, KfW, Tbilisi. 71 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S STATUS OF BIRDS IN THE CAUCASUS Com piled by Z. J avakhishvili , K. Aghababyan b , E. Sultanovc,d , M. Tohidifar e, R. Mnatsekanovf and S. Isfendiyaroğlug a Ilia State University, Institute of Ecology, Tbilisi, Georgia; b TSE - Towards Sustainable Ecosystems NGO, Yerevan, Armenia; cBaku Engineering University, Department of Biology, Baku, Azerbaijan; d Azerbaijan Ornithological Society, Baku, Azerbaijan; eIran Bird Record Committee, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran; f WWF Russia Caucasus Branch, Krasnodar, Russia; g Istanbul-Cerrahpaşa University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Entomology and Protection, Istanbul, Turkey a Co n t e n t s : Introduction; Number of species recorded in the countries; Endemic and restricted range birds of the Caucasus; Important places for the conservation of breeding and migratory birds: Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and migration bottlenecks; Major threats to birds in the Caucasus; References; Suggested citation. In tro d u ctio n The existence of large oro-climatic barriers in the Caucasus Ecoregion such as the Greater Caucasus mountain range and Lesser Caucasus m ountain chain has created conditions in which a great diversity of landscapes has developed. Those landscapes include broadleaved and coniferous m ountain forests, m ountain steppes and open dry woodlands, subalpine and alpine m eadows, coastal, inland and highland wetlands, riparian forests and semi-deserts. This landscape diversity and the geographic position of the region at the crossroads of different bio-geographical zones support a diverse avifauna. Over 450 species of birds are recorded for the region, among them 23 globally threatened species according to the IUCN Red List (IUCN 2019): 3 Critically Endangered (CR), 5 Endangered (EN) and 15 Vulnerable (VU) (see Table 1). Number of species recorded in the countries Ar m e n ia Different sources indicate different number of bird species for Armenia: ● Adamian & Klem (1997) mention 349 species; ● Ar men ian Societ y for the Protection of Birds 31 indicates 366 species; ● Ar men ian Bird Cen sus 32- 376; and ● Avibase 33- 383. According to Birdlife International, there are 14 globally threatened species in Armenia (1 CR, 4 EN and 9 VU) together with 16 species in the Near Threatened (NT) category (BirdLife International 2019a). However, according to recent data from the country, there are 17 globally threatened species in Armenia (1 CR, 4 EN and 12 VU) (see Table 1). 96 bird species are listed in the Red Data Book of Armenia (Aghasyan & Kalashyan, 2010). http:/ / www.aspbirds.org https://www.abcc-am.org 33 https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=AM 31 32 72 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Az e r b a ija n According to different sources, the number of bird species recorded in Azerbaijan varies between 348 and 411: ● Birdlife International (2019b) reports 348 species; ● Azerbaijan Ornithological Society34 - 403 species; ● M. Patrikeev (2004) – 372; ● The Cor nell Lab of Or n ithology35– 378; ● Azerbaijan Birds.Watch36– 397; and ● Avibase 37– 411. The number of globally threatened species also varies according to the different sources. According to the Azerbaijan Ornithological Society (aos.az) and Avibase, there are 23 globally threatened species. Birdlife International (2019) lists 19 species (3 CR, 4 EN and 12 VU) together with 18 species of Near Threatened (NT) category (BirdLife International 2019b). However, according to recent data from the country, there are 21 globally threatened species (3 CR, 5 EN and 13 VU). 72 bird species are listed in the Red Data Book of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan Ornithological Society 2013). Ge o r g ia Differences in bird count exists for Georgia too: ● The Cornell Lab of Ornithology indicates 339 bird species for Georgia38; ● The Special Protected Areas for Birds in Georgia 39– 403; and ● Avibase 40- 408. According to the Avibase checklist - Georgia41, there are 21 globally threatened bird species in Georgia (2 CR, 5 EN and 14 VU) together with 21 species considered as NT (BirdLife International 2019c). However, according to recent data from the country, there are 19 globally threatened species (1 CR, 5 EN and 13 VU). 35 bird species are included in the Red List of Georgia (Decree 2014). Ir a n ( W e s t a n d Ea s t Az a r b a ija n R e g io n s a n d Gila n ) According to Birdlife International, over 360 bird species are recorded in the Caucasian part of Iran; of those, 16 species are globally threatened42 (Birdlife International 2019d). However, according to recent data, there are 20 globally threatened species (3 CR, 5 EN and 12 VU) (see Table 1). R u s s ia ( N o r t h Ca u ca s u s R e g io n ) According to the Avibase checklist, 379 bird species are recorded in the North Caucasus region (Southern Federal District). The increasing num ber of species of the avifauna of the region listed in recent decades is associated with a growing number of observers. According to V.P. Belik et al. (2016), the avifauna of the Russian Caucasus includes 402 species. The analysis of new findings and reports shows that 408 bird species are registered in the region: 273 species nest or presumably nest, 44 species are recorded during migration, 24 species over-winter in the region and 67 species are migratory (NCAVC 2017, 2018). Out of the mentioned 408 birds species, 23 species are globally threatened (3 CR, 5 EN and 15 VU). www.aos.az https://ebird.org/country/AZ?yr=all 36 https://azerbaijan.birds.watch 37 https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=AZ 38 https://ebird.org/region/GE?yr=all 39 aves.biodiversity-georgia.net 40 https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=GE 41 https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?lang=EN&region=ge&list=clements 42 Avibase checklist – Iran (West Azarbaijan, East Azarbaijan, Gilan), https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=IRwa, https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/ checklist.jsp?region=IRea, https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=IRgi 34 35 73 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Tu r k e y ( Bla ck Se a R e g io n ) There are 400 bird species recorded regularly in Turkey of which 313 species are known to breed in the country (Boyla et al., 2019). The Turkish check list exceeds 481 species and gets longer each year with an increasing number of birdwatchers. 394 species are recorded in the Black Sea Region, which roughly corresponds to the Caucasian part of Turkey. Out of these 394 bird species, 19 species are globally threatened 43 (2 CR, 5 EN and 12 VU). Table 1. The IUCN Globally Threatened Bird Species in the Caucasus (2019) Distribution by Countries 43 EN CR Iran Russia Tu rke y Birds VU Ge o rgia Scientific Name Azerbaijan # Armenia IUCN Category 15 5 3 17 21 19 20 23 19 Common Name 23 1 Anser erythropus Lesser White-fronted Goose + + + + + + + 2 Aquila heliaca Eastern Im perial Eagle + + + + + + + 3 Aquila nipalensis Steppe Eagle + + + + + + 4 Aythya ferina Com m on Pochard + + + + + + + 5 Branta ruficollis Red-breasted Goose + + + + + + + 6 Chlamydotis macqueenii Macqueen's Bustard + 7 Clanga clanga Greater Spotted Eagle + + + + + + + 8 Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck + + + + + + + 9 Emberiza rustica Rustic Bunting + + + 10 Falco cherrug Saker Falcon + + + + + + 11 Haliaeetus leucoryphus Pallas's Fish-eagle + + + + + 12 Leucogeranus leucogeranus Siberian Crane + + 13 Marmaronetta angustirostris Marbled Teal + + + + + + + 14 Melanitta fusca Velvet Scoter + + + + + + + 15 N eophron percnopterus Egyptian Vulture + + + + + + 16 Numenius tenuirostris Slender-billed Curlew + + + 17 Otis tarda Great Bustard 18 Oxyura leucocephala White-headed Duck 19 Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe + 20 Puffinus yelkouan Yelkouan Shearwater + + 21 Rissa tridactyla Black-legged Kittiwake + + 22 Streptopelia turtur European Turtle-dove + 23 Vanellus gregarius Sociable Lapwing + + + + + Avibase checklist – Turkey (Black Sea Region) https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=TRan 74 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Endemic and restricted range birds of the Caucasus En d e m ic s p e cie s All the region’s endem ic species occur in m ountain forest, subalpine and alpine zones. Subalpine and alpine habitats are important for two Caucasus endemic species - Caucasian Snowcock (Tetraogallus caucasicus) and Caucasian Grouse (Lyrurus mlokosiewicsi = Tetrao mlokosiewicsi) as well as for two restricted range species - Caucasian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus lorenzii) and Green Warbler (Phylloscopus nitidus) (BirdLife International 2019e). Caucasian Snowcock occur only on dry, steep subalpine and alpine slopes with scree and grasslands in the Greater Caucasus in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russia. Caucasian Grouse is closely associated with tim berline habitats, subalpine forests often with birch trees (Betula spp.), subalpine-alpine Rhododendron caucasicum thickets and grasslands. This species occurs in both the Greater and Lesser Caucasus m ountain ranges. The largest populations are in Georgia and Russia, with smaller populations in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran and northeastern Turkey (Sultanov et al., 2003; Sultanov, 2006; Sultanov, 2018; Isfendiyaroğlu et al., 2007). Upper mountain and subalpine forests are important breeding habitats for the Caucasian Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus lorenzii). This species was considered to be a subspecies of Mountain Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus sindianus), although later it was accepted as full species (Roselaar, 1995; Monroe, Sibley, 1993; Kirwan et al., 2006). Caucasian Chiffchaff breeds in the high mountain forests of the Greater Caucasus, most of the Lesser Caucasus and adjacent parts of north-eastern Turkey. In winter, it disperses south as far as Iraq. Mountain broadleaf forests of the Caucasus are im portant habitat for Green Warblers. The species breeds in m ountain forests dom inated by oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) and Caucasian fir (Abies nordmanniana). Green Warbler is distributed in a continuous belt on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, has a scattered distribution on south facing slopes and in the western part of the Black Sea basin, and is rare in areas with low humidity. The species winters in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. Caucasian Grouse, Zangezur Managed Nature Reserve, Armenia © A. Malkhasyan,WWF 75 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S R e s t r ict e d r a n g e s p e cie s The breeding area of Arm enian gull (Larus armenicus) extends around lakes in Arm enia, Georgia and Turkey; it is also common in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan, and some colonies occur on the lakes of middle eastern part of Turkey and in Iran (Svensson, 2009). Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) is an endangered sea duck, which is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List and has a distinct breeding population in the Caucasus region (Birdlife International 2018). This species breeds on alpine lakes of the Caucasus (Kirwan et al., 2008) and occurs rarely in Caspian Sea wetlands in Azerbaijan in winter, e.g. in Gyzylagach National Park (personal communication with E. Sultanov, 2019). It has been declared extinct in Turkey (Boyla et al., 2019). Great Rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilla) and White-winged Redstart (Phoenicurus erythrogastrus) are high mountain species with disjunctive distributions. Isolated populations breed in the Greater Caucasus and m ountains of Asia (Him alayas, Tangshan, Tibet, Altay). Caucasian populations of both species have been isolated from larger Asian populations for around 500,000 years (Tietze et al., 2013). The Caucasus is also im portant for som e other bird species with restricted range such as the m ost northern populations of Caspian Snowcock (Tetraogallus caspius), Radde's Accentor (Prunella ocularis) and significant European populations of Semi-collared Flycatcher (Ficedula semitorquata), Red-fronted Serin (Serinus pusillus) and a m arginal population of Krüper's Nuthatch (Sitta krueperi) (Aghababyan et al., 2017, BirdLife International 2019e). The Caucasus region holds significant breeding populations of some raptors, e.g., the largest breeding population of the globally Near Threatened Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in Europe (Supplementary Material 2015) and a large population of the globally Endangered Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus). The Caucasus populations of both species represent more than 10% of their global populations (Botha et al., 2017). Imperial Eagle hunts a snake, Vashlovani National Park, Georgia © V. Kochiashvili, WWF 76 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Important places for the conservation of breeding and migratory birds: Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and migration bottlenecks Existence of Im portant Bird and Biodiversity Areas 44 (IBAs) and occurrence of globally threatened species (CR, EN, VU) of the IUCN Red List are am ong the criteria applied for identifying Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the new edition of the Caucasus Ecoregional Conservation Plan (Zazanashvili et al., 2020). During mapping of KBAs alm ost all IBAs in the Caucasus Ecoregion were considered. There are 231 IBAs within the Caucasus Ecoregion boundaries, almost half of which (111) are in the Northern Caucasus. Georgia has the largest area of IBAs as a proportion of territory - 20.55%, comprised of 31 IBAs covering 14,330 km². Two large m igration routes (along the coasts of the Caspian and the Black Seas) and several sm aller ones cross the Caucasus and add to the Caucasus Ecoregion’s international im portance for biodiversity. The following paragraphs provide data for the countries of the Ecoregion. Ar m e n ia There are 18 IBAs in Armenia with a total area of 4,151 km² covering 13.95% of Armenia’s territory (BirdLife International 2019a). Major bird wintering and migration stopover places are Lake Sevan, Armash fishponds and Metsamor river system. The IBAs require revision to reflect recent changes in the IUCN Red List (e.g. the threat status of European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) has been increased (Aghababyan, 2020) while that of Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) has been decreased) and to take account of recent findings for endangered breeding species in the country, e.g. Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug) (Korepov & Aghababyan, 2020). The existing IBAs cover a significant portion of breeding ranges for several endangered species, e.g. Khosrov Reserve IBA covers all the known breeding sites of Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) (Aghababyan & Khanamirian, 2019). Az e r b a ija n There are 53 IBAs in Azerbaijan with a total area of 8,428 km² covering 9.7% of Azerbaijan’s territory (BirdLife International 2019b). The western Caspian flyway is one of the largest in the region: here at the Besh Barmag bottleneck (situated 80 km north from Baku at the foothills of the Greater Caucasus), an estimated 1.24–1.51 million migrants passed through in autumn 2011 and a further 0.65–0.82 million in spring 2012, elevating this bottleneck to international importance (Heiss, 2016). Azerbaijan has the main waterbird wintering and migration stopover places in the Western Palearctic. Some of the largest waterbird wintering sites in Azerbaijan are Kyzylagach and lake Sarysu (about 500,000 wintering waterbirds in the 1990s-2000s), Absheron-Gobustan seacoast (up to 200,000 waterbirds), Aggyol and Mahmudchala wetlands (up to 100,000 wintering waterbirds), Kura estuary (up to 75,000 waterbirds) (Azerbaijan Ornithological Society, 2013; Sultanov, 2013, 2019). The population of Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Azerbaijan - about 120 pairs - is estimated to be the largest in Europe (without Russia) and the Caucasus (Sultanov et al., 2011). An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally important for the conservation of bird populations (see https://www.birdlife.org/worldwide/programme-additional-info/important-bird-and-biodiversity-areas-ibas). 44 77 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Ge o r g ia There are 31 IBAs in Georgia with a total area of 14,330 km² covering 20.55 % of Georgia`s territory (BirdLife International 2019c). One of the world’s largest raptor m igration bottlenecks is located near Batum i, in the southwest of Georgia. The area is known as the Batum i raptor m igration bottleneck or Eastern Black Sea Migration Bottleneck. Over one million raptors of about 35 species migrate through this bottleneck every autumn (Galvez et al., 2005; Wehrmann et al., 2019). The coastal wetlands of the Kolkheti lowlands are very im portant for wintering waterbirds. Over 200,000 waterfowl (Anseriformes) winter here annually. Georgian territorial waters of the Black Sea are the most significant wintering area for the Black Sea Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) (Chashchin, 1996). The large concentration of fish attracts wintering Charadriiforms and Podicipediformes in significant numbers. Over 200,000 Gulls (predominantly Larus cachinnans and Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and up to 100,000 Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) winter in the estuaries of rivers Enguri, Rioni, Supsa and Chorokhi. Those sites are also im portant for wintering of vulnerable Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan): flocks of up to 4,000 birds are recorded every year, feeding on schools of the Black Sea Anchovy (Javakhishvili et al., 2014). Ir a n There are eight IBAs within the territory of the Iranian Caucasus: Arasbaran Protected Area, Kiam aki, Akh Gol, Dasht-e-Moghan, Lavandavil Wildlife Refuges, Lisar Protected Area, Anzali Mordab Complex and Bandar Kiashar Lagoon, and Mouth of Sefid Rud. IBA Arasbaran Protected Area is important for conservation of the most south-eastern population of Caucasian Grouse. These four sites - Anzali Mordab complex, Bandar Kiashar lagoon, and mouth of Sefid Rud and Dasht-e-Moghan - are important for migratory waterbirds (BirdLife International 2019d). R u s s ia There are 111 IBAs within the territory of North Caucasus with a total area of 33,034 km². 32 IBAs of highest conservation importance were identified and proposed to the Russian Government as potential protected areas (Lyubimova et al., 2009). IBAs in North Caucasus support the conservation of habitats and populations of various groups of birds inhabiting steppe, wetlands, forest and m ountain ecosystem s. Tu r k e y There are 10 IBAs within the territory of Turkish Caucasus: Eastern Black Sea, Karchal mountains, Aygir Lake, Aktash Lake, Ardahan Forest, Childir Lake, Kars Plain, Sarikam ish Forest, Igdir Plain and Yalnizcham Mountains. Coastal KBAs are important for globally significant congregations of wintering waterfowl (Eken et al., 2006) and they also host significant numbers of Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) (Ortega and Isfendiyaroglu, 2016). The Borchkha raptor m igration bottleneck is im portant for m igratory raptors of the western Palearctic. More than 200,000 raptors of 31 species migrate through Borchkha valley every year (Zalles and Bildstein, 2000). These figures are underrepresented due to lack of observer/researcher activities. The results of the Batumi raptor count highlight the significance of the Borchkha bottleneck. 78 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Griffon and Black Vultures, Vashlovani National Park, Georgia © V. Kochiashvili, WWF Major threats to birds in the Caucasus Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation, and illegal hunting are the major threats to populations of breeding birds in the Caucasus. As stated in FAO, UNECE 2019: in the South Caucasus countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia (as well as Central Asian countries) - “there are strong anthropogenic pressures on the forests, notably from fuelwood dem and for local com m unities, leading to illegal/ excessive logging, as well as from overgrazing, leading to forest degradation, and from irrigation and hydroelectric schem es along the rivers, leading to loss of forest cover.” Heavy grazing pressure by domestic livestock affects grassland ecosystems in the high mountains ( summer pastures), and steppes and sem ideserts in the lowlands (winter pastures). In the most water-rich parts of the Caucasus, large, medium and small hydropower construction is causing major changes in river flow regimes. In addition, unsustainable water management practices are causing drying or disappearing of som e wetlands. Poaching and egg robbery is still a significant problem for hunted species and raptors. Also, pollution from m ining is a problem in certain countries of the Caucasus. 79 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S References NCAVC 2017. Activity of the North Caucasus Avifaunistic Committee in 2017. Pp. 123-131 in Strepet: Fauna, ecology and protection of birds of South Palearctic. Vol. 15 (2), Rostov-on-Don. [In Russ.]. NCAVC 2018. Activity of the North Caucasus Avifaunistic Committee in 2018. Pp. 123-128 in Strepet: Fauna, ecology and protection of birds of South Palearctic. Vol. 16 (1-2), Rostov-on-Don. [In Russ.]. Adamian, M. & Klem, D. (1997): A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia. Am erican University of Arm enia, Yerevan. Aghababyan K. (2020): Assessment of the state of European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur Linnaeus, 1758 in Arm enia. 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Pp. 219-225 in Palomera, I. & Rubies, P., eds. SCI. MAR., 60 (Supl. 2). Decree 2014. Decree of the Government of Georgia on Adoption of Georgian “Red List”. [In Georg.]. – https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/2256983?publication=0 80 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Sakartvelos sakanondeblo matsne Publisher, Tbilisi. Downloaded 21/08/2018. Eken G., Bozdoğan M., İsfendiyaroğlu S., Kılıç D.T., ve Lise Y. (Editors) 2006. Key Biodiversity Areas of Turkey, Kitap Publishing, İstanbul, 1200 pg (in Turkish) Eken, G., Isfendiyaroğlu, S., Yeniyurt, C., Erkol, I.L., Karataş, A., Ataol, M. (2016): Selection and conservation status of Key Biodiversity Areas in Turkey: Applying the “Key Biodiversity Areas” approach at the national scale. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management, 12 (3), 181-190. FAO, UNECE 2019. State of forests of the Caucasus and Central Asia. http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/ timber/publications/sp-47-soccaf-en.pdf Galvez, R., Gavashelishvili ,A., Javakhishvili, Z. (2005): Raptors and Owls of Georgia. GCCW and Buneba print publishing, Tbilisi. Heiss, M. (2016): Migratory behaviour of bird species occurring in critical numbers at Besh Barmag bottleneck in Azerbaijan. Bird Conservation International, 26 (2), 243-255. https://doi.org/10.1017/ S095927091500009X Isfendiyaroğlu, S., Welch, G., Ataol, M. (2007): The Caucasian black grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi in Turkey: recent survey results and conservation recom m endations. Wildl. Biol. 13 (Suppl. 1), 13-20. IUCN 2019, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2019-3. <https://www.iucnredlist.org> Javakhishvili, Z., Paposhvili, N., Ninua, L., Dekanoidze, D., Kerdikoshvili, N., Mamuchadze, J. (2014): Wintering waterfowl m onitoring in the Kolkheti National Park. Unpublished report. Ilia State University & Agency of protected Areas, Tbilisi. [in Georg.]. Kirwan, G.M., Boyla, K. A., Castell, P., Demirci, B., Özen, M., Welch, H., Marlow, T. (2008): Birds of Turkey. Christopher Helm , London. Korepov M., Aghababyan K. (2020): Breeding of Saker Falcon Falco cherrug in Armenia. Sandgrouse, 42, 118-121. Lyubimova, K., Bukreev, S., Sviridova, T. & Dzhamirzoev, D. (2009): Site Network for Birds and Wetlands: Inventory, Protection and Community Management. Pp. 122-124 in Zazanashvili, N. & Mallon, D., eds. Status and Protection of Globally Threatened Species in the Caucasus. CEPF, WWF, Tbilisi. Monroe, Jr., B.L. & Sibley, C.G. (1993): A World Checklist of Birds. Yale University Press, New Haven and London. Ortega, M.P., Isfendiyaroğlu, S. (2016): Predicting foraging hotspots for Yelkouan Shearwater in the Black Sea. Deep Sea Research Part II Topical Studies in Oceanography 07/2016; DOI:10.1016/j. dsr2.2016.07.007 Patrikeev, M. (2004): The Birds of Azerbaijan. Pensoft Publishers. Pensoft Series Faunistica vol. 38. Red Book of Armenia 2010. - http://www.mnp.am/red_book_fauna/ Roselaar, C.S. (1995): Songbirds of Turkey: Atlas of Biodiversity of Turkish Passerine Birds. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Sultanov, E. (2006): Surveys in Caucasian Black Grouse habitats in Azerbaijan. Pp. 25-28 in Grouse News, Newsletter of the WPA/BirdLife/IUCN/SSC Grouse Specialist Group, 31. Sultanov, E.H., Kerimov, T.A., Mammadov, A.F., Samadov, E.S., Isayev, S.A., Jabrailli, G.N. (2011): [Imperial Eagle, Egyption V ulture and Lesser Kestrel in Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan Tusi, 74 p.] in Azerbaijani. Sultanov, E. (2013): Main results of recent winter counts of waterbirds and main threats for its existence in Azerbaijan. BIRD NUMBERS 2013. XIX conference of the European Bird Census Council, CLUJ Romania 17-21 Sept. 2013. Sultanov, E. (2018): Modern State of Caucasian Black Grouse in Azerbaijan. GROUSE NEWS 56. December 2018. Newsletter of the Grouse Group of the IUCN-SSC Galliformes Specialist Group Chair Grouse Group within the IUCN-SSC Galliformes Specialist Group Editorial Board. Abstracts from 14th International Grouse Symposium, Logan, Utah, USA 24-28 September 2018, p.38. 81 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Sultanov, E. (2019): Biodiversity and nature conservation importance of Caspian wetlands in Azerbaijan. Pp. 5-8 in Natural Ecosystems of the Caspain Region: the past, the present and the future. Proceedings of the Scientific Conference dedicated to 100-year Anniversary of Astrakhan State Reserve. Ministry of Nat. Res. and Ecol. of Rus. Fed., FGBU “Astrakhan State Reserve”. Sultanov, E., Karimov, T., Klaus, S. & Etsold, J. 2003: Qafqaz tetrasi. - Azerbaijan Ornithological Society, Baku. [in Az. with Engl. sum.]. Supplementary Material 2015. Gypaetus barbatus (Bearded Vulture). European Red List of Birds, Supplem entary Material. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Birdlife International. – http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/erlob/supplementarypdfs/22695174_gypaetus_ barbatus.pdf Svensson, L. (2009): Birds of Britain and Europe. Collins Bird Guide, Second Edition. Harper Collins Publishers Ltd., London. Tietze, D., Packert, M., Martens, J., Lehmann, H., Sun, Y. (2013): Complete phylogeny and historical biogeography of true rosefinches (Aves: Carpodacus). Zool J Linn Soc, 169, 215–234. Wehrmann, J., de Boer, F., Benjumea, R., Cavaillès, S., Engelen, D., Jansen, J., Verhelst, B., Vansteelant, W. M. G. (2019): Batumi Raptor Count: autumn raptor migration count data from the Batumi Bottleneck, Republic of Georgia. Zookeys 836, 135-157. Zalles, J. I. & Bildstein, K.L., eds. (2000): Raptor Watch: A global directory of raptor migration sites. Cam bridge, UK: Birdlife international; and Kem pton Pa, USA: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary (Birdlife Conservation Series No.9). Zazanashvili, N., Sanadiradze, G., Garforth, M., Bitsadze, M., Manvelyan, K., Askerov, E., Mousavi, M., Krever, V., Shmunk, V., Kalem, S. and Devranoğlu Tavsel, S., eds. (2020). Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus: 2020 Edition. WWF, KfW, Tbilisi. Zazanashvili, N., Garforth, M., Jungius, H., Gamkrelidze, T., Montalvo, C., eds. (2013): Ecoregion Conservation Plan for the Caucasus. 2012 revised and updated edition. WWF, KfW, BMZ, Tbilisi. Su g g e s t e d cit a t io n : Javakhishvili Z., Aghababyan K., Sultanov E., Tohidifare M., Mnatsekanov, R. & Isfendiyaroğlu, S. (2020). Status of birds in the Caucasus. Pp. 72 - 82 in Zazanashvili, N., Garforth, M. and Bitsadze, M., eds. Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, 2020 Edition: Supplementary Reports. WWF, KfW, Tbilisi. 82 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF THE CAUCASUS Com piled by B.S. Tuniyev , D. Tarkhnishvili , A.L. Aghasyan c, S.N. Bunyatova d , K. Kam alie, S.M. Mirghazanfarif, C.V. Tok g and K. Çiçek h a b Federal State Institution Sochi National Park, Sochi, Russian Federation; b Ilia State University, Institute of Ecology, Tbilisi, Georgia; cScientific Centre for Zoology and Hydro-ecology, Yerevan, Armenia; d Institute of Zoology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan; eUniversity of Tehran, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Faculty of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Sciences, Islamic Republic of Iran; f Iranian Herpetological Studies Institute (IHSI), Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; g Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Çanakkale, Turkey; h Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zoology Section, Izmir, Turkey a Co n t e n t s : Introduction; The Number of amphibian and reptile species in the Caucasus; Globally and regionally threatened species in the Caucasus; Main threats and possible conservation actions; Conclusions; References; Suggested citation. In tro d u ctio n In the first edition of the Ecoregion Conservation Plan for the Caucasus – ECP (Williams et al., 2006) – there were listed 77 species of reptiles for the Caucasus, from which 28 are endemics to the region. The most interesting reptiles are endem ic Caucasian vipers (Pelias spp.) and rock lizards (Darevskia spp.). Many of these species occupy geographical ranges of only a few thousand square kilometres. The genus Darevskia from the Family of true lizards are particularly diverse. Out of the 35 known species in the world, 25 occur in the Caucasus and 23 are regional endemics. Fourteen am phibian species were known in the Caucasus; four of them endem ic to the Region. The Caucasian Salam ander (Mertensiella caucasica), one of the oldest relicts of the Caucasus, is found only in the western part of Lesser Caucasus in Georgia and Turkey; this form al species is com prised of two deeply divergent lineages, de facto undescribed species, one of which occurs only in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park in Georgia (Tarkhnishvili et al., 2000; Tarkhnishvili & Kaya, 2009). Caucasian Parsley Frog (Pelodytes caucasicus) and Colchic Toad (Bufo verrucosissimus) live in m ountain forests of the Western Caucasus and separately on the upperm ost part of Stavropol Upland in the Northern Caucasus. All three species, as well as endem ic Caucasian m ountain vipers, are included in the IUCN Red List as globally threatened.45 Since 2001-2005, there have been a number of changes in taxonomic nomenclature in the Ecoregion due to new species’ and subspecies’ descriptions, re-naming, findings of species not previously known for the region (such as the introduced Phoenicolacerta laevis), new molecular-genetic studies, surveys in poorly known areas (mainly in high mountains), and inclusion of earlier forgotten forms of amphibians and reptiles into the species list. The list of amphibians and reptiles was not updated during the ECP’s first revision and updating in 2012 and it could be useful to do it now: e.g. a description of the high level of diversity of shield-headed vipers (Pelias) in the Caucasus Ecoregion is essential to establish the conservation status of rare narrow-ranged species, part of which are included in the IUCN Red list as globally threatened and used to identify Key Biodiversity Areas of the Caucasus. While it is im portant to preserve the biodiversity of all the snakes of the Caucasus Ecoregion, from a global prespective the m ain task and responsibility is to conserve the taxa endem ic 45 Later, Pelodytes caucasicus and Bufo verrucosissimus have been downlisted to NT – Near Threatened. 83 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S to the Caucasus, which, with the exception of Pelias renardi, include all other shield-headed vipers that occur in the region. In other words, the Caucasus plays a key role in the conservation of the vast number of species of shield-headed vipers (Tuniyev, 2016). Substantial progress has been m ade in the research of rock lizards (Darevskia). This group probably has the highest level of speciation (related to the overall occupied area) am ong lizards in the tem perate clim ate zone. These lizards are particularly diverse and have a high level of local endem ism ; they include seven parthenogenetic taxa and are a perfect group for studying the process of speciation in m ountain habitats. Two relict am phibians, Caucasian Salam ander and Caucasian Parsley Frog, are thought to have been isolated in the west of the Caucasus ecoregion since the Miocene or even earlier and are therefore living fossils deserving special attention by evolutionary biologists. Sim ilarly, two species of relict salam anders of the genus Paradactylodon are found in the north of Iran. The Number of amphibian and reptile species in the Caucasus In recent decades, m ultiple changes have been m ade to nam es of genera and species of am phibians and reptiles, and new taxa have been described. At the present time, there are 102 formally described species of reptile including 33 endemic species and 75 subspecies, and 16 species of amphibian with 6 endemic species and 12 subspecies. There are no endemic species of turtle or tortoise, but there are 7 endemic subspecies which occur only in the Caucasus Ecoregion. As mentioned above, in ECP 2006, from the 35 known species of the genus Darevskia worldwide, 26 species occur in the Caucasus and 18 of them are endemic to the Ecoregion. The Caucasus Ecoregion is the main centre of taxonomical diversity of rock lizards of the genus Darevskia Arribas, 1997. Currently scientists recognise 21 bisexual species (36 subspecies) and four parthenogenetic species within the Caucasus Ecoregion.46 In addition, one endemic species and one endemic subspecies of toad-headed agamas (Phrynocephalus); 1 endemic species and 1 endemic subspecies of runners (Eremias), and 5 endemic subspecies of green lizards (Lacerta) occur in the Caucasus. Caucasian Toad © B. Tuniyev, Sochi National Park, Russia D. defilippi, which was previously considered to be a subspecies of D. raddei, is now regarded as one of a group of four cryptic species, which also includes D. chlorogaster (Ahmadzadeh et al., 2013). 46 84 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS The known Caucasian ophidiofauna belongs to 4 families, 19 genera and 46 species (52 subspecies). Colubrid fauna consists of 3 subfamilies: Natricinae with 1 genus (Natrix) and 3 species and Сolubrinae with 11 genera and 23 species and Psammophiinae.47 There are 5 genera of the family Viperidae in the fauna of the Caucasus belonging to two subfam ilies: Crotalinae (containing the genus Gloydius) and Viperidae (containing the genera Macrovipera, Pelias, Montivipera and Vipera sensu stricto). Nowadays, there are estimated to be 12 endemic species (15 subspecies) of snakes. From the 18 known shield-headed vipers in the world, 13 species are found in the Caucasus Ecoregion, 9 of which occur only in the Caucasus. Endemic species richness is particularly high in the western Lesser Caucasus in Georgia and Turkey, in the western Greater Caucasus in Georgia and Russia, and in the southwestern Caspian area in Iran and Azerbaijan. A xeric refugium occurs in the valley of the Ara(k)s river in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran. The endemic amphibian and reptile species of the Caucasus region are listed in Table 1. Table 1. List of amphibian and reptile species endemic to the Caucasus # Common name Latin name Distribution AMPH IBIAN S 1 Persian Salam ander Paradactylodon persicus Southern Caspian area, Iran 2 Caucasian Salam ander Mertensiella caucasica W Lesser Caucasus (Georgia, Turkey) 3 Lantz’s Sm ooth Newt Lissotriton lantzi Russia, Georgia, probably extinct in Azerbaijan and no new conformation for N Armenia and Turkey* 4 Hyrcanian Toad Bufo eichwaldi SE Azerbaijan, Caspian Iran 5 Colchic Toad Bufo verrucosissimus Mostly W. Caucasus (Georgia, Turkey, Russia), Azerbaijan, Armenia (uncertain) 6 Caucasian Parsley Frog Pelodytes caucasicus Russia, Georgia, Turkey, and NE Azerbaijan** REPTILES Ag a m a s 7 Transcaucasian Toad Agam a Phrynocephalus horvathi Armenia, Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan), Turkey Liz a r d s 47 8 Aghasyan’s Rock Lizard Darevskia aghasyani Arm enia 9 Alpine Rock Lizard Darevskia alpina W Caucasus (Russia, Georgia) 10 Brauner’s Rock Lizard Darevskia brauneri Russia, Georgia 11 Caucasian Rock Lizard Darevskia caucasica Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan 12 Clark’s Rock Lizard Darevskia clarkorum Turkey 13 Dagestan Rock Lizard Darevskia daghestanica Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan 14 Artwin, or Derjugin’s Lizard Darevskia derjugini Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey 15 Charnali Rock Lizard Darevskia dryada SW Georgia 16 Hybrid, or Confuse Rock Lizard Darevskia mixta Georgia Characteristics of these genera and their species are provided in Böhme 1993, 1999. 85 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S # Common name Latin name Distribution Liz a r d s 17 Red-bellied Rock Lizard Darevskia parvula Georgia, Turkey 18 Kura River Rock Lizard Darevskia portschinskii Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan 19 True Rock Lizard Darevskia saxicola Russia 20 Szczerbak’s Rock Lizard Darevskia szczerbaki Russia 21 Arm enian Rock Lizard Darevskia armeniaca Arm enia, Georgia, Turkey 22 Dahl’s Rock Lizard Darevskia dahli Arm enia, Georgia 23 Rostom bekov’s Rock Lizard Darevskia rostombekovi Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan 24 White-bellied Rock Lizard Darevskia unisexualis Arm enia, Turkey 25 Uzzell’s Rock Lizard Darevskia uzzelli Turkey 26 Transcaucasian Racerunner Eremias pleskei Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran Sn a k e s 27 Large-headed or Colchic Water Snake Natrix megalocephala*** Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey 28 Persian Ratsnake Zamenis persicus Azerbaijan, Iran 29 Satunin’s Black-headed Dwart Snake Rhynchocalamus satunini Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan (Nakhichevan), Iran 30 Darevsky’s Viper Pelias darevskii Arm enia, Georgia, Turkey 31 Dinnik's Viper Pelias dinniki Russia, Georgia 32 Kaznakov’s or Caucasian Viper Pelias kaznakovi Russia, Georgia, Turkey 33 Lotiev's Viper Pelias lotievi Russia, NE Azerbaijan 34 Magnificent, or Relic Viper Pelias magnifica Russia 35 Olgun’s Viper Pelias olguni Turkey, Georgia (Mt. Gum bati) 36 Orlov’s Viper Pelias orlovi Russia 37 Black Sea Viper Pelias pontica Turkey and probably Georgia 38 Shem akha Steppe Viper Pelias shemakhensis NW Azerbaijan, E Georgia 39 Caucasian Pit Viper Gloydius caucasicus NW Iran, SE Azerbaijan No t e s : *for Turkey see Wielstra, Bozkurt, Olgun, 2015; **see Ganiev, Gasimova, 2012; Gasimova, 2013; ***controversial species according to Venchi and Sindaco, 2006; Kindler et al., 2013 and some others that conducted revision of Natrix based on the molecular genetic studies: Natrix megalocephala is with the synonym of Natrix natrixscutata. 86 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Globally and regionally threatened species in the Caucasus Of the 117 species of amphibians and reptiles (16 extant species of amphibians and 101 species of reptiles) that occur in the Caucasus, 108 have been assessed for extinction risk and included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Twenty-three species (24 subspecies, 21.3%) were assessed as globally threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered). One species is categorized as Data Deficient (DD) and 13 as Near Threatened (NT) (Table 2). Seventy-one species (65.7%) belong to the category Least Concern (LC). Nine species (7.7%) are still not assessed because they have been described only recently. In addition, assessm ents do not exist for alm ost all subspecies, with the exception of Testudo graeca nikolskii (European Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group 1996). Most species show a declining population trend. Darevsky’s Viper, Mount Sevsar, Armenia © B. Tuniyev, Sochi National Park, Russia In the Caucasus Ecoregion, as in m any other regions worldwide, conservation of am phibians and reptiles is reasonably effective in Nature Reserves and National Parks but is perfunctory in lower-level protected areas and unprotected natural landscapes. Many landscapes and habitats that are critically im portant for herpetofauna are underrepresented in the Ecoregion’s protected areas’ system s. In the North Caucasus, for exam ple, underrepresented habitats include Black Sea coastal habitats, remnant pristine steppe and meadow-steppe in the western and central parts, unique dry steppe and sandy habitats in the eastern part, sub-montane landscapes in the J urassic depression between the Rocky and Side ranges of the Greater Caucasus 48, and sub-montane and m aritim e habitats in Dagestan. Generally, protected areas with stricter protection are lacking in nearly the whole North Caucasus at lower elevations (up to 1.200 m a.s.l.) (Krokhmal, Tuniyev, 2003; Tuniyev, 2008). The geomorphological structure of the Greater Caucasus is quite complicated. It consists of three parallel ranges (Main, Side and Rocky) and many perpendicular branches. The Main or Watershed Range of the Greater Caucasus is the Range that forms the watershed between the north-flowing and south-flowing waters belonging to the Black Sea’s (in the western part) and the Caspian Sea’s (in the eastern part) catchment basins. The Side Range is located to the north of and close to the Main Range; the highest points of the Greater Caucasus – Mount Elbrus (5,642 m), Kazbegi peak and some others – are situated on the Side Range. The Rocky Range is the final Range to the north and the lowest of the three. 48 87 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Table 2. The IUCN globally threatened and near threatened amphibian and reptile species in the Caucasus (2019) # Common name Latin name CR EN VU NT Ref. DD AMPH IBIAN S 1 Persian Mountain Salam ander Paradactylodon persicus 2 Caucasian Salam ander Mertensiella caucasica 3 Banded Newt Ommatotriton ophryticus 4 Hyrcanian Toad Bufo eichwaldi 5 Colchis Toad Bufo verrucosissimus + Tuniyev et al., 2009a 6 Caucasian Parsley Frog Pelodytes caucasicus + Kaya et al., 2009b + Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996 + Papenfuss et al., 2009 + Kaya et al., 2009a + Olgun et al., 2009 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2012 + REPTILES 7 European Pond or Swam p Turtle Emys orbicularis 8 Mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoise Testudo graeca 9 Transcaucasian Toad Agam a Phrynocephalus horvathi 10 Persian Toad Agam a Phrynocephalus persicus + Anderson et al., 2009 11 Alpine Rock Lizard Darevskia alpina + Tuniyev et al., 2009b 12 Clark’s Rock Lizard Darevskia clarkorum 13 Artwin, or Derjugin’s Rock Lizard Darevskia derjugini 14 Charnali Rock Lizard Darevskia dryada 15 Hybrid, or Confuse Rock Lizard Darevskia mixta + Tuniyev et al., 2009f 16 Dahl’s Rock Lizard Darevskia dahli + Agasyan & Ananjeva, 2009a 17 Rostom bekow’s Rock Lizard Darevskia rostombekovi 18 White-bellied Rock Lizard Darevskia unisexualis 19 Uzzell’s Rock Lizard Darevskia uzzelli 20 Brandt’s Persian Lizard Iranolacerta brandti 21 Transcaucasian Racerunner Eremias pleskei 22 Large-headed or Colchic Water Snake Natrix megalocephala + Tuniyev et al., 2009i 23 White-horned Mountain Viper Montivipera albicornuta + Nilson, 2009 24 Arm enian or Radde's Viper Montivipera raddei 25 Wagner's Viper Montivipera wagneri 88 + Dijk et al., 2004 + Ananjeva & Agasyan, 2009 + Tuniyev et al., 2009c + Tuniyev et al., 2009d + Tuniyev et al., 2009e + Agasyan & Ananjeva, 2009b + Agasyan & Ananjeva, 2009c + Akarsu et al., 2009 + + Tuniyev et al., 2009h + + Tuniyev et al., 2009g Nilson et al., 2009a Kaska et al., 2009 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 26 Turkish Viper Pelias barani + 27 Darevsky’s Viper Pelias darevskii 28 Dinnik's Viper Pelias dinniki + Tuniyev et al., 2009k 29 Iranian Mountainsteppe Viper Pelias ebneri + Nilson&Sharifi, 2009 30 Arm enian Steppe Viper Pelias*eriwanensis + Tuniyev et al., 2009l 31 Kaznakov’s or Caucasian Viper Pelias kaznakovi 32 Lotiev's Viper Pelias lotievi 33 Magnificent (or Relic) Viper Pelias magnifica 34 Orlov’s Viper Pelias orlovi + Tuniyev et al., 2009p 35 Black Sea Viper Pelias pontica + Nilson et al., 2009b 36 Eastern Steppe Viper Pelias renardi 37 Transcaucasian Longnosed Viper Vipera transcaucasiana + Tok et al., 2009 Tuniyev et al., 2009j + Tuniyev et al., 2009m + + Tuniyev et al., 2009n Tuniyev et al., 2009o + Nilson et al., 2009c + Tuniyev et al., 2009q No t e : All species of genus Pelias listed above are still indicated in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as species of genus Vipera. The narrow-ranged species of rock lizards (Darevskia) and som e vipers (Pelias) strongly depend on limited areas in the Greater and the Lesser Caucasus, some of which are not protected or are insufficiently protected. Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park in Georgia hosts at least five species of rock lizard and one species of endem ic Pelias; this is a single area where the eastern species of Mertensiella caucasica group (M. sp.1 in the sense of Tarkhnishvili et al., 2000) is found. The system of protected areas of south Colchis (Machakhela, Mtirala, Kintrishi) hosts to 4 species of endemic Darevskia and one protected Pelias, as well as Caucasian Salam ander and Caucasian Parsley Frog. The status of endem ic species such as Zamenis persicus, Pelias dinniki, P. lotievi and Montivipera raddei is quite safe because substantial parts of their ranges are covered by protected areas. In contrast, several other species are barely represented in protected areas (Pelias kaznakovi, P. magnifica, P. eriwanensis, P. ebneri) or not at all (Pelias orlovi, P. pontica, Eryx miliaris nogajorum). The regionally threatened non-endemic species with a broad distribution include the snakes Pelias renardi (VU), Elaphe sauromates (LC) and Hierophis caspius (LC). The KBAs identified for current edition of the ECP consider alm ost all globally threatened species, including reptiles and am phibians; however, those three species call for special conservation attention in the Caucasus. Particular attention needs to be paid to the hotspots of snake species diversity in the Caucasus. Here, such areas containing at least 7 snake species are the Black Sea coast (excluding the Rioni Lowland), lower Çoruh (Chorokhi) basin, semi-arid depressions in the eastern North Caucasus, maritime Dagestan, Kura-Ara(k)s Lowland (aside from its deserts), Ara(k)s riverside in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the Talysh-Alborz mountains. Transboundary protected areas could strengthen preservation of amphibian and reptile fauna, e.g. in the Eastern Greater Caucasus between the neighbouring Tliarata (Russia), Lagodekhi (Georgia) and Zagatala (Azerbaijan) protected areas, as well as in other relevant parts of the Caucasus. Much more effort should be put into establishing such transboundary protected areas. The regionally/nationally threatened snake species that occur in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Russia Federation are listed in Table 3. 89 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Table 3. List of snake species included in the National Red Data Books/Lists of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia Species Armenia Azerbaijan Eryx jaculus Ge o rgia Russia + + Eryx miliaris + + Coronella austriaca Dolichophis caspius Eirenis persicus Globally Threatened +* + + E. collaris Elaphe sauromates + + E. urartica*** + + + Malpolon insignitus Natrix megalocephala + Platyceps najadum +* Rhynchocalamus satunini + Telescopus fallax + Zamenis hohenackeri + + + + + Z. longissimus + Z. persicus + Psammophis lineolatus + Gloydius caucasicus + Macrovipera lebetina Montivipera albicornuta M. raddei + Pelias darevskii + + + P. dinniki P. eriwanensis + + + + + + P. kaznakovi + + P. magnifica + + P. orlovi + + +** + P. shemakhensis P. renardi + + No t e s : * - populations of the Black Sea coast of Caucasus; ** - populations of Crimea and North Caucasus (Pre-Caucasia); *** - in volume of E. sauromares. The list is compiled according to: Red Book Armenia 2010; Red Book Azerbaijan 2013; Decree 2014; Red Book Russia 2001. 90 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Main threats and possible conservation actions The m ain threats to reptiles of Europe and Central Asia countries (ECA), according to the IUCN Red List, are agriculture, residential/ com m ercial developm ent, and biological resource use. These threats prim arily cause habitat fragmentation and loss (Visconti et al., 2018). Habitat loss threatens, in particular, relict forest species and species of steppe and semi-desert ecosystems, which are often not able to persist on agricultural and other transform ed lands. Eremias pleskei (Arm enia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran) is listed as Critically Endangered, based on a population decline of more than 80% over ten years; its natural sandy habitat has virtually disappeared due to human disturbance. For habitat “specialists” such as Phrynocephalus horvathi (Critically Endangered), which is prim arily lim ited to patches of saltwort and wormwood semi-desert and highly specific soils, habitat conversion can have a major impact. The disappearance of steppe vipers of the “ursinii-renardi” com plex from m ost of the habitats which it previously occupied in the ECA is associated with ploughing of steppes for agriculture (Tuniyev, 2016); overgrazing is also a major problem, particularly in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Significant threats include the illegal capture of commercially valuable species for the pet trade (all representatives of vipers and turtles, and some species of lizards). Snake species sffer from indiscrimate killing, which is associated with insufficient environmental awareness (Visconti et al., 2018). Invasive and other predatory species of mammals and birds are a significant threat for endemic and relict species; for example, raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a serious threat to amphibians in the Western Caucasus and Lenkoran-Talysh region. Climate change will likely play a major role in the region in the future. In the Western Caucasus, higher sum m er tem peratures and longer dry periods will reduce the habitable range of m esic Colchis reptile species (Darevskia derjugini) and lead to an increase in the num ber of Eastern Mediterranean species of snakes (Dolycophis caspius, Platicepsna jadum) on the Black Sea Coast (Tuniyev, 2012). However, so far there is no evidence of a decline in the ranges of m esic am phibians and reptiles. Tree encroachm ent and upward movements of tree lines are other impacts of climate change that could affect alpine species. To respond to these threats we have developed brief conservation concepts for different species of threatened vipers (Pelias darevskii, P. dinniki, P. eriwanensis, P. kaznakovi, P. lotievi, P. magnifica, P. orlovi, P. renardi, P. shemakhensis), as well as for Aghasyan’s Lizard (Darevskia aghasyani), the Caucasian Salam ander (Tarkhnishvili& Kaya, 2009), rock lizards of genus Darevskia, and som e other species. Conservation actions proposed in the concepts include: expansion of existing protected areas; establishing new protected areas, including transboundary protected areas; revising the internal functional zoning of certain National Parks; revising som e developm ent plans taking into consideration nature conservation needs; adding certain species to National Red Lists/ Red Data Books; im plem enting sustainable range m anagem ent approaches; perfecting legislation against illegal trapping and trade of am phibians and reptiles and enhancing law enforcem ent; regular m onitoring of habitats for the absence/ presence of a species. 91 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Caucasian Viper © B. Tuniyev, Sochi National Park, Russia Conclusions More regional and national attention and efforts are needed if we are to achieve adequate protection of rare and threatened species of amphibians and reptiles and ensure their long-term conservation in the Caucasus. While some species are quite well protected, for example the endemics Pelias darevskii, P. dinniki, P. lotievi (a significant part of the habitats of these vipers is covered by Nature reserves and National Parks), the ranges of Pelias orlovi and P. shemakhensis are not protected at all. Furtherm ore, Pelias kaznakovi, P. magnifisa, P. ebneri and P. eriwanensis are poorly represented within protected areas. The refugial areas in the south-western part of the Caucasus Region, including Western Lesser Caucasus and Black Sea m ountains in Georgia and Turkey, host a high num ber of endem ic am phibians and reptiles which require special attention. They include: the relict Caucasian Salamander, with its two de facto evolutionary species, one completely limited to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park; three other endemic amphibians; at least two endem ic vipers, Pelias kaznakovi and P. barani; seven species of endem ic rock lizards. Other im portant areas are the Western Greater Caucasus with its diversity of m ountain viper species, the valley of the Ara(k)s river with its variety of species of runners, toad lizard and sm all runner (Rhynchocalamus), and arid shrublands in the valleys of the Lori and Kura rivers where is an especially high variety of snakes and lizards adapted to a semi-arid environment. In som e areas, conservation targets cannot be achieved by national actions alone: transboundary actions through international cooperation are essential. Such areas include KBAs within the Eastern Greater Caucasus Conservation Landscape (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia), Western Lesser Caucasus Conservation Landscape (Turkey-Georgia), and South Caucasus Uplands Conservation Landscape (Armenia-Georgia, Georgia-Turkey), and are partly addressed by actions listed in the first part of ECP 2020. 92 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS References Agasyan A. &Ananjeva N.B. 2009a. 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Pipoyan , N. Mustafayevc, S. Ibrahim ovc, B. J aposhvilid , O. Sedighie, B. Levin f, A. Pashkovg and D. Turan h a a b Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany; b Pedagogical State University after Kh. Abovyan, Yerevan, Armenia; cInstitute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan; d Ilia State University, Institute of Zoology, Tbilisi, Georgia; e Department of Environment, Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran; f Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters of Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Russia; g Azov-Black Sea Branch of Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, Rostov-na-donu, Russia; h Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey Co n t e n t s : Introduction; Number of freshwater fish and lamprey species in the Caucasus; Endemic freshwater fish and lamprey species of the Caucasus; Number of species recorded in the countries; Globally threatened species of freshwater fish and lampreys in the Caucasus; Important places for the conservation of freshwater fish in the Caucasus Ecoregion; Main threats and possible conservation actions; List of the publications used for preparation of the review; Suggested citation. In tro d u ctio n All together 162 species of freshwater fish and four species of lampreys are known from the Caucasus Ecoregion, of which 51 are endemic and 11 alien to the region. The fauna is biogeographically close to the adjacent faunas of the Caspian and Black Seas and m any species occur beyond the Caucasus or are closely related to species outside of the Caucasus. The Caucasus represents a regional centre of endemism for freshwater fish. Remarkably diverse are the fishes of the Kura and Ara(k)s rivers with 16 endemic species and the Kuban, with eight endem ic species. An im portant single hotspot is the upper Kura in the area of Ardahan (Turkey) where a very locally endem ic loach (Oxynoemacheilus cyri) co-occurs with an endemic genus and species of freshwater fish (Leucalburnus satunini). Since 2000 the fish fauna of the Ecoregion is much better understood due to a revolution in molecular methods of identification and a strongly increased engagement in the exploration of fish diversity in the Caucasus and in adjacent Europe, Iran and Turkey. However, not all taxonomic challenges have been resolved; new species will be recorded in the future and others m ight be excluded from the list due to taxonom ic changes. The conservation status of Caucasian freshwater fish and lampreys has been only incompletely assessed but the region holds major conservation responsibilities. On the forefront of fish conservation have always been sturgeons which spawn in rivers flowing to the Black and Caspian Seas. Sturgeons are still poached and sold in the Caucasus. Although all sturgeons are protected by national legislation, there is a problem of law enforcem ent. The actual situation of sturgeons in the Caucasus rem ains unclear as inform ation about their status is contradictory. Sturgeons still spawn in the Rioni river in Georgia and are believed to spawn in the Kura river in Azerbaijan and in the Sefid river in Iran. Other threatened or endemic species in the region are generally ignored when it comes to the construction of hydropower plants or other modifications of rivers. The exploitation of rivers for hydropower is now a m assive threat even for protected areas and it harm s the region’s biodiversity resources considerably. 97 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Freshwater fish and lamprey species in the Caucasus There are four species of lam prey in the Caucasus, one of them (Lampetra ninae) endem ic to the regions of the Black Sea coastal stream s. The Caspian lam prey (Caspiomyzon wagneri) is widespread in the Caspian Sea basin, and the Turkish brook lam prey (L. lanceolate) is found at a few sites in northern Anatolia. There is also a lamprey in the Kuban river, which is usually identified as Eudontomyzon mariae. This species is in a need of taxonomic re-assessment and might also represent an endemic species. Most recognised from the overall 162 species of freshwater fish and four species of lampreys in the Caucasus are sturgeons (Acipenseridae). Once, seven out of nine European sturgeons species spawned in the Caucasus region, while only one of them had its global stronghold in the region (Acipenser persicus), others preferring larger rivers in the northern Black and Caspian Sea basins for reproduction. Other groups of anadromous fish species are represented by shads (Clupeidae) and trouts (Salmonidae); they receive much attention due to the interests in commercial (shads) and recreational fisheries (trouts). Indeed, the diversity of shads and trouts in the Caucasus and all over the Black and Caspian Sea basins is very poorly understood. Previous morphology-based hypotheses on shad and trout diversity are strongly challenged by m olecular studies. Speciation events had been suggested to be very recent for trouts in the region. Shads might represent a species flock of very recent origin and future studies are urgently needed to understand the species and evolutionary processes within these groups. The largest species diversity in freshwater fish in the Caucasus is within the order Cypriniformes, where eight families hold most of the Caucasus freshwater fish biodiversity: Acheilognathidae (2 species), Cobitidae (10 species), Cyprinidae (16 species), Gobionidae (11 species), Leuciscidae (38 species), Nemacheilidae (9 species), Tincidae (1 species) and Xenocyprididae (1 species); these families are the most important building blocks of Caucasus freshwater fish diversity in terms of their contribution to fish biomass and functional role in river ecosystems. Still there are some taxonomic issues to be clarified, especially in the family Nemacheilidae and Leuciscidae, but generally the fauna is well understood and most species of freshwater fish are known and recognised. Minor fish families represented in the Caucasus are Anguillidae (1 species), Atherinidae (1 species), Esocidae (1 species), Gasterosteidae (2 species), Lotidae (1 species), Moronidae (1 species), Mugilidae (6 species), Percidae (6 species), Siluridae (1 species) and Syngnathidae (2 species); none of these families include regionally endemic species. In the Caucasus, five fish families are composed of only alien species: Adrianichthyidae (1 species), Coregonidae (2 species), Ictaluridae (1 species), Poeciliidae (1 species) and Xenocyprididae (1 species). Two other fish families should be mentioned. These are gobies Gobiidae and Gobionellidae, which are an important component of most freshwater and coastal fish communities in the Caucasus. One alien and 25 native species of gobies are known, five of them endemic to the region. Endemic freshwater fish and lamprey species of the Caucasus There are all together 51 species of freshwater fish and one species of lampreys (Lampetra ninae) endem ic to the Caucasus (Table 1). The validity of Oxynoemacheilus lenkoranensis is doubtful. Besides, the generic position of two species - Pseudophoxinus atropatenus and P. sojuchbulagi - has been recently changed back to Rutilus and they will be referred to in future as Rutilus atropatenus and R. sojuchbulagi. The given report considers these species as they are currently referred to in the IUCN Red List - Pseudophoxinus atropatenus and P. sojuchbulagi. 98 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Table 1. List of Freshwater Fish and Lamprey Species Endemic to the Caucasus Family Species Family Species Acheilognathidae Rhodeus colchicus Gobionidae Romanogobio pentatrichus Clupeidae Clupeonella abrau Gobionidae Romanogobio parvus Cobitidae Cobitis derzhavini Leuciscidae Alburnoides eichwaldii Cobitidae Cobitis satunini Leuciscidae Alburnoides fasciatus Cobitidae Sabanejewia aurata Leuciscidae Alburnoides gmelini Cobitidae Sabanejewia caucasica Leuciscidae Alburnoides kubanicus Cobitidae Sabanejewia caspica Leuciscidae Chondrostoma colchicum Cobitidae Sabanejewia kubanica Leuciscidae Chondrostoma cyri Cyprinidae Barbus ciscaucasicus Leuciscidae Chondrostoma kubanicum Cyprinidae Barbus kubanicus Leuciscidae Chondrostoma oxyrhynchum Cyprinidae Barbus rionicus Leuciscidae Leucalburnus satunini Cyprinidae Capoeta banarescui Leuciscidae Petroleuciscus aphipsi Cyprinidae Capoeta capoeta Leuciscidae Phoxinus colchicus Cyprinidae Capoeta ekmekciae Leuciscidae Pseudophoxinus atropatenus Cyprinidae Capoeta kaput Leuciscidae Pseudophoxinus sojuchbulagi Gobiidae Ponticola constructor Leuciscidae Squalius agdamicus Gobiidae Ponticola cyrius Leuciscidae Squalius orientalis Gobiidae Ponticola iranicus Leuciscidae Squalius turcicus Gobiidae Ponticola rizensis Nem acheilidae Oxynoemacheilus brandtii Gobiidae Ponticola turani Nem acheilidae Oxynoemacheilus cyri Gobionidae Gobio artvinicus Nem acheilidae Oxynoemacheilus lenkoranensis Gobionidae Gobio caucasicus Nem acheilidae Oxynoemacheilus merga Gobionidae Gobio holurus Nem acheilidae Oxynoemacheilus veyseli Gobionidae Gobio kubanicus Petrom yzontidae Lampetra ninae Gobionidae Romanogobio ciscaucasicus Salm onidae Salmo ezenami Gobionidae Romanogobio macropterus Salm onidae Salmo ischchan Number of species recorded in the countries In the Armenian part of the Caucasus region, 41 species of freshwater fish and one species of lamprey are recorded; one species (Salmo ischchan) is endemic to Armenia but has been introduced to Azerbaijan and Georgia and to Central Asia. In Azerbaijan, 85 species (lampreys & fish) are found, four of them endemic to Azerbaijan (Cobitis derzhavini, Oxynoemacheilus lenkoranensis, Pseudophoxinus atropatenus, Pseudophoxinus sojuchbulagi). One of these species - Oxynoemacheilus lenkoranensis - needs a critical taxonomic review and one endemic species - Pseudophoxinus sojuchbulagi - seems to be extinct. In Georgia, 95 species are recorded, none of them endemic to Georgia. In the Gilan region of Iran, 79 species are found, none of them endemic. 99 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S In the Russian North Caucasus, 125 species occur and 14 of them are endemic to the Russian Caucasus (Clupeonella abrau, Sabanejewia caucasica, Sabanejewia kubanica, Barbus kubanicus, Gobio holurus, Gobio kubanicus, Romanogobio ciscaucasicus, Romanogobio parvus, Romanogobio pentatrichus, Alburnoides kubanicus, Chondrostoma kubanicum, Chondrostoma oxyrhynchum, Petroleuciscus aphipsi, Salmo ezenami). In the Turkish Caucasus, 86 species are recorded and four of them are endemic to the Turkish Caucasus (Ponticola rizensis, Ponticola turani, Leucalburnus satunini, Oxynoemacheilus cyri). Globally threatened species of freshwater fish and lampreys in the Caucasus There are 19 species of freshwater fish, one species of lamprey and two species of marine fish listed as being globally threatened – vulnerable (VU), endangered (EN) and critically endangered (CR) - in the Caucasus Ecoregion (Table 2). Pseudophoxinus sojuchbulagi, which has not been seen for decades, is likely to be extinct. Furtherm ore, Acipenser sturio as well as A. nudiventris seem s no longer to spawn in the Caucasus. Most im portant from a global perspective are six threatened species that are endem ic to the Caucasus region (Clupeonella abrau, Ponticola rizensis, P. turani, Pseudophoxinus atropatenus, Salmo ischchan, S. ezenami) as well as the threatened sturgeons potentially still spawning in the area. Not all species have been reassessed for their conservation status yet and several assessm ents are out of date and need to be renewed. Table 2. The IUCN Globally Threatened Fish and Lamprey Species in the Caucasus (2019) Distribution by Countries VU EN CR Azerbaijan Ge o rgia Iran Russia Tu rke y Scientific Name # Armenia IUCN Category 8 2 12 3 11 12 9 14 10 Common Name 22 Fish 1 Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Russian Sturgeon + + + + + + 2 Acipenser nudiventris Ship Sturgeon + + + + + + 3 Acipenser persicus Persian Sturgeon + + + + + (+) + + + 4 Acipenser ruthenus Sterlet 5 Acipenser stellatus Stellate Sturgeon 6 Acipenser sturio European (Atlantic) Sturgeon 7 Alosa immaculata Pontic shad 8 Anguilla anguilla European Eel 9 Clupeonella abrau Abrau tyulka 10 Cyprinus carpio Wild Com m on Carp 11 Huso huso Beluga 12 Lampetra lanceolata Turkish Brook Lam prey + + Aral Barbel + + 15 Pomatomus saltatrix Bluefish + Iyidere Goby Azerbaijani Spring Roach Salmo ischchan + 23 Vanellus gregarius Sociable Lapwing 100 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 20 Kezenoi-am Trout + + + Spiny Dogfish + + Pseudophoxinus atropatenus Salmo ezenami + + Pseudophoxinus sojuchbulagi Akstafa Spring Roach Squalus acanthias + + + 18 21 + + 19 22 + + + Sevan Trout + + + + Bulatm ai Barbel Aksu Goby + + + Luciobarbus brachycephalus Ponticola rizensis + + + Luciobarbus capito Ponticola turani + + + 13 16 + + 14 17 (+) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Important places for the conservation of freshwater fish in the Caucasus Freyhof et al. (2015a) cover freshwater KBAs for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and give some details on the fish species in the region. In this report we highlight only a few sites; many other important sites require protection. Lake Sevan (Armenia) Lake Sevan is the largest freshwater lake in the Caucasus. The site is com pletely covered by Lake Sevan National Park, Ram sar Site and Lake Sevan IBA. It hosts the endem ic trout species Salmo ischchan which is close to extinction in the wild; this taxon was once represented by four “forms” which most likely were different species. Artificial drainage of the lake in the mid-1950s for irrigation and hydropower caused irreversible changes in ecosystem functioning and biodiversity, destroying the lake’s globally unique diversity of trout. Currently, only two “forms” of Sevan trout survive, largely by artificial breeding and subsequent release into the lake. Action is being taken to restore the lake, the original diversity of trout cannot be restored because several “forms” are extinct or have hybridised with each-other. Springs in Lower Kura (Azerbaijan) Springs in the Lower Kura drainage are inhabited by two very locally endem ic species of Leuciscid (Pseudophoxinus atropatenus and P. sojuchbulagi) which seem to be very sensitive to habitat degradation and alien species invasion. Pseudophoxinus sojuchbulagi m ay already be extinct, while P. atropatenus is still found at few places as detailed by Artaev et al. (2018). Kura and Ara(k)s Rivers and Mingechevir Reservoir (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran) The Kura and Ara(k)s rivers and their tributaries host 13 endemic species of freshwater fish and are by this hotspots of endemic fishes in the Caucasus. The distribution of endemic species (many not threatened and still widespread) is poorly understood but several species are rheophilic inhabitants of fast flowing, natural rivers, with gravel bottoms and not affected by dams. These wild river sections are vulnerable to many threats and large sections should be protected. The lower Kura and Ara(k)s rivers are impacted by many threats and their conservation status is poor. However, they still provide a migration route and spawning area for many fish species coming from the Caspian Sea. Shads such as Alosa kessleri and others still migrate in the rivers and spawn here. Sturgeons spawned in the area historically and a few individuals seem still to spawn in the rivers. Other migratory fish species still have considerable populations, spawning in the Kura and Ara(k)s below dams. Mingechevir reservoir on the lower Kura river inhibits the migration of fishes into the middle Kura. At the same time it provides shelter from overfishing for one of the last populations of Luciobarbus brachycephalus in the Caspian Sea basin. This m igratory species becam e landlocked due to the construction of the dam and survived here while almost all stocks were the victim of massive over-exploitation elsewhere. Rioni River (Georgia) The Rioni river is critical for the only surviving population of Acipenser persicus49 in the Black Sea basin and for the globally critically endangered Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii and Huso huso. This m akes this river a global hotspot for the conservation of sturgeons. However, the conservation status of sturgeons is poorly understood and intensive research is needed. Furtherm ore, there is a rem arkable population of the m igratory shad Alosa immaculata which spawns in this river. Rem oval of the obsolescent hydropower plants in the lower Rioni has been recommended to strengthen the sturgeon populations and conservation actions have been discussed by Freyhof et al. (2015). 49 There are taxonom ic debates about the Black Sea population of Acipenser persicus: som etim es it is treated as a subspecies of A. persicus and referred as A. persicus colchicus or treated as a separate species - Acipenser colchicus. However, the formal listing is still valid for Acipenser persicus. 101 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S The River Rioni – the last spawning river for sturgeon in the eastern Black Sea © A. Guchmanidze, NGO Flora and Fauna Association, Georgia Anzali wetland (Iran) Very few larger coastal wetlands are left in the area; the Anzali wetland, on the estuary of the Sefid river, is one of the few that is still largely intact. The most common freshwater fish species of the southern Caspian Sea basin use this wetland for spawning and it is of exceptional importance for regional fish reproduction. It is also rem arkable for hosting a population of Sabanejewia caspia, a sm all loach found at no m ore than three places worldwide (the other two are in Azerbaijan). Middle Kuban River and its tributaries (Russia) The Kuban River hosts eight endem ic species which inhabit sm all tributaries of the lower Kuban (Petroleuciscus aphipsi) and the remaining large stretches of wild and free flowing rivers in the lower and middle section of the Kuban catchm ent (Alburnoides kubanicus, Barbus kubanicus, Chondrostoma kubanica, Gobio kubanicus, Romanogobio parvus, Romanogobio pentatrichus, Sabanejewia kubanica). These species are of exceptional value for fish conservation. All except two are rheophilic inhabitants of fast flowing, natural rivers, with gravel bottoms. Sadly, these important areas for fish conservation have been degraded by the construction of dams, which inhibit the spawning migration of sturgeons and other migratory fishes, which were abundant in former tim es. The few wild river sections that rem ain are vulnerable to m any threats and large sections should be protected. Middle Terek (Russia) The sections of the rivers Terek, Sulak and some smaller adjacent rivers in the Russian Caucasus host eight freshwater fish species endemic to the north-eastern Caucasus region (Romanogobio ciscaucasicus, Gobio holurus, Sabanajewia caucasica, Chondrostoma oxyrhynchum, Barbus ciscaucasicus, Alburnoides gmelini, 102 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Oxynoemacheilus merga, Salmo ezenami (endemic to one lake)); this makes these rivers hotspots for fish conservation. Some of these species also occur in northern Azerbaijan. All species, except one, are rheophilic inhabitants of fast flowing, natural rivers, with gravel bottoms and that are not affected by dams. These wild river sections are vulnerable to m any threats and large sections should be protected; however, they are poorly studied and fieldwork is needed to better understand the distribution of the endemic species for the purpose of designating protected areas. Upper reaches of the Kura at Ardahan (Turkey) The high altitude headwater stream s of the upper Kura at Ardahan (Turkey) are inhabited by the only endemic fish genus of the Caucasus. This genus and species, Leucalburnus satunini, has only been found in Turkey and is endemic to a small highland plateau. It is one of very few endemic freshwater fish genera in Turkey. Interestingly, a second fish species, Oxynoemacheilus cyri, is endem ic to the region and both are found together in the same streams. Because the area is relatively flat, no hydropower plants have been build there and none are planned; the area is m ostly used by herders and threat levels seem to be low. Nevertheless, the area should be protected because it hosts such unique biodiversity. Main threats and possible conservation actions In the Caucasus, as all over the West Palearctic, populations of large and long-distance migratory fish species such as sturgeons have vanished or almost vanished due to dam construction and overfishing. Nevertheless, the conservation status of most freshwater fish in the Caucasus is relatively good compared to other regions in Europe and the Middle East. Sturgeons still spawn in the Caucasus and m any endem ic species are in a relatively good conservation status: this is because few species are restricted to sm all ranges and only a sm all num ber are restricted to areas with high water stress and semi-arid climate; furthermore, many “wild” rivers still exist in the region, providing habitat for the group of rheophilic fishes to which most endemic species belong. Hydropower development continues to be the greatest threat to fish and aquatic habitats in the region. Other significant threats are overfishing, pollution (which regionally is a massive challenge), water abstraction especially in the eastern Caucasus, and invasive alien species used in commercial and recreational fisheries. The region’s fish biodiversity and aquatic habitats are poorly protected from these threats. In particular, remaining long sections of free-flowing rivers are in urgent need of protection - they host most of the region’s 52 endemic fish species and thus are one of the region’s most important biodiversity values. Publications used for preparation of the review Abdurakhmanov, Y.A. (1962): Freshwater fishes of Azerbaijan. Inst. of Zool., Acad. Scien. Azer. SSR, Baku. [In Russ.]. Aghasyan, A. & Kalashyan, M. (2010): Osteichthyes. The Red Book of Animals of the Republic of Armenia. – Available from: http://mnp.am/red_book_fauna/index.htm (May 1, 2019) Artaev, O.N., Levin, B.A., Mustafayev, N.D. & Simonov, E. P. (2018): Caucasian Relict Fish - Azerbaijani Spring Roach. Priroda, 5, 57-61. Baghirov, H.S. & Aliyev, J.A. (co-chairmen of editorial staff) (2013): Red Book of Azerbaijan Republic. Baku. [In Azer. and Engl.]. Bayçelebi, E., Turan, D. & Japoshvili, B. (2015): Fish Fauna of Çoruh River and Two First Record for Turkey. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 15, 738-794. Berg, L.S. (1949): Freshwater fishes of the USSR and adjacent countries. Israel program for scientific translations. [In Russ.], Jerusalem. Bogutskaya, N., Kijashko, P. & Naseka, A.M. (2013): Identification keys for fish and invertebrates of the Caspian Sea. Vol. 1 Fish and molluscs. Tovarishestvo Naucnikh Izdanii KMK, Moscow. [In Russ.]. Dadikyan, M.G. (1986): Fishes of Armenia. Acad. Scien. Arm. SSR, Yerevan. [In Russ.]. Esmaeili, H.R., Sayyadzadeh, G., Eagderi, S. & Abbasi, K. (2018): Checklist of freshwater fishes of Iran. FishTaxa, 3, 1-95. 103 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Freyhof, J., Guchmanidze, A., Rukhadze, A., Bitsadze, M. & Zazanashvili, N. (2015). Feasibility study on strengthening sturgeon conservation in Georgia (A Call for Action: Sturgeons in the Rioni River). Unpublished report, WWF Caucasus Programme Office. Freyhof, J ., Khorozyan, I., Sadigov, F., J aposhvili, B., Batsatsashvili, K., Fayvush, G., Shukurov, E., Beruchashvili, G., Arobelidze, N., Kandaryan, A., Bitsadze, M., Zazanashvili, N., Manvelyan, K., Askerov, E., Karapetyan, K. & Ahmadova, K. (2015): Towards sustainable dam and hydropower in the south Caucasus. WWF, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tbilisi. Gabrielyan, B.K. (2001): An annotated checklist of freshwater fishes of Armenia. Naga, The ICLARM Quarterly, 24 (3-4), 23-29. Gandlin, A.A., Mustafaev, N.D., Yakimov, A. V. & Levin, B.A. (2017): Updating the geographical range of Terek barbel Barbus ciscaucasicus Kessler, 1877 (Cyprinidae) using the cytochrome b molecular marker. Inland Water Biology, 10, 115-119. Ibrahimov, S.R. & Mustafayev, N.J. (2015): Current status of Azerbaijan ichthyofauna. Proc. Inst. Zool. Azer. Nat. Acad. Scien. 33, 58-68. [In Azer.]. Kottelat, M. & Freyhof, J. (2007): Handbook of European freshwater fishes. Publications Kottelat, Cornol and Freyhof, Berlin. Levin, B.A., Prokofiev A.M., Roubenyan, A.R. (2019): A new species of algae eaters Capoeta kaput sp. nov. (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) from Transcaucasia. Inland Water Biology, 12 (1) 32-41 Levin, B. & Roubenyan, H.R. (2012): New ichthyological findings in Armenia. Russ. J Biol. Invasions, 3 (2), 105109. Levin, B.A. & Rubenyan, A.R. (2010): Annotated Checklist of Ichtyofauna of Armenia. Pp. 229-242 in Pavlov, D. S., Gabrielyan, B. K. and Krylov, A. B., eds. Ecology of Lake Sevan during a raise of its level. The Results of Russian-Armenian Biological Expedition for Hydroecological Survey of Lake Sevan (Armenia) (2005– 2009). Nauka DNTS, Makhachkala [(In Russ.]. Levin, B.A., Simonov, E., Matveyev, M.P., Artaev, O.N., Mustafayev, N.J ., Pashkov, A.N. & Roubenyan, H.R. (2016): DNA barcoding of the fishes of the genus Alburnoides (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) from Caucasus. Mitochondrial DNA Part A: DNA Mapping, Sequencing, and Analysis, 29, 49-55. Levin, B., Simonov, E., Rastorguev, S., Boulygina, E., Sharko, F., Tsygankova, S., Gabrielyan, B., Roubenyan, H., Mayden, R. & Nedoluzhko, A. (2018): High-throughput sequencing of the mitochondrial genomes from archived fish scales: an example of the endangered putative species flock of Sevan trout Salmo ischchan. Hydrobiologia, 822 (1), 217-228. Mousavi-Sabet, H., Vatandoust, S. & Doadrio, I. (2015): Review of the genus Alburnoides Jeitteles, 1861 (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) from Iran with description of three new species from the Caspian Sea and Kavir basins. Caspian J. Env. Sci. 13, 293-331. Mumladze, L., Japoshvili, B. & Anderson, E.P. (2019): Faunal biodiversity research in the republic of Georgia: a short review of trends, gaps, and needs in the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot. ArxivePreprint Mustafayev, N.J., Ibrahimov, Sh.R. & Levin, B.A. (2015): Korean sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewsky, 1855) (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) is a new species of Azerbaijan fauna. Russ. J Biol. Invasions, 6 (4), 252-259. Naseka, A. & Bogutskaya, N. (2009): Fishes of the Caspian Sea: zoogeography and updated check-list. Zoosystematica Rossica, 18, 295-317. Naseka, A.M. & Freyhof, J. (2004): Romanogobio parvus, a new gudgeon from River Kuban, southern Russia (Cyprinidae, Gobioninae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 15, 17-23. Naseka, A.M. (2010): Zoogeographical Freshwater Divisions of the Caucasus as a Part of the West Asian Transitional Region. Proc. Zool. Inst. Russ. Acad. Sci. 314 (4), 469-492. Ninua, N., Japoshvili B., Bochorishvili V. (2013): Fishes of Georgia. Tsignieri, Tbilisi. Ninua, L., Tarkhnishvili, D & Gvazava, E. (2018): Phylogeography and taxonomic status of trout and salmon from the Ponto-Caspian drainages, with inferences on European Brown Trout evolution and taxonomy. Ecology and Evolution, 8 (5), 2645-2658. Ninua, N. Sh. & Japoshvili, B.O. (2008): Checklist of fishes of Georgia. Proc. Inst. Zool. Georg. Acad. Scien. 23, 163-176. 104 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Pipoyan, S. (2012): Ichthyofauna of Armenia: stages of formation and current state. Palm arium Academ ic Publishing. [In Russ.]. Turan, D., Japoshvili, B., Aksu, I. & Bektaş, Y. (2016): Description of two new species of the genus Gobio (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from the Black Sea coast of Turkey. Zoology in the Middle East, 62 (2), 1-13. Turan, D., Kaya, C., Kalayci, G., Bayçelebi, E. & Aksu, İ. (2019): Oxynoemacheilus cemali, a new species of stone loach (Teleostei: Nem acheilidae) from the Çoruh River drainage, Turkey. Journal of Fish Biology 94, 3, 458-468. Turan, D., Kottelat M., Ekmekçi, F.G. & Imamoglu, H.O. (2006): A review of Capoeta tinca, with descriptions of two new species from Turkey (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 113, 421-436. Turan, D., Kottelat, M., Kirankaya, S.G. & Engin, S. (2006): Capoeta ekmekciae, a new species of cyprinid fish from northeastern Anatolia (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 17, 147-156. Tutman, P., Freyhof, J., Dulčić, J., Glamuzina, B. & Geiger, M. (2017): Lampetra soljani, a new brook lam prey from the southern Adriatic Sea basin (Petromyzontiformes: Petromyzontidae). Zootaxa, 4273, 531-548. Vasil’eva, E.D. (2017): Diagnostic features and taxonomy of the Mediterranean species of the big-scale sand sm elts belonging to Atherina boyeri group (Atherinidae). Journal of Ichthyology, 57, 791-802. Vasil’eva, E. D., Solovyeva, E. N., Levin, B. A. & V. P. Vasil’ev (2020). Cobitis derzhavini sp. Nova—a New Spined Loach Species (Teleostei: Cobitidae) Discovered in the Transcaucasia. Journal of Ichthyology, 60, 135-153. Vasil’eva, E.D. & Vasil’ev, V.P. (2012): Cobitis amphilekta sp. nova, a new species of spined loaches (Cobitidae, Cypriniformes) from the Caspian Sea basin. Journal of Ichthyology, 52, 200-206. Suggested citation: Freyhof, J., Pipoyan, S., Mustafayev, N., Ibrahimov, S., Japoshvili, B., Sedighi, O., Levin, B., Pashkov, A. & Turan, D. (2020). Freshwater fish and lampreys of the Caucasus. Pp. 97 - 105 in Zazanashvili, N., Garforth, M. and Bitsadze, M., eds. Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, 2020 Edition: Supplementary Reports. WWF, KfW, Tbilisi. 105 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S FLORA AND VEGETATION OF THE CAUCASUS Com piled by K. Batsatsashvili , A. Nersesyan , N. Mehdiyeva c, R. Murtazalievd , Ö. Eminağaoğlue and K. Kavousif a b Ilia State University, Institute of Ecology, Tbilisi, Georgia; b Institute of Botany after A. Takhtajyan, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia; cInstitute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan; d Mountain Botanical Garden of Russian Academy of Sciences, Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan, Russia; eArtvin Coruh University, Artvin, Turkey; f Aban Pazhouh Consulting Engineering Office, Tehran, Iran a Co n t e n t s : Flora; Vegetation; Attachment A - Mountain zonation types of the Caucasus vegetation; References; Suggested citation. Flora The diverse physical-geographic conditions in the Caucasus support a rich flora and a wide variety of vegetation types. According to botanical literature, the number of vascular plant species in the Caucasus is about 6,500; however, this num ber does not consider northeastern Turkey and northwestern Iran, which are parts of the Caucasus Ecoregion; the number almost certainly exceeds 7,000. When Site Outcomes were being developed for the CEPF Ecosystem Profile for the Caucasus Hotspot (CEPF 2003), the IUCN Red List - the basis for Site Outcomes - contained only one globally threatened plant species from the Caucasus – Tigran’s Elder (Sambucus tigranii). The situation with plant red-listing in the Caucasus fundamentally changed during implementation of the CEPF's Caucasus programme, particularly as a consequence of the CEPF-funded regional plant red-listing project led by Missouri Botanical Garden, in which experts from all six countries of the Ecoregion participated. The project identified 2,791 endemic species. The number of endemic genera is 21; most of the endemic genera are monotypic and oligotypic (J. Solomon, Shulkina & G. Solomon, 2014). These are: ● Agasyllis, Arafoë, Chymsydia, Macrosciadium, Mandenovia, Symphyoloma of the fam ily Apiaceae; ● Alboviodoxa, Cladochaeta, Grossheimia, Kemulariella of the fam ily Asteraceae; ● Trigonocaryum of the fam ily Boraginaceae; ● Pseudovesicaria, Zuvanda of the fam ily Brassicaceae; ● Gadellia, Muehlbergella of the fam ily Campanulaceae; ● Charesia, Petrocoma of the fam ily Car yophyllaceae; ● Sredinskya of the fam ily Pr imulaceae; ● Woronowia of the fam ily Rosaceae; ● Paederotella of the fam ily Scrophular iaceae; ● Pseudobetckea of the fam ily Valer ianaceae. Subsequently, 600 endemic species were submitted to the IUCN Red List authorities for consideration. Today, 385 species are included in the IUCN Red List out of which 276 species are considered as globally threatened: 98 Critically Endangered (CR), 100 Endangered (EN) and 78 Vulnerable (VU). More than 200 plant species are still under assessm ent by the IUCN Red List authorities. The species included in the IUCN Red List as globally threated (together with relevant anim al species) were applied to the identification of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) of ECP 2020 (see chapter on KBAs). 106 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Southern Colchic relict and endemic Rhododendron ungernii, Mtirala National Park, Georgia © Z. Manvelidze, Batumi Botanical Garden, Georgia Ve ge tatio n The vegetation of the Caucasus is present in patterns formed under the influence of abiotic drivers and biotic interactions during the history of ecosystem development and these patterns reflect major climatic differences between larger parts of the Caucasus featuring vegetation vertical zonation types along elevation gradients. The French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort visited Armenia and Georgia during his travels of 17001702 and for the first time observed vertical zonation patterns on Mt. Ararat (Tournefort, 1717). The first scheme of mountain zonation for the southwestern Caucasus was developed by Wagner (1848) and the first vegetation map of the Caucasus was created by German botanist Karl Koch (1850). Later a number of other researchers addressed the question of the Caucasus vegetation classification and zonation in their publications (Kuznetsov, 1890; Alboff 1896; Radde, 1899; Sosnovsky, 1915; Busch 1935; Maghakyan 1941; Takhtajan 1938, 1941, 1946; Fedorov 1942; Shiffers, 1953; Stanukovich, 1955, 1973; Gagnidze, 1970; Gadjiyev, 1970; Grebenschikov & Zimina, 1974; Golubev et al., 1974; Kolakovsky et al., 1974; Gadjiyev, 1990; Nakhutsrishvili, 1999, 2013; Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000; Asatryan, Fayvush, 2013; Fayvush, Alexanyan, 2016). The description of the Caucasus’ vegetation cover by A. Grossheim (1948) is a landmark in the history of regional vegetation studies. Another more recent landmark with respect to vegetation classifications for the whole region is The Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe (Bohn et al., 2000/2003; Bohn et al., 2004), fundam ental units of which are based on a dom inant plant com m unity and/ or com m unity m osaic linked into a hierarchical scheme (Bohn, Zazanashvili, Nakhutsrishvili, 2007). The paper by Zazanashvili et al. (2000) considers vegetation zonation of the entire Caucasus, identifies four distinct vertical vegetation zonation types, enlists vegetation types for each zone and, wherever relevant, belts constituting the zones. Below we attem pt 107 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S to describe the vegetation of the Caucasus and the distinctive floristic and ecological attributes of its units through a synthesis of the Caucasian vegetation schem e adopted in The Map of the Natural Vegetation of Europe (Bohn et al., 2000/2003; Bohn et al., 2004) and the detailed scheme of vegetation zonation suggested by Zazanashvili et al. (2000). Plant nomenclature mostly follows the major source papers used for the present characterisation of the Caucasus’ flora and vegetation (i.e. Bohn et al., 2000/2003; Bohn et al., 2004; Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000). The scheme adopted for the Natural map of vegetation of Europe (Bohn et al., 2000/2003; Bohn et al., 2004) starts from polar deserts and subnival-nival vegetation of high mountains followed by vegetation of lower latitudes and elevations. In the following descriptions the lowest and highest elevation lim its of each vegetation unit for the entire Caucasus are given. A. Su b n iv a l-n iv a l v e g e t a t io n (from 2,900 to > 4,200 m a.s.l.) containing about 300 species of vascular plants, 70-80 of which are typical of the ultimate highlands devoid of permanent snow. The belt is present in three of the four vertical zonation types identified for the Caucasus (I, II, and III; Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000; see Attachment A); the more continental the regional climate is, the higher are elevations where this type of vegetation occurs: in the South Caucasian zonation type it occurs at elevations 400 and 500 m higher than in the eastern and western Caucasian zonation types, respectively. The vegetation is com posed of subnival rock and scree open plant com m unities with the following dom inant species: Cerastium polymorphum, Minuartia trautvetteriana (Caryophyllaceae), Pseudoversicaria digitata (Brassiceae), Saxifraga scleropoda (Saxifragaceae) in the West Caucasus; Cerastium kasbek (Caryophyllaceae), Tripleurospermum subnivale (Asteraceae) in the East Caucasus; and Draba araratica (Brassiceae), Saxifraga hirculus (Saxifragaceae), Poa araratica (Poaceae) in the South Caucasus. Cryptogams dominate in the uppermost parts of the subnival-nival vegetation belt (Nakhutsrishvili, 2013). B. Alp in e v e g e t a t io n o n ca r b o n a t e a n d s ilica t e s t r a t a (from 2,400 to 3,600 m a.s.l.) consisting mainly of (i) alpine grasslands, (ii) carpet-type snow-bed communities, (iii) alpine shrub heaths predominantly made up of Rhododendron caucasicum, and (iv) rock and scree plant com m unities. The alpine zone is absent from vegetation zone type IV in Hyrcan (Talysh mountains). The climate-driven altitudinal patterns change from west to east: in the eastern and especially southern parts of the region respective vegetation zones are located at higher elevations than in the western part (see Attachm ent A). Alpine grasslands: In the West, grasslands in the lower alpine belt are largely dom inated by grasses such as Festuca djimilensis, Agrostis Lazica and Nardus stricta, the latter growing on gentle slopes of alm ost all exposures throughout the Caucasus; in the upper belt by F. supina reaching highest elevations (2,700-2,900 m a.s.l.) of the alpine zone within the East Caucasian zonation type, and a sedge Kobresia schoenoides. Geranium gymnocaulon is a characteristic forb of the West as well as East Caucasian alpine m eadows throughout the vertical range of the zone. In the East Nardus stricta, Festuca varia, F. supina, Poa alpina, Bromopsis variegata are dom inant grasses and Carex tristis, and Kobresia m acrolepis and K. humilis dom inant sedges of the lower alpine belt; Festuca varia and Carex tristis m aintain their dom inant positions in the upper belt, while Koeleria macrolepis is substituted by K. schoenoides. Alpine carpet-type snow-bed communities: Alpine carpet-type snow-bed communities (mats) occur in the upper alpine belt; they require or tolerate persistent snow cover (7–9 months or throughout the year) and are com posed of low stature geophytes and caespitose forb species such as Cerastium cerastoides, Ranunculus svaneticus and Potentilla crantzii in the West, and Sibbaldia parviflora, Carum caucasicum, Campanula biebersteiniana, C. tridentata, C. argunensis, Alchemilla caucasica, Plantago saxatilis var. alpina, Taraxacum stevenii, Veronica gentianoides and Myosotis alpestris in the East. In the South Caucasian zonation type, formed under the influence of the Iranian-Minor Asian continental climate with annual precipitation lower 108 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS than 1,000 mm, alpine steppes made up of Festuca varia, F. chalcophaea, Alopecurus aucheri and Carex tristis create the major land cover; no carpet-type communities occur. Alpine shrub heaths: Along with predom inant Rhododendron caucasicum the heaths in the West, East and South Caucasian zonation types are made up of low stature junipers (Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica and J. sabina) occasionally inter-spread with Rhododendron caucasicum scrub, and dwarf shrub Dryas caucasica as well as Vaccinium myrtillus growing on northern to north-western stony slopes. Alpine shrubs are found in sm all spots, som e types with Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea growing on moist habitats of the northern slopes with a significant development of soil cover; xerophilous semi-shrubs Thymus caucasicus (Th. praecox subsp. caucasicus), Th. nummmularius and Astragalus beckerianus are found on the southern and eastern, rarely northern slopes (Gadjiyev, 1970). Rock and scree communities: Rock and scree plant communities include oreo-xerophilous vascular plan ts an d cryptogam s an d predom in ate at upper lim its of the zon e throughout the Caucasus (Bohn et al., 2000/2003; Bohn et al., 2004; Bohn, Zazanashvili, Nakhutsrishvili, 2007; Ketskhoveli, 1960; Nakhutsrishvili, 1999, 2013; Nakhutsrishvili et al., 2017). In the southern Caucasus one of distinctive represen tatives of screes is Vavilovia formosa. Rhododendron caucasicum heaths, Eastern Greater Caucasus © N. Zazanashvili, WWF C. Ca u ca s ia n cr o o k e d a n d o p e n w o o d la n d s z o n e (from 1,600 to 2,700 m a.s.l.). The vegetation cover is m ainly m ade up of: (i) m esophilous crooked forests, (ii) subalpine shrublands, (iii) tall herb vegetation, and (iv) grasslands of various ecology. The zone is m ostly absent in the Talysh m ountains in the Hyrcanian bio-geographic region, but exists in the Hyrcanian part of the Alborz mountain range in Iran: there are no m esic types of subalpine forests such as Betula spp. Forests, or shrub com m unities such as Rhododendron thickets, but Quercus macranthera and Juniperus shrub communities are quite common (Akhani et al., 2010). Generally, zonation in the upper altitudes of Alborz m ountains is m ore sim ilar to the South Caucasian type of zonation (Attachm ent A). 109 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Crooked forests are formed by beech, oak and birch (Fagus orientalis, Quercus pontica, Betula medwedewii, B. megrelica) with a Colchic understory in the West Caucasus; in the upper belt they are partly substituted by birch and ash-birch crooked woodlands with Betula litwinowii, and Sorbus caucasigena. Birch and ash (Betula litwinowii, B. raddeana, Sorbus caucasigena) are major trees of the subalpine woodlands in both the lower and upper belts in the eastern zonation type. Dark coniferous and beech-dark coniferous forests, the major vegetation of Zone D (see below), often with a Colchic understorey are also present in the lower subalpine belt of the western crooked and open woodlands zone; oak, pine and m aple woodlands, including open woodlands (Quercus macranthera, Pinus kochiana, Acer trautvetteri) occur in the lower belt of the eastern subalpine zone. Quercus macranthera is the only species that m akes up subalpine woodlands in the respective zone of the South Caucasian zonation type. Above the treeline Rhamnus imeretina, Sorbus subfusca, Corylus colchica scrub and Colchic thickets of Rhododendron ponticum, Rh. ungernii, Laurocerasus officinalis, Ilex colchica, Ruscus colchicus, Vaccinium arctostaphylos are typical of the West Caucasus, while low and prostrate juniper open communities (Juniperus hemisphaerica, J. sabina) growing on rocks and screes and especially Rhododendron caucasicum scrub (although the latter is widespread throughout the Caucasus and reaches the upper lim its of the alpine zone) are m ostly characteristic of the eastern Caucasus. Tall herb vegetation occurs in the West, East and South Caucasus and is form ed by giant species (m egaphorbs) of 1.5-2 m tall herbs of various families; in the West Heracleum ponticum, Ligusticum physospermifolium and Senecio cladobotrys are the most frequent, while Heracleum sosnowskyi, Agasyllis latifolia, Aconitum nasutum, A. orientale, Cephalaria gigantea, Cicerbita macrophylla, Knautia montana, Senecio rhombifolius, Doronicum macrophyllum, Delphinium flexuosum and Inula helenium are typical of the eastern and southern Caucasus (Takhtajan, 1941; Gagnidze, 1974, 1977; Gadjiyev, 1970). Grasslands: Subalpine m eadows of the western Caucasus are largely dom inated by Calamagrostis arundinacea, Poa iberica and Geranium platypetalum in the lower subalpine belt; Calamagrostis arundinacea is also a dom inant grass in the upper belt along with Festuca djimilensis, which also dom inates in the above alpine m eadows. Lim estone endem ic com m unities of Woronowia speciosa and Carex pontica are also worth a special m ention. In the eastern and southern Caucasus Bromopsis variegata, Agrostis tenuis, Hordeum violaceum, Geranium ibericum and G. platypetalum are dom inant species in the lower subalpine belt. Anemone fasciculata and Polygonum carneum, Betonica macrantha com m unities are widespread alm ost throughout the Caucasus on moderately humid northern and north-western slopes. Veratrum lobelianum is a frequently abundant species on grazed slopes. Calamagrostis arundinacea com m unities are found here on wet gentle slopes, m ostly within the range of birch woodlands. Deschampsia cespitosa com m unities occur on river terraces and wetlands. So-called meadow steppe communities formed by xeromorphic species are also widespread in suitable environm ents in the eastern and southern Caucasus; the dom inant species of these com m unities are: Festuca ovina, Carex humilis, Bromopsis variegate and Thymus collinus in the East, and Bromopsis variegata, Phleum nodosum and Koeleria caucasuca in the South. In the eastern and southern upper subalpine zone and the alpine zone Festuca varia dom inates in grasslands along with Inula orientalis, Geranium ibericum and Betonica macrantha. Som e southern parts of south Caucasus characterized by the m ost continental clim ate in the region features m ountain steppes with Festuca valesiaca, Koeleria macrantha, and Sesleria phleoides, and tragacanth com m unities of Astragalus aureus, A. lagurus and Onobrychis cornuta; sim ilar com m unities are also present elsewhere in the Caucasus, particularly, in the eastern Greater Caucasus in appropriate local environm ents, e.g. com m unities of Astragalus captiosus and A. denudatus in the eastern part of the Central Greater Caucasus (Alizade it al., 2019; Bohn et al., 2000/2003; Bohn et al., 2004; Bohn, Zazanashvili, Nakhutsrishvili, 2007; Gadjiyev, 1970; Ketskhoveli, 1960; Nakhutsrishvili, 1999, 2013; Nakhutsrishvili et al., 2017). 110 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS D . M e s o p h y t ic a n d h y d r o m e s o p h y t ic co n ife r o u s a n d m ixe d fo r e s t s (between 1,000 and 2,100 m, with core area between 1,400 and 1,800 m a.s.l.) of Abies nordmanniana, Picea orientalis and Fagus orientalis, partly with Colchic understorey: Rhododendron ponticum, Rh. ungernii, Laurocerasus officinalis, Ilex colchica, Ruscus colchicus, Vaccinium arctostaphylos and Viburnum orientale (Bohn, Zazanashvili, Nakhutsrishvili, 2007; Ketskhoveli, 1960; Nakhutsrishvili, 1999, 2013; Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000). These forests spread eastwards along the Greater Caucasus: fir reaches Liakhvi gorge and spruce, Aragvi gorge; along the Lesser Caucasus they spread to Algeti (Ketskhoveli, 1960; Dolukhanov, 2010). At the uppermost level Dolukhanov (2010) classifies the dark coniferous and mixed forests according to presence of the Colchic understorey; sub-types at this further level of classification are distinguished according to the major species of shrub understorey or herb cover and include: (i) Dark coniferous forests with Colchic understorey: dark coniferous forests with Rhododendron ponticum, dark coniferous forests with Laurocerasus officinalis, dark coniferous forests with Ilex colchica, dark coniferous forests with Vaccinium arctostaphylos, dark coniferous forests with V. orientale, rock spruce and fir forests; (ii) Dark coniferous forests without Colchic understorey: spruce forests with patchy m oss cover, dark coniferous forests with Festuca drymeja, hemixerophilous spruce forests, fir forests with Luzula spicata, dark coniferous forests with small herbs, fir forests with Trachystemon orientale, beech-spruce forests with ferns, fir forests with Calamagrostis arundinacea, fir forests with mixed herb cover, fir forests with sparse herb cover. The beech forest type with Colchic understorey spreading up to 1,000 (1,200) m a.s.l. is considered within formation H. Hygro-thermophilous mixed deciduous broadleaved forests, below. Mixed temperate forest, Western Lesser Caucasus © WWF 111 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S F6. Caucasian oriental beech and oriental beech-hornbeam forests (from 800 to 2,000 m, with core area between 1,000-1,800 m a.s.l.). In the west this formation is designated as Humid beech forest and is m ade up of Fagus orientalis forest often with a Colchic understorey; also dark coniferous and mixed beech-darkconiferous forests (Abies nordmanniana, Picea orientalis, Fagus orientalis), partly with a Colchic understorey; Colchic thickets (see specific composition above). In the east and southeast the formation is designated as Mesic beech forest with Fagus orientalis in both vegetation zonation types; Quercus macranthera and Pinus kochiana forests and woodlands in the eastern vegetation zonation type (Bohn, Zazanashvili, Nakhutsrishvili, 2007; Ketskhoveli, 1960; Nakhutsrishvili, 1999, 2013; Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000). Beech and hornbeam-beech forests (Fagus orientalis, Carpinus caucasica) within the lower m ountain forests of the eastern zonation type and humid thermophilous Hyrcanian broad-leaved forests of the southeastern zonation type (Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000; see Attachment A) should be considered within the zone F6 in the classification scheme by Bohn et al. (2007). At the uppermost level Dolukhanov (2010) classifies beech forests according to presence of the Colchic understorey; sub-types at the further level are distinguished according to the major species of shrub understorey or herb cover and include: (i) Beech forests with Colchic understorey: beech forests with Rhododendron ponticum, beech forests with Laurocerasus officinalis, beech forests with Ilex colchica, beech forests with Ruscus colchica, dark coniferous forests with Vaccinium arctostaphylos, beech forests with Rhododendron luteum, dark coniferous forests with Viburnum orientale; (ii) Beech forests without Colchic understorey: beech forests with Festuca drymeja, hem ixerophilous beech forests, beech forests with dead ground cover, beech forests with Dentaria iberica, beech forests with Asperula caucasica, beech forests with Asarum intermedium and Symphytum grandiflorum, beech forests with Rubus hirtus s.l., beech forests with Trachystemon orientale, beech forests with ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris, Dryopteris filix mas), beech forests with Luzula spicata. Prilipko (1954) also identified beech forests with Taxus baccata, subalpine beech forests with Pyracantha coccinea, in Talysh Mountains - beech forests with Ilex hyrcana, as well as with Hedera pastuchovii and Danae racemosa. Beech forests with Colchic understorey, especially, below 1000 (1200) m a.s.l., i.e. occurring within the humid thermophilous Colchic broad-leaved forest zone as defined by Zazanashvili et al. (2000) should be considered within the scope of the form ation H (see below). All Colchic forest types (described in Form ation C, D, F and H; see also Attachm ent A. Colchic type) as well as Hyrcanian forests under formation H are also classified as temperate rainforests (Nakhutsrishvili, Zazanashvili & Batsatsashvili, 2011). F7. Hornbeam-oak mixed forests of the Caucasus / G. Thermophilous mixed deciduous b r o a d -le a v e d fo r e s t s . These formations have a different ecology and different elevational distribution in the Caucasus vegetation zonation types. According to Zazanashvili et al. (2000), the following types should be considered within the scope of the F7 / G zones designated by Bohn et al. (2007): the eastern zonation type willow (Salix spp.) species on the first river terrace; riparian oak and poplar-oak forests (Quercus pedunculiflora, Populus hybrida, P. nigra with Acer velutinum, Ulmus suberosa) and hornbeam-oak forests on the slopes (Quercus iberica, Carpinus orientalis) within the Riparian and foothill forest belt (< 500-600 (1,000) m a.s.l.) as well as oak-hornbeam forests (Quercus iberica, Carpinus caucasica) within the lower mountain forest belt (from 500 to 1,000 (1,200) m a.s.l.). Thermophilous hornbeam-oak forests with Quercus iberica, Carpinus caucasica and C. orientalis also occur in relatively dry habitats within the hum id thermophilous Colchic broad-leaved forest zone of the west Caucasian vegetation zonation type (Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000). The F7 / G zones also include Quercus macranthera woodlands within the Hemi-xeric woodlands of the southern zonation type (from 1,600 to 2,300 (2,400) m a.s.l.) as well as 112 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Quercus maranthera forests with Acer campestre, A. hyrcanum, Fraxinus excelsior, Carpinus caucasica, Sorbus boissieri, Pyrus syriaca, Malus orientalis, Viburnum lantana, Sorbus graeca, known from Arasbaran, Iran (Assadi, 1987); by elevational distribution (1,500-2,000 m) the latter type partly corresponds to the upper part of the Mesic beech forest zone and lower part of the Steppe and xeric dwarf semi-shrub zone of the south eastern zonation type Zazanasvili et al (2000). In the southern zonation type, oak-hornbeam forests dom inated by Quercus iberica or Q. macranthera and Carpinus caucasica, and hornbeam-beech and beech forests with Fagus orientalis or also typical. The fruit forests with different Pyrus species, Prunus divaricata, etc. are specific for southern Caucasus. Quercus castaneifolia therm ophytic forest sporadically with Parrotia persica, Zelkova carpinifolia, Acer velutinum, Gleditsia caspia; Quercus iberica-Carpinus caucasica forests are considered within Humid thermophilous Hyrcanian broad-leaved forests (from 600 to 1,000 (1,200) m a.s.l.) of the southeastern (Hyrcanian) zonation type (Bohn, Zazanashvili, Nakhutsrishvili, 2007; Ketskhoveli, 1960; Nakhutsrishvili, 1999, 2013; Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000). Colchic forest, Kintrishi State Reserve, Georgia © N. Zazanashvili, WWF A special feature of the Caucasus ecoregion is two refugia of the Tertiary identified as the zone H. Hygrotherm ophilous m ixed deciduous broadleaved forests. This vegetation occurs within the distribution areas of two vegetation zonation types: Colchic and Hyrcanian and spreads up to 1,000 (1,200) m a.s.l. in both regions. The Colchic forest is m ade up of Castanea sativa, Carpinus caucasica, Fagus orientalis, Quercus hartwissiana and Zelkova carpinifolia, with a Colchic understorey including Rhododendron ponticum, Laurocerasus officinalis and Ruscus colchicus as well as the lianas Hedera colchica, H. helix, Dioscorea caucasica and Vitis sylvestris. Riparian and wetland forests of Alnus glutinosa with Pterocarya carpinifolia occur within 113 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S the range of these forests. The major constituents of the Hyrcanian forests are: oak-parrotia, parrotiahornbeam-oak, oak-hornbeam-azad forests (Quercus castaneifolia, Parrotia persica, Zelkova carpinifolia, Carpinus caucasica, Albizzia julibrissin, Ficus hyrcana, Diospiros lotus, Ulmus glabra with shrubs and sem ishrubs: Ilex hyrcana, Ruscus hyrcanus, Danaë racemosa, and lianas: Smilax excelsa, Periploca graeca, Hedera pastuchowii); these forests spread up to 600 m a.s.l. Alluvial forests have been almost entirely replaced by cultural landscapes in the South Caspian area of Iran but still exist in sm all areas (e.g. in Gilan); they are com posed of Alnus glutinosa with Populus caspica, Pterocarya fraxinifolia, Ulmus minor, Cornus australis, Alnus subcordata, Diospyros lotus, Buxus hyrcana and Ilex spinigera and belong to the sam e type (Akhani et al., 2010). As stated above, from 600 to 1,000 (1,200) m a.s.l. mainly Quercus castaneifolia therm ophytic forest grows sporadically with Parrotia persica, Zelkova carpinifolia, Acer velutinum, Gleditsia caspia (Bohn, Zazanashvili, Nakhutsrishvili, 2007; Dolukhanov, 1980; Ketskhoveli, 1960; Nakhutsrishvili, 1999, 2013; Nakhutsrishvili et al., 2015; Safarov, 2010; Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000). M . St e p p e s . Steppes are spread in the Caucasus from north of the Black Sea to the Caspian lowland, in East Georgia and subalpine areas in the form of islets. The m ain constituents are: Stipa spp., Botriochloa ischaemum, Festuca valesiaca, Bromopsis riparia, Carex humilis, with Stipa tirsa, Festuca valesiaca, Koeleria cristata, Nepeta grossheimii at higher elevations, from 1,600 to 2,300 (2,400) m a.s.l. and higher); a num ber of species of grasses in the genera Dianthus, Salvia, Onobrychis, Astragalus, and geophytes species of Tulipa, Crocus, Gagea, Iris, etc. are present. In the North Caucasus, steppes are spread up to 500–600(700) m a. s. l. between semi-deserts in the west and deserts in the east; steppe and semi-desert are interrupted in places by m arshes and forests on wetlands. The following types are part of the Riverside and foothill forest belt of the eastern zonation type and xeric grass, semi-shrub and woodland zones of the southern zonation type: steppes interspersed with arid woodlands (Pistacia mutica, Juniperus polycarpos, J. foetidissima, Celtis caucasica) and shibliak (Paliurus spina-christi, Rhamnus pallasii, Atraphaxis spinosa, Ephedra procera), as well as with low woodlands (Pyrus spp., Acer hyrcanum, Crataegus spp., Juniperus polycarpos), hemi-xeric shrublands (Cotoneaster spp., Sorbus graeca) and elem ents of tom illares (Thymus kotschianus, Scutellaria spp., Stachchys inflata) and friganoids (Ambliopogon spp., Caccinia rauwolfii, Hedysarum formosum) (Bohn, Zazanashvili, Nakhutsrishvili, 2007; Ketskhoveli, 1960; Nakhutsrishvili, 1999, 2013; Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000). N . Or e o xe r o p h y t ic v e g e t a t io n o f t h o r n -cu s h io n co m m u n it ie s . The m ain constituents of this form ation are Astragalus caucasicus, A. microcephalus, A. denudatus, A. gudrathi, A. meyeri, Onobrychis cornuta and Acantholimon spp., e.g. A. schemachense, A.bracteatum, A. araxanum. The form ation occurs in severe conditions of winter cold, sum m er dryness and high solar radiation of rocky areas throughout the Caucasus. Oreoxerophytic vegetation of Central Dagestan is worth special em phasis. A typical feature of zonation in Dagestan is that com pared to the West and Central Greater Caucasus elevation zones shift upwards alm ost by 1,000 m, and in places even by 1,500 m owing to climate aridity. More than 900 endemic species of Caucasus plants are reported from the northern macroslope of the Eastern Caucasus (Murtazaliev & Litvinskaya, 2009), which is 72.35% of all Caucasus endemics recorded in the Russian part of the region (Litvinskaya & Murtazaliev 2009). Three of the 21 monotypic genera of the Caucasus: Muehlenbergella, Pseudobetckea, and Mandenovia occur there as well. The form ation O. D e s e r t s occurs in the Caspian depression, valleys of the rivers Kura and Ara(k)s and as small fragments in various regions of the South Caucasus, mostly below 1,200 m a.s.l. They include dwarf semi-shrub deserts with Artemisia fragrans, Salsola spp. with ephem eroids such as Poa bulbosa, Catabrosella humilis; deserts with Halocnemum strobilaceum, Suaeda microphylla, Salsola dendroides, S. nodulosa on saline soils; thorn-cushion communities (Artemisia microcephalus, A. vedicus, A. karjaginii) (Asadova K, 2008; Bohn et al., 2007; Ketskhoveli, 1960; Movsumova, 2005; Nakhutsrishvili, 1999, 2013; Zazanashvili, Gagnidze & Nakhutsrishvili, 2000). 114 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Open Juniper woodland, southern Armenia © A. Malkhasyan, WWF Azonal vegetation: P. Co a s t a l v e g e t a t io n a n d in la n d h a lo p h y t ic v e g e t a t io n a n d R . Ta ll r e e d v e g e t a t io n a n d t a ll s e d g e s w a m p s , a q u a t ic v e g e t a t io n are also represented at various elevations within the Caucasus ecoregion (Bohn, Zazanashvili, Nakhutsrishvili, 2007; Nakhutsrishvili, 1999, 2013). Vegetation types of the Caucasus are conserved in a num ber of Protected Areas in all countries of ecoregion. Research for three countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) showed that the least protected are steppes, deserts (including semideserts) and vegetation of flood plains; vegetation types of formations D and F are also quite far from 17% protection required by CBD 2020 targets (Montalvo Mancheno, Zazanashvili & Beruchashvili, 2017). Further development of protected areas systems is needed to fill typological and spatial gaps in term s of conservation of vegetation types. Work on the Em erald Network ongoing in the South Caucasus countries will help guide developm ent of PAs and generally will add value to plant and vegetation conservation in the Caucasus. 115 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Attachment A: Mountain zonation types of Caucasus vegetation (according to Zazanashvili et al., 2000) I. West Caucasian (Colchic) II. East Caucasian III. South Caucasian IV. Southeast Caucasian (Hyrcanian) IA. Hum id therm ophilous Colchic broad-leaved forest zone, up to 1,000 (1,200) m: IA1. Mixed broadleaved forest belt, up to 500 (600) m; IA2. Chestnut forest belt, from 500-1,000 (1,200) m. IIA1. Riverside and foothill forest belt, below 500-600 (1,000) m; IIA2. Lower mountain belt, from 5001,000 (1,200) m. IIIA. Desert zone, below 800 m. IVA. Hum id therm ophilous Hyrcanian broad-leaved forest zone, below 1,000 (1,200) m: IVA1. Mixed broad-leaved forest belt, up to 600 m; IVA2. Oak forest belt, from 600 to 1,000 (1,200) m. IB. Hum id beech forest zone, between 1,000 (800)1,400 (1,800) m. IIB. Mesic beech forest zone, from 1,000-1,800 (2,000) m: IIB1. Middle mountain belt, 1,000-1,500 m; IIB2. Upper mountain belt, 1,500-1,900 (2,000) m. IIIB. Xeric grass and semishrub zone, 800 (1,200)1,600 m. IVB. Mesic beech forest zone, from1,000 -1,600 (1,800) m. IC. Nem oral hum id coniferous forest zone, from 1,400 (1,000) -1,800 (2,100) m. IVC. (Talysh m ountains): IIIC. Hemi-xeric woodland Steppe and xeric dwarf zone, 1,600-2,300 (2,400) m. semi-shrub zone, from 1,600 to 2,300 (2,500) m. ID. Subalpine elfin wood and m eadow zone, from 1,800 (1,600)-2,400 (2,700) m: ID1. Lower subalpine belt, from 1,800 (1,600)-2,100 (2,200); ID2. Upper subalpine belt. This belt, from 2,100 to 2,400 (2,700) m. IIC. Subalpine elfin wood and m eadow zone, between 1,900 (2,000) and 2,500 (2,700) m: IIC1. Lower subalpine belt, 1,900 -2,200 m; IIC2. Upper subalpine belt, 2,200 - 2,500 (2,600) m. IIID. Subalpine woodland and grassland zone, between 2,300 and 2,800 (2,900) m. IE. Alpine grassland and thicket zone, between 2,400- 2,900 (3,000) m: IE1. Lower alpine belt, from 2,400 to 2,750 m; IE2. Upper alpine belt, from 2,750 to 2,900 (3,000) m. IID. Alpine grassland and thicket zone, between 2,500 and 3,000 (3,200) m: IID1. Lower alpine belt, between 2,500 and 2,800 m; IID2. Upper alpine belt, from 2,800-3,000(3,200) m. IIIE. Alpine grassland zone, 2,800-3,400 (3,600) m. IF. Subnival zone, from 2,900-3,700 (4,000) m. IIE. Subnival open zone, 3,000 - 4,000 m. IIIF. Subnival open zone, between 3,400 and 4,200 (4,400) m. IG. Nival cryptogam zone, above 3,700 m. IIF. Nival cryptogam zone, above 4,000 m. IIIG. Nival cryptogam zone, above 4,200 m. References Akhani, H., Djamali, M., Ghorbanalizadeh, A. & Ramezani, E. (2010): Plant biodiversity of Hyrcanian relict forests, N Iran: an overview of the flora, vegetation, palaeoecology and conservation. 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(2017): Plant Diversity in the Central Great Caucasus: A Quantitative Assessment. Springer, Cham. Nakhutsrishvili, G., Zazanashvili, N. & Batsatsashvili, K. (2011): Regional Profile: Colchic and Hyrcanic Temperate Rainforest of the Western Eurasian Caucasus. Pp. 214-221 in DellaSala, D.A., ed. Temperate and Boreal Rainforest of the World: Ecology and Conservation. Island Press, Washington-Covelo-London. Nakhutsrishvili, G., Zazanashvili, N., Batsatsashvili, K. & Montalvo, C.S. (2015): Colchic and Hyrcanian forests of the Caucasus: similarities, differences and conservation status. Flora Mediterranea, 25, 185-192. Prilipko L.I. (1954): Forest vegetation of Azerbaijan. Azer.Acad. Scien., Baku. [In Russ.]. Radde, G. (1899): Grundzüge der Pflanzenverbreitung in den Kaukasusländern. Die Vegetation der Erde, Vol. 3. Wilhem Engelmann Verlag, Leipzig. Safarov H.M. (2009): Rare and endangered plant species in Hirkan National Park and its environs. Pp. 193198 in Zazanashvili, N. and D. Mallon, eds. Status and protection of globally threatened species in the Caucasus. CEPF, WWF, Tbilisi. Safarov H.M. (2010): Zur Waldvegetation des Nationalparks Hirkan in Talysch (Azerbaidschan). Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. (MDDG), 95, 175-180. Shiffers, E.V. (1953): Vegetation of the North Caucasus and its natural ranges. USSR Acad. Scien., MoscowLeningrad. [In Russ.]. Solomon, J.C., Shulkina, T.V. & Solomon, G.E., eds. (2014): Red list of the endemic plants of the Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia, and Turkey. MBG Press, St. Louis. Sosnovsky, D.I. (1915): Sketch of the vegetation of the Upper Svaneti. Bull. Russ. Flora, 1 (3), 119-144. [In Russ.]. Stanukovich, K.V. (1955): General types of zonation for the mountains of USSR. Proc. USSR Geogr. Soc., 87(3), 232-243. [In Russ.]. Stanukovich, K.V. (1973): Mountain vegetation of the USSR. Donish, Dushanbe. [In Russ.]. Takhtajan, A. (1938): Xerophilous vegetation of skeletal mountains of Armenia. Transactions of Arm. Branch USSR Acad. Scien., Ser. Boil., 2, 61-130. [In Russ.]. Takhtajan, A. (1941): Botanical and geographical essay of Armenia. Transactions of Bot. Inst. Arm. Branch USSR Acad. Scien., 2, 179 p. [in Russ.]. Takhtajan, A. (1946): On the history of development of the vegetation of Armenia. Transactions of Bot. Inst. Arm. Branch USSR Acad. Scien., 4, 51-107. [In Russ.]. Tournefort, J. (1717). Relation d’un Voyage du Levant. Vol. XXX, 1,2. Paris. Wagner, M. (1848): Reise nach dem Ararat und dem Hochland Armenien (Vol. 10). Cotta. Williams L., Zazanashvili N., Sanadiradze G. & A. Kandaurov, eds. (2006): Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus. WWF, KfW, BMZ, CEPF, MacArthur Foundation, Tbilisi. Zazanashvili N., Garforth M., Jungius H., Gamkrelidze T. with participation of Ch. Montalvo, eds. (2013): Ecoregion Conservation Plan for the Caucasus. 2012 revised and updated edition. WWF, KfW, BMZ, Tbilisi. Zazanashvili, N., Gagnidze, R. and Nakhutsrishvili, G. (2000): Main types of vegetation zonation on the mountains of the Caucasus. Acta Phytogeographica Suecica, 85, 7-16 Su g g e s t e d cit a t io n : Batsatsashvili, K., Nersesyan, A., Mehdiyeva, N., Murtazaliev, R., Eminağaoğlu, Ö. & Kavousi, K. (2020). Flora and vegetation of the Caucasus. Pp. 106 - 118 in Zazanashvili, N., Garforth, M. and Bitsadze, M., eds. Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, 2020 Edition: Supplementary Reports. WWF, KfW, Tbilisi. 118 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Annex 1: TH E IU CN GLOBALLY TH REATEN ED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION (2019) Distribution by Countries Ge o rgia Iran Russia Tu rke y Local, Country or Regional Endemics 17 Azerbaijan Mammals Armenia Common Name Critically En d an ge re d Scientific Name En d an ge re d # Vulnerable IU CN Cate go ry 2019 9 5 3 9 8 10 7 12 5 6 1 Bison bonasus European Bison + 2 Capra aegagrus Wild (bezoar) Goat + 3 Capra caucasica West Caucasian Tur 4 Gazella subgutturosa Goitered Gazelle 5 Meriones dahli Dahl's J ird 6 Mustela lutreola European Mink 7 Myotis hajastanicus Arm enian Whiskered Bat 8 Nyctalus lasiopterus Giant Noctule 9 Ovis orientalis + + + + + + + + + + + Mouflon + + + + + + 11 Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica) Caspian Seal 12 Rhinolophus mehelyi Mehely's Horseshoe Bat + Saiga Antelope + + + + + + + 15 Sicista caucasica Caucasian Birch Mouse Kazbeg Birch Mouse 17 Vormela peregusna Marbled Polecat 23 + + + + + + + + + + + + 5 + + + 15 3 + + + + + + + + + + + + 17 21 19 20 23 19 18 Anser erythropus Lesser White-fronted Goose + + + + + + + 19 Aquila heliaca Eastern Im perial Eagle + + + + + + + 20 Aquila nipalensis Steppe Eagle + + + + + + 21 Aythya ferina Com m on Pochard + + + + + + + 22 Branta ruficollis Red-breasted Goose + + + + + + + 23 Chlamydotis macqueenii Macqueen's Bustard + 24 Clanga clanga Greater Spotted Eagle + + + + + + + 25 Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 26 Emberiza rustica Rustic Bunting 27 Falco cherrug Saker Falcon + 28 Haliaeetus leucoryphus Pallas's Fish-eagle + 29 Leucogeranus leucogeranus Siberian Crane + + + + 30 Marmaronetta angustirostris Marbled Teal + + + + + + + Velvet Scoter + + + + + + + 32 Neophron percnopterus Egyptian Vulture + + + + + + 33 Numenius tenuirostris Slender-billed Curlew 34 Otis tarda Great Bustard 35 Oxyura leucocephala White-headed Duck 36 Podiceps auritus Horned Grebe + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 37 Puffinus yelkouan Yelkouan Shearwater + + + + 38 Rissa tridactyla Black-legged Kittiwake + + + + + 39 Streptopelia turtur European Turtle-dove + 40 Vanellus gregarius Sociable Lapwing + 0 + 31 Melanitta fusca + + + + + 16 Sicista kazbegica Birds + + + Leopard Arm enian Birch Mouse + + 10 Panthera pardus 13 Saiga tatarica + + + + + + + + + 14 Sicista armenica + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 119 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S TH E IU CN GLOBALLY TH REATEN ED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION (2019) Distribution by Countries Ge o rgia Iran Russia Tu rke y Local, Country or Regional Endemics 21 Azerbaijan Reptiles 41 Darevskia alpina Armenia Common Name Critically En d an ge re d Scientific Name En d an ge re d # Vulnerable IU CN Cate go ry 2019 8 7 6 6 8 8 4 8 13 19 + 42 Darevskia bendimahiensis + + + + + + + + Clarks' Lizard 44 Darevskia dryada Charnali Lizard 45 Darevskia rostombekowi Rostom bekov's Rock Lizard + + + 46 Darevskia uzzelli Uzzell's Lizard Pleske's Racerunner 48 Montivipera wagneri Wagner's Viper 49 Natrix megalocephala Large-headed Water Snake 50 Phrynocephalus horvathi Toad-headed Agama 51 Phrynocephalus persicus Persian Toad Agam e + 52 Testudo graeca Com m on / Mediterranean Tortoise + 53 Vipera darevskii Darevsky's Viper + + + + + + + + + + + 54 Vipera dinniki Dinnik's Viper + Iranian Mountain Steppe Viper + 56 Vipera eriwanensis Alburzi Viper + 57 Vipera kaznakovi Caucasian Viper + + 58 Vipera magnifica Magnificent Viper Orlov's Viper 60 Vipera pontica Pontic Viper 61 Vipera renardi Eastern Steppe Viper + + + + + 55 Vipera ebneri + + + + + 62 Bufo eichwaldi Eichwald's Toad + 63 Mertensiella caucasica Caucasian Salam ander + 22 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 1 2 + 0 0 0 1 1 + 1 0 + + + 12 9 14 10 + + + + + 65 Acipenser nudiventris Ship Sturgeon + + + + + + 66 Acipenser persicus Persian Sturgeon + + + + + 67 Acipenser ruthenus Sterlet + + 68 Acipenser stellatus Stellate Sturgeon + + 71 Anguilla anguilla European Eel + + + + + + + + + + + + 73 Cyprinus carpio Wild Com m on Carp 74 Huso huso Beluga 75 Lampetra lanceolata Turkish Brook Lam prey + + 77 Luciobarbus capito Bulatm ai Barbel + 78 Pomatomus saltatrix Bluefish + 79 Ponticola rizensis Iyidere Goby + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 76 Luciobarbus brachycephalus Aral Barbel + + + 72 Clupeonella abrau 120 3 7 11 European (Atlantic) Sturgeon 12 + + Pontic shad 2 + Russian Sturgeon 69 Acipenser sturio + + 64 Acipenser gueldenstaedtii 70 Alosa immaculata 8 + + + + 2 + + + 2 + + + + + + + + + + + + + Amphibians Fish + + + 59 Vipera orlovi + + 43 Darevskia clarkorum 47 Eremias pleskei + + + + + 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS TH E IU CN GLOBALLY TH REATEN ED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION (2019) Distribution by Countries Ge o rgia Iran Russia Tu rke y Local, Country or Regional Endemics 22 Azerbaijan Fish Armenia Common Name Critically En d an ge re d Scientific Name En d an ge re d # Vulnerable IU CN Cate go ry 2019 8 2 12 3 11 12 9 14 10 7 80 Ponticola turani + 81 Pseudophoxinus atropatenus Azerbaijani Spring Roach + + + 82 Pseudophoxinus sojuchbulagi Akstafa Spring Roach + + + Aksu Goby 83 Salmo ezenami Kezenoi-am Trout + 84 Salmo ischchan Sevan Trout + + 85 Squalus acanthias Spiny Dogfish 0 0 0 0 1 100 98 73 46 63 86 Astacus astacus 1 1 276 78 Noble Crayfish Plants + + Acer divergens Çoruh Akçaağacı + Achnatherum roshevitzii Roshevich's Achnatherum + 89 Aethionema grandiflorum var. sintenisii Persian Stonecress 90 Alcea grossheimii Grossheim 's Alcea 91 Allium baytopiorum Baytop's Onion 92 Allium czelghauricum Czelghaurian Onion 93 Allium pseudoalbidum Onion + 94 Allium struzlianum Struzl's Onion + 95 Allochrusa takhtajanii Takhtadjyan's Allochrusa + Artvinian Alyssum + Curtailed Am blyopyrum + 98 Anabasis eugeniae Eugenia's Anabasis 99 Angelica adzharica Adjarian Angelica Thin Asphodeline Dagestanian Spleenwort + 109 Astragalus bylowae Bylov's Milk Vetch 110 Astragalus cuscutae Dodder Astragalus + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 111 Astragalus daghestanicus Daghestanian Milk Vetch + Eliasian Milk Vetch + 113 Astragalus hirtulus Milk Vetch + 114 Astragalus holophyllus Entire-leaved Milk Vetch + + + + + 112 Astragalus eliasianus + + + + + + 115 Astragalus igniarius Milk Vetch + Long-flagged Milk Vetch + 117 Astragalus magnificus Big Astragalus + + + + 116 Astragalus longivexillatus + + + + + + + + + + + Atenian Astracantha + + + Sharp-leaved Milk Vetch + + + 105 Astracantha atenica Albanian Astragalus 276 + + 106 Astragalus acmophylloides Aspindzian Astragalus 90 + + + 108 Astragalus aspindzicus 49 + + 104 Asplenium hermannii-christii Asplenium of Herm ann Christ 107 Astragalus albanicus 1 + + Amblyopyrum muticum 102 Asphodeline tenuior 0 + Alyssum artvinense 103 Asplenium daghestanicum 0 + 96 Kazbegian Rock-cress 0 + 97 Rod-shaped Woodruff 0 + 88 100 Arabis kazbegi + + 87 101 Asperula virgata + + + Crustaceans + + + + + + + + 121 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Tu rke y Russia Iran Ge o rgia Armenia Critically En d an ge re d Common Name En d an ge re d Scientific Name Vulnerable # Azerbaijan Distribution by Countries IU CN Cate go ry 2019 Local, Country or Regional Endemics TH E IU CN GLOBALLY TH REATEN ED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION (2019) 118 Astragalus maraziensis Marazinian Astragalus 119 Astragalus nigrocalycinus Black-calyx Milk Vetch + + + 120 Astragalus olurensis Olurian Milk Vetch + + + 121 Astragalus schachbuzensis Shakhbuzian Milk Vetch + 122 Astragalus shagalensis Shagalian Milk Vetch 123 Astragalus tatlii Tatli's Milk Vetch + + + 124 Astragalus trabzonicus Trabzonian Milk Vetch + + + 125 Astragalus vardziae Vardzian Astragalus + + + 126 Astrantia colchica Colchic Masterwort + + + 127 Barbamine ketzkhovelii Ketskhoveli's Barbam ine + + 128 Barbarea grandiflora Large-flowered Barbarea + 129 Barbarea lutea Artvinian Barbarea + 130 Betula megrelica Megrelian Birch + 131 Bilacunaria caspia Caspian Bilacunaria + 132 Bufonia takhtajanii Takhtadjyan's Bufonia 133 Bupleurum kosopolianskyi Kozo-poljanskyi's Thoroughwax 134 Bupleurum schistosum Divided Thoroughwax 135 Bupleurum wittmannii Wittm ann's Thoroughwax + 136 Callothlaspi abchasicum Abkhazian Callothlaspi + 137 Campanula aghrica Aghrian Bellflower 138 Campanula autraniana Autran's Cam panula + 139 Campanula choruhensis Choruhian Bellflower + 140 Campanula dzyschrica Dzyshrian Cam panula + + 141 Campanula engurensis Engurian Bellflower + + + 142 Campanula fonderwisii Bellflower + + + 143 Campanula kachethica Kakhetian Bellflower + + 144 Campanula kantschavelii Kanchaveli's Bellflower + + 145 Campanula kolakovskyi Kolakovskiy's Bellflower + + 146 Campanula lazica Lazian Cam panula 147 Campanula massalskyi Massalsky's Cam panula 148 Campanula pontica Pontic Cam panula 149 Campanula seraglio Serail Bellflower 150 Campanula songutica Songutian Cam panula 151 Campanula suanetica Svanetian Bellflower 152 Campanula troegerae Bellflower 153 Carum grossheimii Grossheim 's Caraway 122 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Tu rke y + Russia Azerbaijan + Iran Armenia Critically En d an ge re d Common Name En d an ge re d Scientific Name Vulnerable # Ge o rgia Distribution by Countries IU CN Cate go ry 2019 Local, Country or Regional Endemics TH E IU CN GLOBALLY TH REATEN ED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION (2019) 154 Carum komarovii Kom arov's Caraway 155 Centaurea caroli-henrici Karl-Henrikh's Centaury 156 Centaurea daralagoezica Daralagezian Tom anthea 157 Centaurea demirizii Dem iriz's Centaury + + + 158 Centaurea drabifolioides Whitlow-grass-leaved Centaury + + + 159 Centaurea hajastana Hayastanian Centaury 160 Centaurea leptophylla Thin-leaved Centaury 161 Centaurea rhizocalathium Root-headed Centaury 162 Centaurea tamanianiae Tam anyan's Centaury + + + 163 Centaurea vavilovii Vavilov's Centaury + + + 164 Centaurea woronowii Woronow's Centaury 165 Cephalaria anatolica Anatolian Cephalaria 166 Cerastium svanicum Svanetian Chickweed 167 Chaerophyllum karsianum Karsian Chervil + + + 168 Chaerophyllum posofianum Posofian Chervil + + + 169 Cirsium albowianum Albov's Thistle + 170 Cirsium czerkessicum Cherkessian Thistle + 171 Cirsium davisianum Davis' Thistle + + + 172 Cirsium eliasianum Thistle + + + 173 Cirsium oblongifolium Oblong-leaved Thistle + 174 Cirsium trachylepis Rough-scaly Thistle + 175 Colchicum greuteri Greuter's Colchicum + 176 Colchicum leptanthum Thin-flowered Colchicum + 177 Colchicum mirzoevae Mirzoeva's Merendera + 178 Convolvulus ruprechtii Ruprecht's Bindweed + 179 Corydalis tarkiensis Tarkian Corydalis + 180 Corylus colchica Colchian Hazel + 181 Cousinia araxena Araxian Cousinia + + + + 182 Cousinia gabrieljaniae Gabrielyan's Cousinia + + + + 183 Cousinia iljinii Ilyin's Cousinia + + + + 184 Cousinia lomakinii Lom akin's Cousinia + + + + 185 Cousinia takhtajanii Takhtadjan's Cousinia + + 186 Cousinia woronowii Voronov's Cousinia 187 Crambe armena Armenian Sea-kale 188 Crataegus turcicus Turkish Hawthorn 189 Crocus aerius Aerial Crocus + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 123 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Tu rke y Russia Iran Ge o rgia Armenia Critically En d an ge re d Common Name En d an ge re d Scientific Name Vulnerable # Azerbaijan Distribution by Countries IU CN Cate go ry 2019 Local, Country or Regional Endemics TH E IU CN GLOBALLY TH REATEN ED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION (2019) 190 Cryptotaenia flahaultii Flahault's Cryptotaenia + + + 191 Cynoglossum imeretinum Imeretian Hound's-tongue + + + 192 Delphinium iris Larkspur + + + 193 Delphinium munzianum Larskpur + + + 194 Dianthus charadzeae Kharadze's Pink + 195 Dianthus grossheimii Grossheim 's Pink + 196 Dianthus kubanensis Kubanian Poppy + 197 Draba meskhetica Meskhetian Whitelow Grass + 198 Draba narmanensis Narmanian Whitlow-grass 199 Dryopteris liliana Buckler Fern 200 Dryopteris raddeana Radde's Buckler Fern 201 Echinops foliosus Polyphyllous Globe Thistle 202 Echinops sintenisii Sintensi's Globe Thistle + 203 Erigeron schalbusi Shalbusian Fleabane + 204 Erodium hendrikii Heron's Bill + 205 Erodium sosnowskianum Sosonovskiy's Heron's-bill + 206 Erysimum caspicum Caspian Treacle Mustard + 207 Erysimum contractum Constricted Treacle Mustard + 208 Erysimum deflexum Bent Treacle Mustard 209 Erysimum leptocarpum Thin-fruited Tracle Mustard + 210 Erysimum wagifii Treacle Mustard + 211 Euphorbia aristata Bearded Spurge + 212 Euphorbia grossheimii Grossheim 's Spurge + 213 Ferula caucasica Caucasian Giant Fennel 214 Ferula mervynii Mervyn's Giant Fennel 215 Festuca pontica Pontic Fescue 216 Festuca xenophontis Fescue 217 Fritillaria grandiflora Big-flowered Fritillary 218 Galanthus koenenianus Koenen's Snowdrop + 219 Gladiolus hajastanicus Armenian Sword-lily + 220 Gypsophila robusta Robust Chalk Plant + 221 Gypsophila steupii Steup's Chalk Plant 222 Gypsophila szovitsii Szovits' Gypsophila 223 Helianthemum dagestanicum 224 Helichrysum artvinense 124 Dagestanian Sun Rose Artvinian Everlasting + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Tu rke y Russia Iran Ge o rgia Armenia Critically En d an ge re d Common Name En d an ge re d Scientific Name Vulnerable # Azerbaijan Distribution by Countries IU CN Cate go ry 2019 Local, Country or Regional Endemics TH E IU CN GLOBALLY TH REATEN ED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION (2019) 225 Heracleum egrissicum Egrissian Cow-Parsnip + 226 Hieracium adenobrachion Glandular-branched Hawkweed + + + 227 Hieracium caucasiense Caucasian Hawkweed + + + 228 Hornungia angustilimbata Narrow-limbed Hornungia + + + 229 Hypericum fissurale Cracked Saint J ohn's Wort + 230 Hypericum theodori Theodor's Saint J ohn's Wort 231 Iris camillae Kam illa's Iris + 232 Iris spuria subsp. notha Mim ic Iris + 233 Iris timofejewii Tim ofeev's Iris + 234 Isatis karjaginii Karyagin's Woad + 235 Jacobaea buschiana Busch's Groundsel 236 Jacobaea trapezuntina Trapezuntian Groundsel + 237 Jurinea akinfievii Akinfiev's Jurinea + 238 Jurinea alata Winged J urinea 239 Jurinea bellidioides + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + English Daisy-like Jurinea + + + 240 Jurinea brachypappa Short-thistledowned Jurinea + + + 241 Jurinea coronopifolia Wart-cress-leaved Jurinea + + + 242 Jurinea exuberans Profuse J urinea + 243 Jurinea galushkoi Galushko's J urinea + + + 244 Jurinea iljinii Iljin's Jurinea + + + 245 Jurinea praetermissa Neglected J urinea + 246 Jurinea sosnowskyi Sosnovsky's J urinea + 247 Jurinea woronowii Voronov's J urinea + 248 Kemulariella abchasica Abkhazian Kem ulariella + 249 Kemulariella colchica Colchic Kem ulariella + 250 Lamium tschorochense Chorokhian Dead Nettle 251 Laserpitium affine Sim ilar Laserwort + 252 Lilium ciliatum Ciliate Lily + 253 Lotus armeniacus Arm enian Bird's Foot Trefoil 254 Mandenovia komarovii Kom arov's Mandenovia 255 Muehlbergella oweriniana Owerin's Muchlenbergella 256 Myosotis daralaghezica Daralagezian Forget-me-not + + + 257 Nepeta alaghezi Alaghezian Catm int + + + 258 Noccaea sintenisii Sintensis' Penny-cress 259 Nonea karsensis Karsian Nonea 260 Omphalodes kusnetzovii Kuznetsov's Navelwort + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 125 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S TH E IU CN GLOBALLY TH REATEN ED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION (2019) Distribution by Countries Local, Country or Regional Endemics + + + 263 Onosma obtusifolia Am blyophyllous Goldendrop + + 264 Ornithogalum gabrielianiae Gabrielyan's Starflowers 265 Ornithogalum hyrcanum Hyrkanyan Starflowers 266 Papaver roseolum Pinkish Poppy 267 Papaver talyshense Talyshian Poppy + 268 Pimpinella lazica Lazian Burnet Saxifrage + 269 Pimpinella schatilensis Shatilian Anise + Podospermum 270 grigoraschvilii Grigorashvili's Salsify 271 Podospermum grossheimii Grossheim i's Salsify + 272 Podospermum idae Ida's Salsify + 273 Podospermum schischkinii Shishkin's Salsify + 274 Polygala urartu Urartuan Milkwort + 275 Polygonum caspicum Caspian Knotweed 276 Polylophium panjutinii Panjutin's Polylophium 277 Potentilla seidlitziana Zeidlits' Five-fingers + 278 Psephellus adjaricus Adjarian Psephellus + 279 Psephellus appendicigerus Appendage-bearing Centaury 280 Psephellus avaricus Awarian Centaury 281 Psephellus boissieri Boissier's Psephellus + 282 Psephellus cronquistii Cronquists's Cornflower + + + 283 Psephellus debedicus Debedian Cornflower + + + 284 Psephellus erivanensis Yerevanian Centaury 285 Psephellus galushkoi Galushko's Psephellus + 286 Psephellus geghamensis Geghamian Cornflower + 287 Psephellus gracillimus Very slender Psephellus 288 Psephellus kolakovskyi Kolakovsky's Psephellus 289 Psephellus manakyanii Manakyan's Cornflower + 290 Psephellus pecho Centaury + 291 Psephellus ruprechtii Ruprecht's Centaury + 292 Psephellus straminicephalus Straw-colour-headed Psephellus + 293 Psephellus taochius Centaury + 294 Psephellus troitzkyi Troitsky's Psephellus + 295 Psephellus zangezuri Zangezurian Cornflower + 126 Russia Black-stem Goldendrop Iran 262 Onosma nigricaulis Ge o rgia + Azerbaijan + Armenia + Common Name Critically En d an ge re d Curved Goldendrop Scientific Name En d an ge re d 261 Onosma arcuata # Vulnerable Tu rke y IU CN Cate go ry 2019 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Distribution by Countries + + + + + + Drooping Pear + + 302 Pyrus sosnovskyi Sosnovsky's Pear + + + 303 Pyrus tamamschianae Tam am shyan's Pear + + + 304 Pyrus theodorovii Teodorov's Pear + + + 305 Pyrus voronovii Voronov's Pear + + + 306 Ranunculus aragazi Aragatsian Buttercup + + + 307 Ranunculus tempskyanus Buttercup + + + 308 Ranunculus vermirrhizus Worm-rooted Buttercup + + + 309 Rhodothamnus sessilifolius Sessile-leaved Rhodothamnus + + + 310 Rosa dolichocarpa Long-fruited Brier + 311 Rosa sosnovskyana Sosnovsky's Rose 312 Rosa zangezura Zangezurian Rose 313 Rubus takhtadjanii Takhtadjan's Blackberry 314 Rubus zangezurus Zangezurian Blackberry 315 Sambucus tigranii Tigran's elder + + 316 Sameraria glastifolia Sam eraria + + 317 Saxifraga artvinensis Artvinian Rockfoil 318 Scabiosa adzharica Adjarian Scabious 319 Scorzonera czerepanovii Czerepanov's Scorzonera 320 Scorzonera ketzkhovelii Ketskhoveli's Salsify 321 Scorzonera kozlowskyi Kozlovskiy's Salsify 322 Scorzonera safievii Safiev's Salsify 323 Scrophularia capillaris Capillary Figwort 324 Scrophularia olgae Olga's Fig-wort 325 Scutellaria rhomboidalis Rhom boid Skullcap + 326 Sedum euxinum Euxinian Stonecrop + 327 Sempervivum charadzeae Kharadze's Houseleek + 328 Seseli cuneifolium Wedge-leaved Meadow Saxifrage + 329 Seseli saxicolum Saxicolous Seseli + + 330 Silene alpicola Alpine Catchfly + + Mixed Pear 298 Pyrus daralagezi Daralagezian Pear 299 Pyrus gergerana Gergeranian Pear 300 Pyrus hajastana Hayastanyan Pear 301 Pyrus nutans + + + + + + + Tu rke y + 297 Pyrus complexa Russia + Brovich's Pear Iran + 296 Pyrus browiczii Ge o rgia + Common Name Azerbaijan Armenia + Scientific Name En d an ge re d + # Vulnerable Critically En d an ge re d IU CN Cate go ry 2019 Local, Country or Regional Endemics TH E IU CN GLOBALLY TH REATEN ED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION (2019) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 127 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S + 333 Sonchus araraticus Araratian Sow-thistle + 334 Sorbus roopiana + Tu rke y Ispirian Catchfly Russia 332 Silene ispirensis Iran Armenia + Azerbaijan Critically En d an ge re d + Common Name En d an ge re d Khustup Cam pion Scientific Name Vulnerable 331 Silene chustupica # Ge o rgia Distribution by Countries IU CN Cate go ry 2019 + + + + Local, Country or Regional Endemics TH E IU CN GLOBALLY TH REATEN ED SPECIES IN THE CAUCASUS ECOREGION (2019) + + + + 335 Stachys bayburtensis Bayburt Woundwort + + + 336 Stachys choruhensis Choruh Woundwort + + + 337 Stachys sosnowskyi Sosnowsky's Woundwort + + + Sterigmostemum acanthocarpum Prickly-fruited Sterigm ostem um + 339 Stipa karjaginii Karjagin's Feather-grass + 340 Symphytum hajastanum Hajastanian Comfrey + 341 Symphytum podcumicum Podkum ian Com frey + 342 Symphytum savvalense Savvalian Com frey + + + 343 Tanacetum oxystegium Sharp-stegium Tansy + + + 344 Thesium maritimum Coastal Bastard Toad-flax 345 Thlaspi zangezuricum Zangezurian Pennycress 346 Thymus markhotensis Markhotian Thym e 347 Tragopogon armeniacus Arm enian Salsify 348 Tragopogon makaschwilii Makashvilis's Goat's Beard 349 Tragopogon meskheticus Meskhetian Goat's Beard 350 Tragopogon otschiaurii Ochiauri's Goat's Beard 351 Trapa colchica Colchis Water-Chestnut 352 Trapa maleevii Maleev's Water-Chestnut 338 353 Trifolium bobrovii Bobrov's Clover 354 Tripleurospermum fissurale Fissural Tripleurosperm um 355 Tulipa gumusanica Gum ushanian Tulip 356 Verbascum decursivum Decurrent Mullein + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 357 Verbascum transcaucasicum Transcaucasian Speedwell + + + 358 Veronica allahuekberensis Allahuekberian Speedwell + + + 359 Veronica transcaucasica Spicate Pseudolysim achion 360 Vicia erzurumica Erzurum ian Vetch + + + 361 Vicia quadrijuga Quadrijugous Vetch + + + 362 Zelkova carpinifolia Caucasian Zelkova Total 128 362 + + + + 121 + + 119 122 108 95 + + 114 42 + 106 138 310 Annex 2: Key Biodiversity Areas with Associated Trigger Species KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 47,670 Out of CL/ BL Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) RUSSIA (54 KBAs) Tam anskiy Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Falco cherrug, Otis tarda, Melanitta fusca, Podiceps auritus, Rissa tridactyla, Streptopelia turtur, Oxyura leucocephala, Puffinus yelkouan, Vipera renardi, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser ruthenus, Cyprinus carpio Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 172,342 Kuma-Manych 3 Delta Kuban Mustela lutreola, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Falco cherrug, Otis tarda, Oxyura leucocephala, Podiceps auritus, Rissa tridactyla, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera renardi, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser ruthenus, Cyprinus carpio, Anguilla anguilla Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 239,503 Kuma-Manych 4 Krim sky Mustela lutreola, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera renardi 21,063 Kuma-Manych 5 Mustela lutreola, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Primorsko-Akhtarsk Branta ruficollis, Clangula hyemalis, Otis tarda, Iris spuria subsp. notha Salt Lakes Oxyura leucocephala, Streptopelia turtur,Vipera renardi, Cyprinus carpio Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 115,674 Kuma-Manych 6 Mustela lutreola,Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Lower reaches of the Branta ruficollis, Otis tarda, Oxyura leucocephala, Beisug and Chelbas Streptopelia turtur, Vipera renardi, Acipenser Rivers stellatus, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser ruthenus, Cyprinus carpio, Anguilla anguilla Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 76,515 Kuma-Manych 7 Lower Ei Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Otis tarda, Oxyura leucocephala, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera renardi, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser ruthenus, Cyprinus carpio, Anguilla anguilla Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 41,559 Kuma-Manych / Outside of CL/ BL 8 Don Delta Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Podiceps auritus, Rissa tridactyla, Streptopelia turtur, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Cyprinus carpio, Anguilla anguilla, Alosa immaculata Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 81,384 Kuma-Manych 9 Novoberezanskiy Vormela peregusna, Otis tarda, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera renardi 34,797 Outside of CL/ BL 1 2 Asphodeline tenuior, Podospermum schischkinii, Thymus markhotensis 129 SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Abrausky Peninsula Nyctalus lasiopterus, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Neophron percnopterus, Podiceps auritus, Puffinus yelkouan, Rissa tridactyla, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Vipera renardi, Clupeonella abrau 2020 EDITION The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) 13,756 Outside of CL/ BL RUSSIA (54 KBAs) 10 Sredne-Labinskiy Streptopelia turtur, Vipera renardi 11 Novotroitskiy Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 7,258 Outside of CL/ BL 12 Veselovskoye Reservoir Vormela peregusna, Anser erythropus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Otis tarda, Oxyura leucocephala, Vipera renardi Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 183,853 Kuma-Manych 13 Manych-Gudilo Lake Vormela peregusna, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Chlamydotis macqueenii, Clangula hyemalis, Numenius tenuirostris, Oxyura leucocephala, Otis tarda, Podiceps auritus, Streptopelia turtur, Vanellus gregarius, Vipera renardi Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 48,622 Kuma-Manych 14 Dadynskiye Lake Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Otis tarda, Oxyura leucocephala Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 47,343 Kuma-Manych 15 Irgakliskaya Forest Area Vormela peregusna, Otis tarda 3,711 Outside of CL/ BL 16 Kizlyar Bay Mustela lutreola, Anser erythropus, Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Clangula hyemalis, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Oxyura leucocephala, Vipera renardi, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Huso huso Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 76,143 Caspian 17 Tarum ovsky Mustela lutreola, Otis tarda, Vipera renardi, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser stellatus Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 73,898 Caspian Argakhanskiy Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Vormela peregusna, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Oxyura leucocephala, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser stellatus, Huso huso Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 72,063 Caspian 19 YangiyurtovskiySulakskaya Mustela lutreola, Vormela peregusna, Anser erythropus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Branta ruficollis, Clanga clanga, Leucogeranus leucogeranus, Melanitta fusca, Podiceps auritus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser stellatus Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations), Tetrax tetrax (aggregations) 59,316 Caspian 20 Dagestanskiy (Sarykum skiy Barkhan) Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Testudo graeca 416 Caspian 18 Corydalis tarkiensis, Thesium maritimum Falconiformes (aggregations) E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 130 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) Melishtinskiy Panthera pardus, Aquila heliaca, Testudo graeca Convolvulus ruprechtii, Helianthemum dagestanicum 20,476 Eastern Greater Caucasus / Outside of CL/ BL 22 KayakentskyDeshlagarsky Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Testudo graeca Astragalus cuscutae, Corydalis tarkiensis 46,000 Eastern Greater Caucasus / Outside of CL/ BL 23 Papas (Adji) Lake Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Clangula hyemalis, Oxyura leucocephala, Podiceps auritus, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Thesium maritimum Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 4,668 Caspian Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus (restricted) 40,926 Eastern Greater Caucasus / Outside of CL/ BL Waterfowl, Waders (aggregations) 22,143 Caspian 13,633 Caspian 38,203 Eastern Greater Caucasus Itsari Capra aegagrus, Aquila heliaca, Neophron percnopterus 25 Sam urskiy Mustela lutreola, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Anser erythropus, Aquila heliaca, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Leucogeranus leucogeranus, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Melanitta fusca, N eophron percnopterus, Numenius tenuirostris, Otis tarda, Oxyura leucocephala, Podiceps auritus, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser ruthenus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Luciobarbus capito 26 Berkubinsky Anser erythropus, Clanga clanga, Testudo graeca, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser ruthenus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii 24 Thesium maritimum Shalbuzdag Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera dinniki Erigeron schalbusi, Hypericum theodori 28 Laman-Kam Area Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Testudo graeca, Luciobarbus capito Iris timofejewii Falconiformes (aggregations) 17,266 Eastern Greater Caucasus Tlyaratinsky Capra aegagrus, Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera dinniki Barbarea grandiflora, Mandenovia komarovii Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 65,640 Eastern Greater Caucasus 29 131 SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 27 Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 2020 EDITION 21 KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) KBA # KBA Name FAUNA Erigeron schalbusi, Mandenovia komarovii Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 81,587 Eastern Greater Caucasus 43,192 Eastern Greater Caucasus 2,723 Eastern Greater Caucasus 15,426 Eastern Greater Caucasus 44,844 Eastern Greater Caucasus 23,585 Eastern Greater Caucasus FLORA RUSSIA (54 KBAs) 30 31 Kosobsko-Kelebsky Capra aegagrus, Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera dinniki Bezhtinskiy Capra aegagrus, Panthera pardus, Sicista caucasica, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera dinniki Barbarea grandiflora Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 32 Khunzakhskiy Capra aegagrus, Panthera pardus, Aquila heliaca, N eophron percnopterus Convolvulus ruprechtii, Muehlbergella oweriniana, Helianthemum dagestanicum, Iris timofejewii, Psephellus boissieri 33 Kezenoi-Am (Lake Eizenam ) Basin Capra aegagrus, Neophron percnopterus, Salmo ezenami Psephellus boissieri 34 Erzi Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera dinniki 35 Ingushskiy Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Neophron percnopterus Mandenovia komarovii Severno-OsetinskyTseiskiy Bison bonasus, Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera dinniki Campanula songutica, Jurinea akinfievii, Jurinea brachypappa, Jurinea bellidioides Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 132,553 Central Greater Caucasus Campanula songutica Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 56,158 Central Greater Caucasus 36 37 Alania Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera dinniki Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 132 Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) KabardinoBalkarskiy Capra caucasica, Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Vipera dinniki Jurinea alata, Jurinea coronopifolia, Jurinea galushkoi 80,515 Central Greater Caucasus Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus) (restricted) 16,646 Central Greater Caucasus 96,736 Central Greater Caucasus / Outside of CL/ BL 101,535 Central Greater Caucasus 39 Kara-Su Sanctuary Panthera pardus, N eophron percnopterus Jurinea alata, Jurinea galushkoi 40 Baksan Gorge Capra caucasica, Aquila heliaca, Neophron percnopterus Asphodeline tenuior, Jurinea alata, Jurinea coronopifolia, Jurinea sosnowskyi Prielbrusie Capra caucasica, Aquila heliaca, Vipera dinniki, Darevskia alpina Jurinea alata, Jurinea coronopifolia 42 Gorge of the Eshkakon and Malka Rivers Aquila heliaca, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug Jurinea alata Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus) (restricted) 144,966 Western Greater Caucasus / Central Greater Caucasus Falconiformes (aggregations) 19,178 Central Greater Caucasus Falconiformes (aggregations) 40,851 Western Greater Caucasus 75,197 Western Greater Caucasus Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted), Falconiformes (aggregations) 198,713 Western Greater Caucasus 133 43 Surrounding of Kislovodsk Aquila heliaca, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera renardi Asphodeline tenuior, Hieracium adenobrachion, Hieracium caucasiense, Jurinea alata, Genista angustifolia, Symphytum podcumicum, Iris spuria subsp. notha 44 Upstream s of the Podkum ok and Kum a Rivers Aquila heliaca, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera renardi Iris spuria subsp. notha 45 Dautskiy Capra caucasica, Panthera pardus, Aquila heliaca, Jurinea alata, Jurinea Vipera dinniki, Darevskia alpina coronopifolia 46 TeberdinksiMarukhskiy Bison bonasus, Capra caucasica, Mustela lutreola, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera dinniki, Darevskia alpina 47 Upstream s of the Urup River Aquila heliaca, Neophron percnopterus Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 97,824 Outside of CL/ BL 48 Akhmet-Skala Ridge Panthera pardus, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera renardi Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 13,062 Outside of CL/ BL Dianthus kubanensis, Jurinea alata, Jurinea coronopifolia, Jurinea woronowii, Psephellus troitzkyi SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 41 Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 2020 EDITION 38 Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) RUSSIA (54 KBAs) 49 Dam khurtskiy Capra caucasica, Panthera pardus, N eophron percnopterus, Vipera dinniki, Darevskia alpina Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 30,050 Western Greater Caucasus 50 Psebay Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Natrix megalocephala, Vipera magnifica Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 37,567 Western Greater Caucasus 51 Gorge of the White River Aquila nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Natrix megalocephala, Vipera kaznakovi 3,975 Outside of CL/ BL 52 Caucasian Capra caucasica, Mustela lutreola, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Panthera pardus, Sicista caucasica, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera kaznakovi, Vipera dinniki, Natrix megalocephala, Darevskia alpina, Vipera magnifica 313,333 Western Greater Caucasus 53 Northern Black Sea Region Nyctalus lasiopterus, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Neophron percnopterus, Puffinus yelkouan, Rissa tridactyla, Streptopelia turtur, Natrix megalocephala, Testudo graeca, Vipera orlovi, Clupeonella abrau 293,945 Western Greater Caucasus Sochinsky Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Otis tarda, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera kaznakovi, Vipera dinniki, Testudo graeca, Natrix megalocephala, Vipera orlovi, Darevskia alpina 236,146 Western Greater Caucasus 54 Campanula autraniana, Cirsium czerkessicum, Silene alpicola, Genista angustifolia, Hieracium adenobrachion, Jurinea coronopifolia, Jurinea sosnowskyi, Jacobaea buschiana Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) Asphodeline tenuior, Campanula autraniana, Thymus markhotensis, Podospermum Falconiformes (aggregations) schischkinii Campanula autraniana, Campanula dzyschrica, Cirsium czerkessicum, Gypsophila steupii, Jurinea iljinii, Kemulariella abchasica, Kemulariella colchica, Silene alpicola Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) Total Area of KBAs in Russia - 3,886,146 ha GEORGIA (60 KBAs) 55 Arabika Nyctalus lasiopterus, Natrix megalocephala Astrantia colchica, Corylus colchica, Dianthus charadzeae, Kemulariella abchasica, Psephellus kolakovskyi 16,654 Western Greater Caucasus 56 Ritsa Capra caucasica, Mustela lutreola, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Sicista caucasica, Vipera kaznakovi, Natrix megalocephala Campanula dzyschrica, Campanula kolakovskyi, Kemulariella abchasica 16,412 Western Greater Caucasus 57 Bzipi Nyctalus lasiopterus, Natrix megalocephala, Vipera kaznakovi Astragalus magnificus, Asplenium hermannii-christii, Kemulariella abchasica 4,244 Western Greater Caucasus Nyctalus lasiopterus Campanula dzyschrica, Corylus colchica, Carum grossheimii, Omphalodes kusnetzovii, Psephellus kolakovskyi 23,976 Western Greater Caucasus 58 Range Bzipi E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 134 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) Bichvinta-Miusera Nyctalus lasiopterus, Testudo graeca 60 Pskhu-Gumista Capra caucasica, Mustela lutreola, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Sicista caucasica, Vipera kaznakovi 61 Abkhazia Capra caucasica, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Sicista caucasica, Vipera kaznakovi, Vipera dinniki, Darevskia alpina, Testudo graeca 62 Svaneti (2) Capra caucasica, Vipera dinniki 4,014 Western Greater Caucasus Campanula kolakovskyi, Kemulariella abchasica 40,365 Western Greater Caucasus Cryptotaenia flahaultii, Seseli saxicolum 36,161 Western Greater Caucasus 30,958 Western Greater Caucasus / Central Greater Caucasus 47,198 Western Greater Caucasus / Central Greater Caucasus 136 Kolkheti Carum grossheimii, Cirsium albowianum Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) Range Kodori Vipera dinniki 64 Lake Bebesiri Natrix megalocephala Trapa maleevii, Trapa colchica Svaneti (1) Capra caucasica, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera dinniki Barbamine ketzkhovelii, Carum grossheimii, Campanula engurensis, Cerastium svanicum, Campanula suanetica, Seseli saxicolum, Cirsium albowianum, Kemulariella colchica, Jurinea exuberans Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 224,680 Central Greater Caucasus Racha Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera kaznakovi, Vipera dinniki Carum grossheimii, Heracleum egrissicum, Sempervivum charadzeae, Jurinea exuberans Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 138,740 Central Greater Caucasus Capra caucasica, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Vipera kaznakovi Astrantia colchica, Betula megrelica, Campanula fonderwisii, Corylus colchica, Polylophium panjutinii, Heracleum egrissicum, Kemulariella colchica, Dianthus charadzeae, Seseli saxicolum 82,306 Central Greater Caucasus Astrantia colchica, Campanula fonderwisii, Cirsium oblongifolium, Kemulariella colchica 5,023 Outside of CL/ BL 364 Outside of CL/ BL 65 66 67 Askhi Massif 135 68 Khvam li Nyctalus lasiopterus, Vipera kaznakovi 69 Sataplia Nyctalus lasiopterus, Rhinolophus mehelyi SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 63 Carum grossheimii, Corylus colchica 2020 EDITION 59 KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) GEORGIA (60 KBAs) 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 Kolkheti (Aquatory) Aythya ferina, Podiceps auritus, Puffinus yelkouan, Rissa tridactyla, Acipenser sturio, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Huso huso, Alosa immaculata, Anguilla anguilla, Squalus acanthias, Pomatomus saltatrix Anas platyrhynchos, Anas crecca, Podiceps cristatus, Phalacrocorax carbo, Larus cachinnans, Larus ridibundus (aggregations) 15,845 Kolkheti Enguri River Nyctalus lasiopterus, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Alosa immaculata, Anguilla anguilla, Cyprinus carpio, Pomatomus saltatrix Anas platyrhynchos, Anas crecca, Podiceps cristatus, Phalacrocorax carbo, Larus cachinnans, Larus ridibundus (aggregations) 24,684 Kolkheti Khobi River Nyctalus lasiopterus, Huso huso, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser stellatus, Alosa immaculata, Anguilla anguilla, Cyprinus carpio, Pomatomus saltatrix, Astacus astacus Anas platyrhynchos, Anas crecca, Podiceps cristatus, Phalacrocorax carbo, Larus cachinnans, Larus ridibundus (aggregations) 3,853 Kolkheti Kolkheti Nyctalus lasiopterus, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Podiceps auritus, Oxyura leucocephala, Streptopelia turtur, Vanellus gregarius, Huso huso, Acipenser sturio, Acipenser stellatus, Trapa colchica, Trapa maleevii Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Alosa immaculata, Anguilla anguilla, Cyprinus carpio, Pomatomus saltatrix, Astacus astacus Anas platyrhynchos, Anas crecca, Podiceps cristatus, Phalacrocorax carbo, Larus cachinnans, Larus ridibundus (aggregations) 52,246 Kolkheti Rioni River Nyctalus lasiopterus, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Podiceps auritus, Oxyura leucocephala, Streptopelia turtur, Huso huso, Acipenser sturio, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Alosa immaculata, Anguilla anguilla, Cyprinus carpio, Pomatomus saltatrix, Astacus astacus Anas platyrhynchos, Anas crecca, Podiceps cristatus, Phalacrocorax carbo, Larus cachinnans, Larus ridibundus (aggregations) 37,070 Kolkheti Supsa River Nyctalus lasiopterus, Alosa immaculata, Anguilla anguilla, Cyprinus carpio, Astacus astacus Anas platyrhynchos, Anas crecca, Podiceps cristatus, Phalacrocorax carbo, Larus cachinnans, Larus ridibundus (aggregations) 2,013 Kolkheti Batumi 1 Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Darevskia dryada, Vipera kaznakovi, Mertensiella caucasica Pernis apivorus, Milvis migrans, Clanga pomarina, Hieraaetus pennatus, Circaetus gallicus, Circus aeruginosus, Circus pygargus, Circus macrourus (aggregations) 26,303 Western Lesser Caucasus Chorokhi-Sarpi Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aythya ferina, Podiceps auritus, Puffinus yelkouan, Vanellus gregarius, Rissa tridactyla, Darevskia dryada, Vipera kaznakovi, Mertensiella caucasica, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Anguilla anguilla, Cyprinus carpio, Pomatomus saltatrix, Astacus astacus Anas platyrhynchos, Anas crecca, Podiceps cristatus, Phalacrocorax carbo, Larus cachinnans, Larus ridibundus, Pelecanus crispus (aggregations) 4,711 Kolkheti Dianthus charadzeae Trapa colchica, Trapa maleevii E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 136 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) 78 Batumi 2 79 Machakhela Nyctalus lasiopterus, Vipera kaznakovi, Mertensiella caucasica, Anguilla anguilla, Cyprinus carpio, Astacus astacus Laserpitium affine 80 Shavsheti Range (2) Vipera kaznakovi, Mertensiella caucasica Angelica adzharica, Erysimum contractum 81 Mtirala-Kintrishi Rhinolophus mehelyi, Darevskia dryada, Vipera kaznakovi, Mertensiella caucasica Dryopteris liliana, Laserpitium affine, Psephellus adjaricus, Scabiosa adzharica 82 Bakhm aro Nyctalus lasiopterus, Vipera kaznakovi, Mertensiella caucasica 83 Goderdzi Pass Nyctalus lasiopterus, Mertensiella caucasica 84 Western Lesser Caucasus 25,863 Western Lesser Caucasus Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caspius (restricted) 21,439 Western Lesser Caucasus Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caspius (restricted) 29,213 Western Lesser Caucasus Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caspius (restricted) 33,239 Western Lesser Caucasus Angelica adzharica, Campanula pontica Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caspius (restricted) 26,954 Western Lesser Caucasus Shavsheti Range (1) Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aquila heliaca, Aquila Angelica adzharica, Campanula nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, pontica, Scabiosa adzharica Vipera kaznakovi, Mertensiella caucasica Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caspius (restricted) 55,498 Western Lesser Caucasus 85 Borjomi-Kharagauli Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, Centaurea woronowii, Vipera kaznakovi, Mertensiella caucasica, Cynoglossum imeretinum Luciobarbus capito Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caspius (restricted) 147,259 Western Lesser Caucasus 86 Nedzvi Nyctalus lasiopterus, Mertensiella caucasica, Luciobarbus capito 9,213 Western Lesser Caucasus 87 Trialeti Range Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca , Clanga clanga, N eophron percnopterus Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) (restricted) 27,274 Western Lesser Caucasus 88 Ktsia-Tabatskuri Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Melanitta fusca, N eophron percnopterus, Oxyura leucocephala, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera darevskii, Cyprinus carpio, Astacus astacus Larus armenicus, Grus grus (restricted) 20,476 Western Lesser Caucasus 89 Tetrobi Vipera darevskii Scorzonera ketzkhovelii, Scorzonera kozlowskyi 3,089 Western Lesser Caucasus Meskheti Nyctalus lasiopterus, Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Aquila nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera darevskii Astragalus aspindzicus, Astragalus vardziae, Draba Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao meskhetica, Echinops foliosus, mlokosiewiczi) (restricted) Podospermum idae, Tragopogon meskheticus, Sambucus tigranii 82,239 South Caucasus Uplands 90 Astragalus vardziae 137 SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 10,337 2020 EDITION Pernis apivorus, Milvis migrans, Clanga pomarina, Hieraaetus pennatus, Circaetus gallicus, Circus aeruginosus, Circus pygargus, Circus macrourus (aggregations) Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Aquila nipalensis, streptopelia turtur, Darevskia dryada, Vipera kaznakovi, Mertensiella caucasica KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) Aythya nyroca, Crex crex, Tadorna ferruginea, Pelecanus crispus, Pelecanus onocrotalus (aggregations), Larus armenicus, Grus grus (restricted) 467 South Caucasus Uplands 13,314 South Caucasus Uplands GEORGIA (60 KBAs) 91 Kartsakhi-Sulda Mire Vormela peregusna, Aythya ferina, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Melanitta fusca, Neophron percnopterus, Oxyura leucocephala, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera eriwanensis, Cyprinus carpio, Astacus astacus 92 J avakheti Vormela peregusna, Vipera darevskii, Vipera eriwanensis, Cyprinus carpio, Astacus astacus Khanchali Lake Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Melanitta fusca, Oxyura leucocephala, Streptopelia turtur, Vanellus gregarius Anas platyrhynchos, Anas crecca, Podiceps cristatus, Phalacrocorax carbo (aggregations), Larus armenicus, Grus grus (restricted) 727 South Caucasus Uplands Bugdasheni Lake Vormela peregusna, Aythya ferina, Melanitta fusca, Oxyura leucocephala, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Aquila nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Otis tarda, Cyprinus carpio Pelecanus crispus, Crex crex (aggregations) 119 South Caucasus Uplands Madatapa Lake Vormela peregusna, Aythya ferina, Melanitta fusca, Oxyura leucocephala, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Aquila nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Otis tarda, Vipera eriwanensis, Cyprinus carpio, Astacus astacus Aythya nyroca, Crex crex, Tadorna ferruginea, Pelecanus crispus, Pelecanus onocrotalus (aggregations), Larus armenicus, Grus grus (restricted) 1,398 South Caucasus Uplands Sagham o Lake Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Melanitta fusca, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Cyprinus carpio Aythya nyroca, Crex crex, Tadorna ferruginea, Pelecanus crispus, Pelecanus onocrotalus (aggregations), Larus armenicus, Grus grus (restricted) 3,531 South Caucasus Uplands 97 Paravani Lake Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Melanitta fusca, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Cyprinus carpio, Astacus astacus Aythya nyroca, Crex crex, Tadorna ferruginea, Pelecanus crispus, Pelecanus onocrotalus (aggregations), Larus armenicus, Grus grus (restricted) 4,106 South Caucasus Uplands 98 J avakheti Range Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera darevskii, Vipera eriwanensis 71,221 South Caucasus Uplands 99 Bedeni Nyctalus lasiopterus 13,977 Algeti-Loqi Kvernaki Ridge Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito 21,117 Outside of CL/ BL 93 94 95 96 100 Tragopogon makaschwilii Astragalus hirtulus E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 138 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) Tbilisi National Park Nyctalus lasiopterus, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Aquila heliaca, Neophron percnopterus, Testudo graeca Echinops foliosus, Gypsophila robusta 21,031 Trialeti-Gombori 105,765 Central Greater Caucasus Sicista kazbegica, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera dinniki Arabis kazbegi Pshav-Khevsureti Capra aegagrus, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera dinniki Mandenovia komarovii, Pimpinella schatilensis, Podospermum grigoraschvilii, Tragopogon otschiaurii Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 110,229 Eastern Greater Caucasus 104 Tusheti Capra aegagrus, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera dinniki Podospermum grigoraschvilii, Jurinea exuberans Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 113,618 Eastern Greater Caucasus 105 Babaneuri Rhinolophus mehelyi Zelkova carpinifolia 834 Eastern Greater Caucasus Eastern Caucasus Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Vipera dinniki Lyrurus m lokosiewiczi (Tetrao m lokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 30,217 Eastern Greater Caucasus Lagodekhi Capra aegagrus, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera dinniki Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 24,257 Eastern Greater Caucasus 108 Alazani Valley Nyctalus lasiopterus, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Anser erythropus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Otis tarda, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Vanellus gregarius, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Tetrax tetrax, Grus grus, Anthropoides virgo (Grus virgo) (aggregations), Phalacrocorax pygmeus (Microcarbo pygmaeus), Falco naumanni (restricted) 88,893 Iori-Mingachevir 109 Artsivi Gorge 98 Outside of CL/ BL 114,923 Iori-Mingachevir 102 103 106 107 110 ChachunaVashlovani Campanula kachethica 139 Gazella subgutturosa, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Aquila heliaca, Anser erythropus, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Tetrax tetrax, Grus grus, Anthropoides virgo (Grus virgo) (aggregations), Phalacrocorax pygmeus (Microcarbo pygmaeus), Falco naumanni (restricted) SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Kazbegi Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus, Phylloscopus lorenzii (Phylloscopus sindianus), Phylloscopus nitidus, Phoenicurus erythrogastrus, Carpodacus rubicilla (restricted) 2020 EDITION 101 KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) 19,099 Iori-Mingachevir 40,026 Iori-Mingachevir 787 Iori-Mingachevir 3,734 Iori-Mingachevir GEORGIA (60 KBAs) 111 112 113 114 Iori-Korugi Aquila heliaca, Anser erythropus, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Iori Plateau Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Oxyura leucocephala, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca Bupleurum wittmannii Tetrax tetrax , Grus grus, Anthropoides virgo (Grus virgo), Pelecanus crispus (aggregations), Phalacrocorax pygmeus (Microcarbo pygmaeus), Falco naumanni (restricted) J andari Lake Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Oxyura leucocephala, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Bupleurum wittmannii Phalacrocorax pygmeus (Microcarbo pygmaeus), Pelecanus crispus (aggregations) Gardabani Nyctalus lasiopterus, Anser erythropus, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Total Area of KBAs in Georgia - 2,133,542 ha AZERBAIJAN (48 KBAs) 115 Garayazi Aquila heliaca, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito, Pseudophoxinus sojuchbulagi 116 J andar Lake Aquila heliaca, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Falco cherrug, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio 117 Agstapha Aquila heliaca, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito 118 Sham kir Vormela peregusna, Aythya ferina, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca 119 Shortepe Vormela peregusna, Testudo graeca 120 Gyzilja 121 122 Bupleurum wittmanii, Iris camillae Milvus migrans (aggregation) 9,669 Iori-Mingachevir 633 Iori-Mingachevir Milvus migrans (aggregation) 9,580 Iori-Mingachevir Anas platyrynchos, Anas penelope (Mareca penelope), Larus cachinnans, Sterna hirundo (aggregation) 10,091 Iori-Mingachevir Bupleurum wittmannii, Gypsophila szovitsii Hirundo rustica, Delichon urbicum (aggregations) 12,376 Outside of CL/ BL Neophron percnopterus, Testudo graeca, Darevskia rostombekowi Carum komarovii Hirundo rustica, Delichon urbicum (aggregations) 5,140 Outside of CL/ BL Goy-Gol N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Aythya ferina, Darevskia rostombekowi Gypsophila szovitsii Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caspius (restricted) 26,130 Outside of CL/ BL Lachin Capra aegagrus, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Darevskia rostombekowi Tetraogallus caspius (restricted) 20,081 Outside of CL/ BL Anas platyrynchos, Anas penelope (Mareca penelope) (aggregations) Bupleurum wittmanii, Iris camillae Trifolium bobrovii E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 140 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) Gubadli 20,117 Outside of CL/ BL 124 Dashalty Rhinolophus mehelyi 125 Orta Kur Akhm azy Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca Gypsophila robusta, Gypsophila szovitsii 1,572 Outside of CL/ BL 27,642 Caspian 126 Turyanchay Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur Ferula caucasica, Gypsophila robusta 23,092 Iori-Mingachevir 127 Korchay Gazella subgutturosa, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Testudo graeca 19,917 Iori-Mingachevir 128 Gazella subgutturosa, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Anser Qabirri-Mingachevir erythropus, Streptopelia turtur, Aythya ferina, Falco cherrug , Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito 129 Ajinohur Gazella subgutturosa, Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Ferula caucasica Testudo graeca 28,155 Iori-Mingachevir 130 Ilisu (AkharBakhar) Gazella subgutturosa, Panthera pardus, Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Falco cherrug, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur 5,106 Iori-Mingachevir 131 Sheki N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Pseudophoxinus atropatenus 10,387 Outside of CL/ BL 132 Ganikh Valley Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito 35,832 Iori-Mingachevir 133 Zagatala Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii), Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus (restricted) 54,350 Eastern Greater Caucasus Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii), Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus (restricted) 23,949 Eastern Greater Caucasus 2020 EDITION Rhinolophus mehelyi, Neophron percnopterus, Testudo graeca, Darevskia rostombekowi 123 Ferula caucasica Tetrax tetrax, Phoenicopterus roseus, Glareola pratincola (agregations) Ilisu-Gakh Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca 135 Shahdag Rhinolophus mehelyi, Streptopelia turtur, Neophron percnopterus, Aythya ferina,Testudo graeca Hypericum theodori Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii), Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) (restricted) 130,498 Eastern Greater Caucasus 136 Shahdag Mountain (1) Aquila heliaca, Neophron percnopterus, Aythya ferina Achnatherum roshevitzii, Hypericum theodori Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus (restricted) 81,938 Eastern Greater Caucasus 137 Shahdag Mountain (2) Podiceps auritus Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Tetraogallus caucasicus (restricted) 10,520 Eastern Greater Caucasus SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 141 134 KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) 88,481 Caspian 9,084 Caspian AZERBAIJAN (48 KBAs) 138 Samur-YalamaGusar Nyctalus lasiopterus, Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Aquila heliaca, Aythya ferina, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser ruthenus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito Astragalus cuscutae, Thesium maritimum Anas platyrynchos, Anas penelope (Mareca penelope), Anas clypeata (Spatula clypeata), Aythya fuligula, Fulica atra, Netta rufina, Larus minutus (Hydrocoloeus minutus), Himantopus himantopus, Tringa totanus, Tringa ochropus, Recurovestra aocetha, Calidris alba, Calidris alpina, Larus argentatus (aggregations) 139 Aghzibir Lakes Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Falco cherrug, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Melanitta fusca, Numenius tenuirostris, Podiceps auritus, Streptopelia turtur, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito 140 Altyaghach Streptopelia turtur, Aquila heliaca, Testudo graeca Erysimum caspicum, Seseli cuneifolium, Hypericum theodori 11,530 Eastern Greater Caucasus 141 Garghabazar and Gush-Gaya Mountains Aquila nipalensis, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus Bilacunaria caspia 6,172 Outside of CL/ BL 142 Absheron Archipelago and Pirallahi Bay Gazella subgutturosa, Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Falco cherrug, Melanitta fusca, Podiceps auritus, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser stellatus, Huso huso,Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito 39,224 Caspian 143 Gyrm yzygol Lake Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Oxyura leucocephala, Phrynocephalus persicus 813 Caspian 144 Factory Shelf Aythya ferina 3,783 Caspian 145 Gobustan Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Neophron percnopterus, Testudo graeca Astragalus maraziensis, Astragalus albanicus, Astragalus cuscutae 4,315 Outside of CL/ BL Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (1) Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Falco cherrug, Oxyura leucocephala, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser stellatus, Huso huso, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito Astragalus igniarius, Astragalus maraziensis 7,457 Caspian 146 Astragalus albanicus, Bilacunaria caspia Astragalus igniarius, Bilacunaria caspia, Polygonum caspicum Cygnus olor, Podiceps cristatus, Larus ridibundus, Larus cachinnans, Anas platyrhynchos, Anas penelope (Mareca penelope), Aythya fuligula, Fulica atra, Phalacrocorax carbo, Microcarbo pygmaeus (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) (aggregations) Netta rufina, Microcarbo pygmaeus (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) (aggregations) Cygnus olor, Larus melanocephalus, Glareola pratincola, Netta rufina (aggregations) E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 142 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) Nyctalus lasiopterus, Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus olor, Larus melanocephalus, Glareola pratincola, Netta rufina (aggregations) 46 Caspian 148 Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (3) Gazella subgutturosa, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus olor, Larus melanocephalus, Glareola pratincola, Netta rufina (aggregations) 311 Caspian Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (4) Nyctalus lasiopterus, Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Oxyura leucocephala, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser stellatus, Huso huso, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito Cygnus olor, Larus melanocephalus, Glareola pratincola, Netta rufina (aggregations) 59 Caspian 150 Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (5) Gazella subgutturosa, Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Oxyura leucocephala, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser stellatus, Huso huso, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito Cygnus olor, Larus melanocephalus, Glareola pratincola, Netta rufina (aggregations) 1,451 Caspian 151 Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (6) Nyctalus lasiopterus, Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Oxyura leucocephala Cygnus olor, Larus melanocephalus, Glareola pratincola, Netta rufina (aggregations) 44 Caspian Shirvan Gazella subgutturosa, Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Anser erythropus, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Falco cherrug, Podiceps auritus, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca Tetrax tetrax, Anas platyrynchos, Anas penelope (Mareca penelope), Phoenicopterus roseus, Anser anser, Fulica atra (aggregations) 65,557 Caspian Kura Delta Nyctalus lasiopterus, Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Aythya ferina, Falco cherrug, Numenius tenuirostris, Podiceps auritus, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser ruthenus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Pelecanus crispus, Microcarbo pygmanus, Ardea purpurea, Platalea leucorodia, Nycticorax nycticorax (aggregations) 14,174 Caspian Gizilaghach Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Anser erythropus, Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Branta ruficollis, Clangula hyemalis, Falco cherrug, Leucogeranus leucogeranus, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Melanitta fusca, Otis tarda, Podiceps auritus, Testudo graeca, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser ruthenus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito Anas platyrynchos, Anas penelope (Mareca penelope), Anas clypeata (Spatula clypeata), Aythya fuligula, Fulica atra, Netta rufina, Phoenicopterus roseus, Anser anser, Larus minutus (Hydrocoloeus minutus), Himantopus himantopus, Tringa totanus, Tringa ochropus, Tringa glareola, Recurovestra aocetha, Calidris alba, Calidris alpina, Larus argentatus, Phalaropus lobatus (aggregations) 99,279 Caspian Hyrkan Forests Nyctalus lasiopterus, Panthera pardus, Testudo graeca, Bufo eichwaldi, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito 160,340 Hyrcan 149 152 153 154 143 155 Gypsophila szovitsii Dryopteris raddeana, Fritillaria grandiflora, Ornithogalum hyrcanum, Papaver talyshense, Zelkova carpinifolia SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (2) 2020 EDITION 147 KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) 14,555 Hyrcan 11,125 Outside of CL/ BL 12,518 Caspian Tetrax tetrax (aggregations) 61,843 Caspian Tetrax tetrax (aggregations), Tetraogallus caspius (restricted) 174,956 Eastern Lesser Caucasus Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) AZERBAIJAN (48 KBAs) 156 Zuvand Panthera pardus, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Phrynocephalus persicus, Vipera ebneri 157 Mahmud-Chala Lake Vormela peregusna, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Falco cherrug, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Oxyura leucocephala, Cyprinus carpio Araz-Bahramtepe Leucogeranus leucogeranus, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser stellatus, Huso huso, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito Ag-Gol-Sarisu Gazella subgutturosa, Vormela peregusna, Anser erythropus, Aythya ferina, Falco cherrug, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Melanitta fusca, Streptopelia turtur, Oxyura leucocephala, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito 158 159 Centaurea daralagoezica, Psephellus erivanensis, Fritillaria grandiflora, Papaver talyshense, Podospermum grossheimii Tetrax tetrax, Anas platyrynchos, Anas penelope (Mareca penelope), Phoenicopterus roseus, Anser anser, Fulica atra (aggregations) Anabasis eugeniae, Astragalus schachbuzensis, Astragalus igniarius, Centaurea daralogoezica, Carum komarovii, Cousinia araxena, Cousinia gabrieljaniae, Cousinia iljinii, Cousinia lomakinii, Crambe armena, Erysimum wagifii, Euphorbia grossheimii, Pyrus nutans, Sameraria glastifolia, Sterigmostemum acanthocarpum, Rosa sosnovskyna, Rosa zangezura, Gypsophila szovitsii, Isatis karjaginii, Scorzonera czerepanovii, Stipa karjaginii, Scutellaria rhomboidalis 160 Capra aegagrus, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Panthera pardus, Ovis orientalis, Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Aythya Zangezur-Darasham ferina, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Eremias pleskei, Phrynocephalus horvathi, Testudo graeca, Vipera eriwanensis 161 Aras Reservoir Aythya ferina, Anser erythropus, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Sameraria glastifolia 9,841 Eastern Lesser Caucasus Sadarak Vormela peregusna, Capra aegagrus, Ovis orientalis, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera eriwanensis Crambe armena, Centaurea daralagoezica, Papaver roseolum, Rosa sosnovskyana, Scutellaria rhomboidalis, Stipa karjaginii 69,520 Eastern Lesser Caucasus 162 Total Area of KBAs in Azerbaijan - 1,584,584 ha E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 144 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) Lake Arpi Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera darevskii, Cyprinus carpio Larus armenicus, Circus pygargus, Pelecanus onocrotalus (aggregations) 35,239 South Caucasus Uplands 164 Mount Achkasar Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Vipera darevskii Gallinago media, Larus armenicus, Circus macrourus, Tetrax tetrax (aggregations) 8,470 South Caucasus Uplands 165 Tashir Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera eriwanensis Astragalus shagalensis Gallinago media, Circus macrourus, Clanga pomarina, Anthropoides virgo (Grus virgo) (aggregations) 15,037 South Caucasus Uplands 166 Jajur Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur Allium struzlianum, Centaurea tamanianiae, Tragopogon armeniacus Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii) (restricted) 6,279 Outside of CL/ BL Akhuryan Reservoir Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Otis tarda, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Astragalus shagalensis, Centaurea hajastana, Tragopogon armeniacus, Sambucus tigranii Tetrax tetrax (aggregations) 6,244 Outside of CL/ BL Arm avir Meriones dahli, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Vormela peregusna, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Neophron percnopterus, Otis tarda, Streptopelia turtur, Phrynocephalus horvathi, Testudo graeca, Eremias pleskei, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Alcea grossheimii, Campanula massalskyi, Centaurea hajastana, Colchicum greuteri, Papaver roseolum, Scorzonera safievii Gallinago media, Limosa limosa, Calidris ferruginea, Larus armenicus, Circus macrourus, Pelecanus crispus, Tetrax tetrax, Pernis apivorus, Milvus milvus, Buteo buteo (aggregations) 66,120 Outside of CL/ BL Aragats Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera eriwanensis Erodium sosnowskianum, Nepeta alaghezi, Ornithogalum gabrielianiae, Potentilla seidlitziana, Ranunculus aragazi, Gladiolus hajastanicus Prunella ocularis (restricted) 27,153 Outside of CL/ BL Mount Ara Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Vipera eriwanensis Alcea grossheimii, Rosa sosnovskyana, Myosotis daralaghezica, Polygala urartu, Sambucus tigranii Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) (restricted) 3,705 Outside of CL/ BL Nyctalus lasiopterus, Sicista armenica, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Falco cherrug, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Darevskia rostombekowi, Testudo graeca, Vipera eriwanensis Astragalus shagalensis, Rosa sosnovskyana, Rubus zangezurus, Bupleurum kosopolianskyi, Colchicum mirzoevae, Jurinea praetermissa, Psephellus cronquistii, Psephellus debedicus, Psephellus manakyanii, Scrophularia olgae, Symphytum hajastanum, Veronica transcaucasica, Sambucus tigranii Gallinago media, Circus macrourus, Gyps fulvus (aggregations), Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) (restricted) 273,244 Eastern Lesser Caucasus 167 168 169 170 171 Northeast 145 SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 163 2020 EDITION ARMENIA (22 KBAs) KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) 25,626 Eastern Lesser Caucasus 146,346 Outside of CL/ BL ARMENIA (22 KBAs) 172 173 Sevan Ridge Capra aegagrus, Myotis hajastanicus, Vormela peregusna, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera eriwanensis Scrophularia olgae, Sorbus roopiana Lake Sevan Myotis hajastanicus, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Darevskia rostombekowi, Vipera eriwanensis, Salmo ischchan Rosa sosnovskyana, Papaver roseolum, Polygala urartu, Sorbus roopiana, Scrophularia olgae Allium struzlianum, Allochrusa takhtajanii, Amblyopyrum muticum, Astragalus holophyllus, Bufonia takhtajanii, Bupleurum kosopolianskyi, Centaurea daralagoezica, Centaurea rhizocalathium, Centaurea vavilovii, Crambe armena, Erodium sosnowskianum, Euphorbia grossheimii, Gladiolus hajastanicus, Gypsophila szovitsii, Isatis karjaginii, Myosotis daralaghezica, Pyrus complexa, Pyrus hajastana, Pyrus sosnovskyi, Pyrus tamamschianae, Pyrus theodorovii, Rosa sosnovskyana, Rosa zangezura, Polygala urartu, Potentilla seidlitziana, Psephellus erivanensis, Psephellus geghamensis, Sterigmostemum acanthocarpum, Symphytum hajastanum Psephellus erivanensis Aythya nyroca, Limosa limosa, Microcarbo pygmaeus (aggregations) 618 Outside of CL/ BL Aythya nyroca, Limosa limosa, Limosa lapponica, Numenius arquata, Calidris ferruginea, Pelecanus crispus, Pelecanus onocrotalus, Anthropoides virgo (Grus virgo), Microcarbo pygmaeus (Phalacrocorax pygmeus) (aggregations) 7,750 Outside of CL/ BL 400 Eastern Lesser Caucasus 174 Khosrov Forest Capra aegagrus, Meriones dahli, Ovis orientalis, Panthera pardus, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera eriwanensis, Testudo graeca, Eremias pleskei 175 Khor Virap Meriones dahli, Aythya ferina, Marmaronetta angustirostris 176 Arm ash Fish Ponds Aythya ferina, Clanga clanga, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Oxyura leucocephala, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Gypsophila szovitsii, Psephellus erivanensis, Sterigmostemum acanthocarpum, Sonchus araraticus 177 Goravan Sands Meriones dahli, Eremias pleskei, Phrynocephalus horvathi, Testudo graeca Gypsophila szovitsii, Psephellus erivanensis Larus armenicus, Limosa limosa, Limosa lapponica, Anthropoides virgo (Grus virgo) (aggregations), Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii) (restricted) 78,042 Eastern Lesser Caucasus E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 146 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) Eastern Lesser Caucasus Dianthus grossheimii, Gladiolus hajastanicus, Psephellus geghamensis, Pyrus nutans, Sorbus roopiana 27,876 Eastern Lesser Caucasus 29,493 Eastern Lesser Caucasus Capra aegagrus, Myotis hajastanicus, Panthera pardus, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera eriwanensis Alcea grossheimii, Centaurea caroli-henrici, Centaurea daralagoezica, Colchicum mirzoevae, Gladiolus hajastanicus, Pyrus browiczii, Pyrus complexa, Pyrus daralagezi, Pyrus gergerana, Pyrus hajastana, Pyrus nutans, Pyrus sosnovskyi, Rosa sosnovskyana, Sambucus tigranii 76,287 Eastern Lesser Caucasus Meghri Capra aegagrus, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Ovis orientalis, Panthera pardus, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Eremias pleskei, Vipera eriwanensis, Testudo graeca, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito Carum komarovii, Centaurea rhizocalathium, Cousinia araxena, Cousinia iljinii, Cousinia lomakinii, Cousinia takhtajanii, Cousinia gabrieljaniae, Erysimum wagifii, Psephellus zangezuri, Pyrus complexa, Pyrus daralagezi, Pyrus hajastana, Pyrus nutans, Poecile lugubris (restricted) Pyrus sosnovskyi, Pyrus tamamschianae, Pyrus voronovii, Rosa zangezura, Rubus takhtadjanii, Rubus zangezurus, Sameraria glastifolia, Scrophularia olgae, Silene chustupica, Sterigmostemum acanthocarpum, Sorbus roopiana, Thlaspi zangezuricum 144,465 Eastern Lesser Caucasus 183 Tatev Capra aegagrus, Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur Centaurea rhizocalathium, Cousinia takhtajanii, Gladiolus hajastanicus, Isatis karjaginii, Psephellus zangezuri, Rosa zangezura, Veronica transcaucasica Circus macrourus, Circus pygargus, Buteo buteo (aggregations) 27,182 Eastern Lesser Caucasus 184 Khndzoresk Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur Astragalus bylowae, Psephellus taochius Circus macrourus, Pernis apivorus (aggregations) 3,428 Eastern Lesser Caucasus Urts Range 179 Gndasar Capra aegagrus, Panthera pardus, Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Vipera eriwanensis Arpa Capra aegagrus, Ovis orientalis, Panthera pardus, Vormela peregusna, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga Centaurea tamanianiae, Sameraria glastifolia, clanga, N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Cyprinus carpio, Luciobarbus capito, Pyrus complexa Pyrus complexa 180 181 182 Jermuk-Eghegis 147 Total Area of KBAs in Armenia - 1,029,435 ha SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 20,432 178 2020 EDITION Centaurea daralagoezica, Centaurea vavilovii, Euphorbia grossheimii, Myosotis daralaghezica, Psephellus erivanensis, Gypsophila szovitsii, Isatis karjaginii Capra aegagrus, Ovis orientalis, Panthera pardus,Vormela peregusna, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Clanga clanga, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Vipera eriwanensis, Testudo graeca KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) 55,887 Western Lesser Caucasus TURKEY (32 KBAs) 185 Giresun and Ordu Coast Vormela peregusna, Darevskia clarkorum 186 Giresun Mountains Mertensiella caucasica Centaurea drabifolioides, Cirsium trachylepis, Lilium ciliatum Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 134,115 Western Lesser Caucasus Capra aegagrus, Mertensiella caucasica Campanula pontica, Centaurea rhizocalathium, Cirsium trachylepis, Crocus aerius, Echinops sintenisii, Erysimum deflexum, Festuca pontica, Festuca xenophontis, Lilium ciliatum, Tulipa gumusanica, Pimpinella lazica Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 91,675 Western Lesser Caucasus Mertensiella caucasica Astragalus trabzonicus, Bupleurum schistosum, Erodium hendrikii, Galanthus koenenianus Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 45,845 Western Lesser Caucasus 189 N eophron percnopterus, Mertensiella caucasica, Ikizdere and Soganli Ponticola rizensis, Ponticola turani, Lampetra Mountain lanceolata Aethionema grandiflorum var. sintenisii, Crocus aerius, Lilium ciliatum, Ranunculus tempskyanus, Sedum euxinum, Noccaea sintenisii,Pimpinella lazica, Psephellus appendicigerus, Scrophularia capillaris Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii), Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 91,326 Western Lesser Caucasus 190 Upper Chorukh Valley N eophron percnopterus, Ponticola rizensis, Ponticola turani Alyssum artvinense, Crocus aerius, Erysimum leptocarpum, Verbascum decursivum Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) , Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii) (restricted) 114,516 Western Lesser Caucasus Capra aegagrus, Darevskia clarkorum, Natrix megalocephala, Vipera pontica, Mertensiella caucasica, Ponticola rizensis, Ponticola turani Campanula massalskyi, Campanula lazica, Centaurea drabifolioides, Cirsium trachylepis, Dryopteris liliana, Festuca pontica, Galanthus koenenianus, Laserpitium affine, N occaea sintenisii, Scrophularia capillaris, Pimpinella lazica, Psephellus appendicigerus, Ranunculus tempskyanus Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii), Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 200,407 Western Lesser Caucasus 187 188 191 Zigana Mountain Karadere North Kackars E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 148 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii) (restricted) 247,439 Western Lesser Caucasus Helichrysum artvinense, Rhodothamnus sessilifolius, Saxifraga artvinensis, Sedum euxinum, Symphytum savvalense, Bupleurum schistosum,Alyssum artvinense, Campanula troegerae, Centaurea woronowii, Hypericum fissurale Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 61,664 Western Lesser Caucasus Aquila nipalensis, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Vipera kaznakovi, Natrix megalocephala, Vipera eriwanensis, Darevskia dryada, Mertensiella caucasica Bupleurum schistosum, Dryopteris liliana, Psephellus pecho Phylloscopus nitidus(restricted) 40,276 Western Lesser Caucasus Karcal Mountains Vipera kaznakovi, Mertensiella caucasica Alyssum artvinense, Bupleurum schistosum, Campanula pontica, Cousinia woronowii, Lamium tschorochense, Psephellus pecho, Saxifraga artvinensis, Tripleurospermum fissurale Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii), Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 151,554 Western Lesser Caucasus 196 Yalnizcam Mountains Barbarea lutea, Centaurea woronowii, Cirsium trachylepis, Crataegus turcicus, Dryopteris Vormela peregusna, Neophron percnopterus, liliana, Erysimum leptocarpum, Vipera eriwanensis, Vipera darevskii, Mertensiella Helichrysum artvinense, caucasica Jacobaea trapezuntina, Psephellus pecho, Ranunculus vermirrhizus, Verbascum decursivum Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii), Phylloscopus nitidus (restricted) 197,729 Sarikamish-Posof 197 Posof Forest Vipera darevskii, Natrix megalocephala, Mertensiella caucasica Chaerophyllum posofianum Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii) (restricted) 57,588 South Caucasus Uplands 198 Ardahan Plain and Forest Aythya ferina, Vipera eriwanensis, Vipera darevskii Chaerophyllum posofianum, Delphinium iris Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii) (restricted) 48,549 Outside of CL/ BL 192 South Kackars 193 Hatila Valley 194 Hopa 195 N eophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Mertensiella caucasica, Ponticola rizensis, Ponticola turani 2020 EDITION Alyssum artvinense, Asperula virgata, Astragalus acmophylloides, Campanula troegerae, Campanula seraglio, Campanula choruhensis, Centaurea leptophylla, Colchicum leptanthum, Crocus aerius, Dryopteris liliana, Erysimum leptocarpum, Ferula mervynii, Helichrysum artvinense, Kemulariella colchica, Psephellus pecho, Psephellus straminicephalus, Stachys choruhensis, Sedum euxinum, Silene ispirensis, Tripleurospermum fissurale, Verbascum decursivum SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 149 KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) 5,859 South Caucasus Uplands 27,056 South Caucasus Uplands 9,281 Aras 20,613 Aras TURKEY (32 KBAs) 199 Aktas Lake Melanitta fusca 200 Cildir Lake Aythya ferina 201 Kuyucuk Lake Aythya ferina , Oxyura leucocephala 202 Kars Ovasi Aythya ferina, Oxyura leucocephala, Vipera eriwanensis, Vipera darevskii Chaerophyllum karsianum 203 Allahuekber Mountains Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus Allium czelghauricum, Onosma nigricaulis, Stachys sosnowskyi, Tripleurospermum fissurale, Veronica allahuekberensis Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii) (restricted) 260,701 Sarikamish-Posof 204 Sarikam ish Forests Astragalus eliasianus Phylloscopus sindianus (Phylloscopus lorenzii) (restricted) 70,571 Sarikamish-Posof Olur-Oltu Steppe N eophron percnopterus Astragalus acmophylloides, Astragalus nigrocalycinus, Bupleurum schistosum, Campanula choruhensis, Cousinia woronowii, Draba narmanensis, Delphinium munzianum, Psephellus taochius, Psephellus pecho, Tripleurospermum fissurale, Tanacetum oxystegium 140,221 Outside of CL/ BL 180,141 Outside of CL/ BL 37,190 Outside of CL/ BL 2,977 Sarikamish-Maku 31,517 Sarikamish-Maku 33,852 Sarikamish-Maku 41,142 Sarikamish-Maku 205 Cirsium eliasianum Important for breeding waterbirds 206 Tortum Basin N eophron percnopterus Asperula virgata, Bupleurum schistosum, Cephalaria anatolica, Cirsium davisianum, Cousinia woronowii, Delphinium munzianum, Ferula mervynii, Psephellus straminicephalus, Vicia erzurumica 207 Kop Mountain Darevskia uzzelli, Mertensiella caucasica Campanula lazica, Stachys bayburtensis 208 Palandoken Mountain Vipera eriwanensis 209 Bingol Mountains N eophron percnopterus 210 Karasu Plain Otis tarda, Neophron percnopterus 211 Aras Valley Neophron percnopterus, Vipera eriwanensis, Montivipera wagneri Erysimum leptocarpum Cousinia woronowii, Lotus armeniacus, Nonea karsensis, Sameraria glastifolia, Verbascum transcaucasicum E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 150 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) Igdir Plain 213 Agri Mountain Neophron percnopterus, Eremias pleskei, Phrynocephalus horvathi Allium baytopiorum, Astragalus longivexillatus 133,408 Sarikamish-Maku 214 Dogubeyazit Marshes Falco cherrug, Darevskia bendimahiensis, Eremias pleskei, Phrynocephalus horvathi Astragalus longivexillatus, Campanula aghrica 17,377 Sarikamish-Maku 215 Tendurek Mountain Neophron percnopterus, Darevskia bendimahiensis Centaurea demirizii, Psephellus gracillimus 35,443 Sarikamish-Maku 216 Eastern Van Mountains Ovis orientalis, Neophron percnopterus, Oxyura leucocephala 86,386 Sarikamish-Maku Allium baytopiorum 56,952 Sarikamish-Maku 2020 EDITION 212 Meriones dahli, Falco cherrug, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Testudo graeca, Vipera eriwanensis, Eremias pleskei, Phrynocephalus horvathi Total Area of KBAs in Turkey - 2,729,260 ha IRAN (15 KBAs) Ovis orientalis, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Capra aegagrus, Anser erythropus, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Testudo graeca, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito Aquila chrysaetos (Falco chrysaetos), Francolinus francolinus, Falco subbuteo, Glareola nordmanni, Tetraogallus caspius (aggregations) 324,754 Sarikamish-Maku Maku Ovis orientalis, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Capra aegagrus, Anser erythropus, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Otis tarda, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito Aquila chrysaetos (Falco chrysaetos), Francolinus francolinus, Falco subbuteo, Glareola nordmanni, Tetraogallus caspius (aggregations) 86,290 Sarikamish-Maku 219 Agh-Gol Ovis orientalis, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Capra aegagrus, Aquila heliaca, Anser erythropus, Clanga clanga Tetraogallus caspius, Aquila chrysaetos (Falco chrysaetos), Francolinus francolinus, Falco subbuteo, Glareola nordmanni (aggregations) 27,385 Sarikamish-Maku 220 Aras Dam Lake Anser erythropus, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Oxyura leucocephala, Luciobarbus brachycephalus, Luciobarbus capito Anser albifrons, Haliaeetus albicilla, Pelecanus onocrotalus (aggregations) 9,514 Arasbaran 221 Marakan Ovis orientalis, Capra aegagrus, Panthera pardus, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Phrynocephalus persicus, Vipera ebneri, Eremias pleskei Tetraogallus caspius, Gypaetus barbatus (aggregations) 103,248 Arasbaran 222 Kiamaky-Kantal Ovis orientalis, Panthera pardus, Capra aegagrus, Falco cherrug, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca, Vipera ebneri Tetraogallus caspius, Gypaetus barbatus (aggregations) 96,709 Arasbaran 375,740 Arasbaran 218 223 Dizmar-Arasbaran Capra aegagrus, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Neophron percnopterus, Streptopelia turtur, Testudo graeca 151 Tetraogallus caspius, Falco subbuteo, Aquila chrysaetos (Falco chrysaetos), Phalacrocorax pygmeus (Microcarbo pygmaeus), Phasianus colchicus, Gypaetus barbatus, Accipiter gentilis (aggregations), Lyrurus mlokosiewiczi (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) (restricted) SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Maku and Iran West Border 217 KBA # KBA Name FAUNA FLORA Aggregations and Geographically Restricted Species (Birds) KBA Are a (ha) Conservation an d Bridgin g Landscapes (CLs and BLs) IRAN (15 KBAs) 224 Parsabad Gazella subgutturosa, Anser erythropus, Branta ruficollis, Clanga clanga, Leucogeranus leucogeranus, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Oxyura leucocephala Aythya nyroca, Francolinus francolinus, Tetrax tetrax (aggregations) 79,883 Arasbaran 225 Mountain SahandSabalan Ovis orientalis, Panthera pardus, Capra aegagrus, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga Aquila chrysaetos (Falco chrysaetos), Gyps fulvus (aggregations), Sturnus roseus (Pastor roseus), Tetraogallus caspius (restricted) 123,968 Outside of CL/ BL 226 Lavandvil Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Phasianus colchicus (restricted) 89,656 Hyrcan 227 Lisar Panthera pardus, Aquila nipalensis, Bufo eichwaldi 31,194 Hyrcan 228 Anzali Lagoon Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Anser erythropus, Aquila heliaca, Clanga clanga, Falco cherrug, Leucogeranus leucogeranus, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Oxyura leucocephala, Podiceps auritus, Vanellus gregarius, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Cyprinus carpio 137,304 Hyrcan 229 Gashtroodkhan Panthera pardus 39,626 Hyrcan Sepirud River and Bujagh Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Anser erythropus, Aquila heliaca, Branta ruficollis, Clanga clanga, Clangula hyemalis, Numenius tenuirostris, Oxyura leucocephala, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser ruthenus, Cyprinus carpio Pelecanus crispus (aggregations) 29,806 Hyrcan Am irkelayeh Phoca caspica (Pusa caspica), Aquila heliaca, Anser erythropus, Branta ruficollis, Clanga clanga, Clangula hyemalis, Numenius tenuirostris, Oxyura leucocephala, Huso huso, Acipenser stellatus, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser ruthenus, Cyprinus carpio Pelecanus crispus (aggregations) 93,263 Hyrcan 230 231 Zelkova carpinifolia Total Area of KBAs in Iran - 1,648,341 ha Area of all KBAs in the Ecoregion - 13,011,309 ha E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 152 The IUCN Globally Threatened Species (2019) 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Num ber of Critically Endangered Species Abrausky Peninsula 15 √ - 15 4 1 47,670 2 Tam anskiy 15 √ - 15 - 1 172,342 3 Delta Kuban 18 √ - 18 - 6 239,503 4 Krim sky 3 - - 3 - 1 21,063 5 Primorsko-Akhtarsk Salt Lakes 11 √ - 11 1 1 115,674 6 Lower reaches of the Beisug and Chelbas Rivers 13 √ - 13 - 4 76,515 7 Lower Ei 12 √ - 12 - 3 41,559 8 Don Delta 11 √ - 11 - 4 81,384 KBA Name KBA Area (ha) Num ber of Endem ic Species (local, country, regional) 1 KBA # Num ber of Globally Threatened Species Total Number of all Trigger Species Num ber of Geographically Restricted Species Aggregations or Num ber of Aggregate Species Annex 3: Summary of Species Parameters of Key Biodiversity Areas RUSSIA (54 KBAs) 9 Novoberezanskiy 4 - - 4 - - 34,797 10 Sredne-Labinskiy 2 - - 2 - - 13,756 11 Novotroitskiy 3 - - 3 - - 7,258 12 Veselovskoye Reservoir 11 - - 11 - - 183,853 13 Manych-Gudilo Lake 13 √ - 13 - 2 48,622 14 Dadynskiye Lake 5 √ - 5 - - 47,343 15 Irgakliskaya Forest Area 2 - - 2 - - 3,711 16 Kizlyar Bay 12 √ - 12 - 3 76,143 17 Tarum ovsky 5 √ - 5 - 3 73,898 18 Argakhanskiy 13 √ - 13 - 5 72,063 19 Yangiyurtovskiy-Sulakskaya 14 1 - 15 - 6 59,316 20 Dagestanskiy (Sarykum skiy Barkhan) 9 √ - 9 2 - 416 21 Melishtinskiy 5 - - 5 2 - 20,476 22 Kayakentsky-Deshlagarsky 6 - - 6 2 - 46,000 23 Papas (Adji) Lake 9 √ - 9 1 - 4,668 40,926 24 Itsari 3 - 5 8 2 - 25 Sam urskiy 26 √ - 26 1 8 22,143 26 Berkubinsky 9 - - 9 - 5 13,633 27 Shalbuzdag 9 - 6 15 5 - 38,203 28 Laman-Kam Area 6 √ - 6 1 - 17,266 29 Tlyaratinsky 10 - 6 16 5 - 65,640 30 Kosobsko-Kelebsky 10 - 6 16 5 - 81,587 31 Bezhtinskiy 10 - 6 16 5 - 43,192 32 Khunzakhskiy 9 - 6 15 7 1 2,723 33 Kezenoi-Am (Lake Eizenam) Basin 4 - - 4 2 1 15,426 34 Erzi 6 - 6 12 3 - 44,844 35 Ingushskiy 4 - - 4 1 - 23,585 36 Severno-Osetinsky-Tseiskiy 12 - 6 18 7 1 132,553 37 Alania 7 - 6 13 4 - 56,158 38 Kabardino-Balkarskiy 8 - 6 14 7 - 80,515 39 Kara-Su Sanctuary 4 - 3 7 4 - 16,646 40 Baksan Gorge 7 - - 7 5 - 96,736 41 Prielbrusie 6 - 6 12 7 - 101,535 42 Gorge of the Eshkakon and Malka Rivers 4 - 3 7 3 - 144,966 153 Num ber of Critically Endangered Species Surrounding of Kislovodsk 10 √ - 10 6 - 19,178 44 Upstream s of the Podkum ok and Kum a Rivers 4 √ - 4 1 - 40,851 KBA Name KBA Area (ha) Num ber of Endem ic Species (local, country, regional) 43 KBA # Num ber of Globally Threatened Species Total Number of all Trigger Species Num ber of Geographically Restricted Species Aggregations or Num ber of Aggregate Species E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S RUSSIA (54 KBAs) 45 Dautskiy 7 - - 7 5 - 75,197 46 Teberdinksi-Marukhskiy 15 √ 6 21 10 1 198,713 47 Upstream s of the Urup River 2 - 1 3 - - 97,824 48 Akhmet-Skala Ridge 4 - 1 5 - - 13,062 49 Dam khurtskiy 5 - 1 6 3 - 30,050 50 Psebay 5 - 1 6 2 - 37,567 51 Gorge of the White River 4 - - 4 2 - 3,975 52 Caucasian 24 - 5 29 16 1 313,333 53 Northern Black Sea Region 16 √ - 16 7 2 293,945 54 Sochinsky 21 - 5 26 15 1 236,146 GEORGIA (60 KBAs) 55 Arabika 7 - - 7 6 - 16,654 56 Ritsa 9 - - 9 7 1 16,412 57 Bzipi 6 - - 6 5 1 4,244 58 Range Bzipi 6 - - 6 5 - 23,976 59 Bichvinta-Miusera 2 - - 2 - - 4,014 60 Pskhu-Gumista 7 - - 7 5 1 40,365 61 Abkhazia 9 - - 9 7 - 36,161 62 Svaneti (2) 4 - 6 10 6 - 30,958 63 Range Kodori 3 - 6 9 5 - 47,198 64 Lake Bebesiri 3 - - 3 3 1 136 65 Svaneti (1) 15 - 6 21 13 - 224,680 66 Racha 10 - 6 16 8 - 138,740 67 Askhi Massif 12 - - 12 11 - 82,306 68 Khvam li 6 - - 6 5 - 5,023 69 Sataplia 2 - - 2 - - 364 70 Kolkheti (Aquatory) 14 6 - 20 - 7 15,845 71 Enguri River 10 6 - 16 1 5 24,684 72 Khobi River 9 6 - 15 - 4 3,853 73 Kolkheti 21 6 - 27 2 9 52,246 74 Rioni River 18 6 - 24 - 7 37,070 75 Supsa River 5 6 - 11 - 1 2,013 76 Batumi 1 12 8 - 20 5 2 26,303 77 Chorokhi-Sarpi 17 7 - 24 3 7 4,711 78 Batumi 2 8 8 - 16 3 1 10,337 79 Machakhela 7 - - 7 3 1 25,863 80 Shavsheti Range (2) 4 - 2 6 5 - 21,439 81 Mtirala-Kintrishi 8 - 2 10 8 2 29,213 82 Bakhm aro 3 - 2 5 3 - 33,239 83 Goderdzi Pass 4 - 2 6 4 - 26,954 84 Shavsheti Range (1) 10 - 2 12 6 - 55,498 154 2020 EDITION Num ber of Endem ic Species (local, country, regional) Num ber of Critically Endangered Species KBA Area (ha) 85 Borjomi-Kharagauli 10 - 2 12 5 - 147,259 86 Nedzvi 3 - - 3 1 - 9,213 KBA # KBA Name Num ber of Globally Threatened Species Total Number of all Trigger Species Num ber of Geographically Restricted Species Aggregations or Num ber of Aggregate Species SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS GEORGIA (60 KBAs) 87 Trialeti Range 6 - 1 7 2 - 27,274 88 Ktsia-Tabatskuri 11 - 2 13 1 1 20,476 89 Tetrobi 3 - - 3 3 3 3,089 90 Meskheti 16 - 1 17 9 2 82,239 91 Kartsakhi-Sulda Mire 12 5 2 19 1 - 467 92 J avakheti 5 - - 5 2 1 13,314 93 Khanchali Lake 10 4 2 16 - 1 727 94 Bugdasheni Lake 11 2 - 13 - - 119 95 Madatapa Lake 13 5 2 20 1 - 1,398 96 Sagham o Lake 9 5 2 16 - - 3,531 97 Paravani Lake 10 5 2 17 - - 4,106 98 J avakheti Range 8 - - 8 3 2 71,221 99 Bedeni 1 - - 1 - - 13,977 100 Kvernaki Ridge 10 - - 10 1 - 21,117 101 Tbilisi National Park 7 - - 7 2 - 21,031 102 Kazbegi 9 - 6 15 5 - 105,765 103 Pshav-Khevsureti 13 - 6 19 7 1 110,229 104 Tusheti 11 - 6 17 5 - 113,618 105 Babaneuri 2 - - 2 1 - 834 106 Eastern Caucasus 7 - 6 13 3 - 30,217 107 Lagodekhi 7 - 6 13 3 - 24,257 108 Alazani Valley 15 3 2 20 1 - 88,893 109 Artsivi Gorge 1 - - 1 1 - 98 110 Chachuna-Vashlovani 12 3 2 17 - - 114,923 111 Iori-Korugi 9 - - 9 - - 19,099 112 Iori Plateau 10 4 2 16 1 - 40,026 113 J andari Lake 12 2 - 14 1 - 787 114 Gardabani 12 - - 12 - - 3,734 AZERBAIJAN (48 KBAs) 115 Garayazi 8 1 - 9 3 1 9,669 116 J andar Lake 6 2 - 8 - - 633 117 Agstapha 7 1 - 8 2 - 9,580 118 Sham kir 4 4 - 8 - - 10,091 119 Shortepe 4 2 - 6 2 - 12,376 120 Gyzilja 4 2 - 6 2 - 5,140 121 Goy-Gol 5 - 2 7 3 - 26,130 122 Lachin 6 - 1 7 2 1 20,081 123 Gubadli 4 - - 4 1 - 20,117 124 Dashalty 1 - - 1 - - 1,572 125 Orta Kur Akhm azy 6 - - 6 2 - 27,642 155 Num ber of Critically Endangered Species Turyanchay 7 - - 7 2 - 23,092 Korchay 7 - - 7 - - 19,917 128 Qabirri-Mingachevir 12 4 - 16 1 - 151,331 129 Ajinohur 7 3 - 10 1 - 28,155 130 Ilisu (Akhar-Bakhar) 7 - - 7 - - 5,106 KBA Name KBA Area (ha) Num ber of Endem ic Species (local, country, regional) 126 127 KBA # Num ber of Globally Threatened Species Total Number of all Trigger Species Num ber of Geographically Restricted Species Aggregations or Num ber of Aggregate Species E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S AZERBAIJAN (48 KBAs) 131 Sheki 5 - - 5 1 1 10,387 132 Ganikh Valley 7 - - 7 - - 35,832 133 Zagatala 2 - 3 5 2 - 54,350 134 Ilisu-Gakh 2 - 3 5 2 - 23,949 135 Shahdag 6 - 2 8 2 - 130,498 136 Shahdag Mountain (1) 5 - 2 7 4 - 81,938 137 Shahdag Mountain (2) 1 - 2 3 2 - 10,520 138 Samur-Yalama-Gusar 17 - - 17 2 5 88,481 139 Aghzibir Lakes 15 14 - 29 2 1 9,084 140 Altyaghach 6 - - 6 3 - 11,530 141 Garghabazar and Gush-Gaya Mountains 4 - - 4 1 - 6,172 142 Absheron Archipelago and Pirallahi Bay 19 10 - 29 3 7 39,224 143 Gyrm yzygol Lake 4 - - 4 1 - 813 144 Factory Shelf 1 2 - 3 - - 3,783 145 Gobustan 7 - - 7 3 - 4,315 146 Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (1) 14 4 - 18 2 6 7,457 147 Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (2) 3 4 - 7 - - 46 148 Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (3) 4 4 - 8 - - 311 149 Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (4) 11 4 - 15 - 5 59 150 Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (5) 11 4 - 15 - 5 1,451 151 Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (6) 3 4 - 7 - - 44 152 Shirvan 12 6 - 18 1 - 65,557 153 Kura Delta 12 5 - 17 - 6 14,174 154 Gizilaghach 22 18 - 40 - 6 99,279 155 Hyrkan Forests 12 - - 12 6 1 160,340 156 Zuvand 11 - - 11 7 2 14,555 157 Mahmud-Chala Lake 7 6 - 13 - - 11,125 158 Araz-Bahramtepe 9 - - 9 - 6 12,518 159 Ag-Gol-Sarisu 11 1 - 12 - - 61,843 160 Zangezur-Darasham 37 1 1 39 25 5 174,956 161 Aras Reservoir 6 - - 6 1 - 9,841 162 Sadarak 13 - - 13 7 1 69,520 156 2020 EDITION Num ber of Critically Endangered Species Lake Arpi 9 3 - 12 1 1 35,239 164 Mount Achkasar 5 4 - 9 1 1 8,470 165 Tashir 5 4 - 9 2 - 15,037 166 Jajur 10 - 1 11 3 1 6,279 167 Akhuryan Reservoir 11 1 - 12 4 - 6,244 168 Arm avir 21 10 - 31 9 3 66,120 169 Aragats 13 - 1 14 7 4 27,153 170 Mount Ara 8 - 1 9 7 - 3,705 171 Northeast 23 3 1 27 17 - 273,244 172 Sevan Ridge 8 - - 8 4 1 25,626 173 Lake Sevan 17 4 1 22 9 2 146,346 174 Khosrov Forest 43 - - 43 32 6 78,042 175 Khor Virap 4 3 - 7 2 - 618 176 Arm ash Fish Ponds 10 9 - 19 4 1 7,750 177 Goravan Sands 6 - - 6 5 2 400 178 Urts Range 18 - - 18 8 1 20,432 179 Gndasar 13 - - 13 6 - 27,876 180 Arpa 13 - - 13 3 1 29,493 181 Jermuk-Eghegis 24 - - 24 16 4 76,287 182 Meghri 41 - 1 42 27 5 144,465 183 Tatev 13 3 - 16 7 - 27,182 184 Khndzoresk 5 2 - 7 2 1 3,428 185 Giresun and Ordu Coast 2 - - 2 2 - 55,887 KBA Name KBA Area (ha) Num ber of Endem ic Species (local, country, regional) 163 KBA # Num ber of Globally Threatened Species Total Number of all Trigger Species Num ber of Geographically Restricted Species Aggregations or Num ber of Aggregate Species SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS ARMENIA (22 KBAs) TURKEY (32 KBAs) 186 Giresun Mountains 4 - 1 5 4 1 134,115 187 Zigana Mountain 13 - 1 14 12 2 91,675 188 Karadere 5 - 2 7 6 2 45,845 189 Ikizdere and Soganli Mountain 14 - 3 17 13 4 91,326 190 Upper Chorukh Valley 7 - 2 9 7 1 114,516 191 North Kackars 20 - 3 23 20 4 200,407 192 South Kackars 26 - 2 28 25 11 247,439 193 Hatila Valley 10 - 2 12 11 7 61,664 194 Hopa 11 - 1 12 8 1 40,276 195 Karcal Mountains 10 - 3 13 11 2 151,554 196 Yalnizcam Mountains 16 - 2 18 14 6 197,729 197 Posof Forest 4 - 2 6 5 2 57,588 198 Ardahan Plain and Forest 5 - 1 6 4 3 48,549 199 Aktas Lake 1 - - 1 - - 5,859 157 Num ber of Critically Endangered Species Cildir Lake 2 - - 2 1 1 27,056 201 Kuyucuk Lake 2 - - 2 - - 9,281 KBA Name KBA Area (ha) Num ber of Endem ic Species (local, country, regional) 200 KBA # Num ber of Globally Threatened Species Total Number of all Trigger Species Num ber of Geographically Restricted Species Aggregations or Num ber of Aggregate Species E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S TURKEY (32 KBAs) 202 Kars Ovasi 5 - - 5 3 2 20,613 203 Allahuekber Mountains 7 - 1 8 5 4 260,701 204 Sarikam ish Forests 1 - 1 2 1 1 70,571 205 Olur-Oltu Steppe 12 - - 12 11 5 140,221 206 Tortum Basin 10 - - 10 9 5 180,141 207 Kop Mountain 4 - - 4 4 2 37,190 208 Palandoken Mountain 1 - - 1 1 - 2,977 209 Bingol Mountains 2 - - 2 1 - 31,517 210 Karasu Plain 2 - - 2 - - 33,852 211 Aras Valley 8 - - 8 7 3 41,142 212 Igdir Plain 8 - - 8 5 3 56,952 213 Agri Mountain 5 - - 5 4 4 133,408 214 Dogubeyazit Marshes 6 - - 6 5 4 17,377 215 Tendurek Mountain 4 - - 4 3 2 35,443 216 Eastern Van Mountains 3 - - 3 - - 86,386 IRAN (15 KBAs) 217 Maku and Iran West Border 9 5 - 14 - - 324,754 218 Maku 9 5 - 14 - - 86,290 219 Agh-Gol 6 5 - 11 - - 27,385 220 Aras Dam Lake 5 3 - 8 - - 9,514 221 Marakan 9 2 - 11 3 1 103,248 222 Kiamaky-Kantal 7 2 - 9 1 - 96,709 223 Dizmar-Arasbaran 7 7 1 15 1 - 375,740 224 Parsabad 7 3 - 10 - 1 79,883 225 Mountain Sahand-Sabalan 5 2 2 9 - - 123,968 226 Lavandvil 7 - 1 8 - 5 89,656 227 Lisar 4 - - 4 2 - 31,194 228 Anzali Lagoon 16 - - 16 - 7 137,304 229 Gashtroodkhan 1 - - 1 - - 39,626 230 Sepirud River and Bujagh 15 1 - 16 - 6 29,806 231 Am irkelayeh 15 1 - 16 - 6 93,263 158 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Annex 4: Description of Conservation and Bridging Landscapes CON SERVATION LAN D SCAPES 1. Kuma-Manych Countries: Russia Location: along the northern border of the Caucasus, in the North Caucasus Plains, includes the eastern coast of the Azov Sea. Central coordinates:1 41° 30' 43" E; 46° 47' 58" N; North: 41° 9' 47"E; 47° 14' 21"N; West: 36° 30' 5"E; 45° 18' 1" N; East: 46° 41' 39"E; 44° 48' 32.90"N; South: 41° 33' 46" E; 46° 35' 16"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 164 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 10 Total Area (km²): 23,769 Terrestrial area: 22,424 Marine area: 1,345 Average length (km): 805 Average width (km) 258 KBAs (number): 10 KBAs: Tamanskiy, Delta Kuban, Krimsky, Primorsko-Akhtarsk Salt Lakes, Lower reaches of the Beisug and Chelbas Rivers, Lower Ei, Don Delta, Veselovskoye Reservoir, Manych-Gudilo Lake, Dadynskiye Lake KBAs (total area, km²): 10,160.3 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 42.7% Protected Areas (number): 4 Protected Areas (total area within the CL, km²): 1,036.5 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 4.4% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 9.6% Areas under International Conventions: four Ram sar Sites. Main habitats: wetlands, large lakes and channels surrounded by steppes and sem ideserts. Principal fauna species: im portant place for waterfowl, European Mink, several species of sturgeon, various bird and reptile species. Important phenomena: eight wetland sites hold globally significant congregations of waterfowl, such as the Red-breasted Goose and Lesser White-fronted Goose. Basis for delineation: importance for migratory waterfowl, its significant number of IBAs and high coverage of KBAs. Threats: parts of the corridor have been severely impacted by grazing, farming, poaching and overfishing. Conservation focus: increasing PA effectiveness and coverage, increasing connectivity, strengthening law enforcem ent and m onitoring capacity. 1 Under the N, W, E, S coordinates the extrem e points are considered that are further north, south, east or west than any other location in the Landscapes. 159 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 2. Western Greater Caucasus Countries: Russian Federation, Georgia Location: western section of the Greater Caucasus range, the Black Sea catchm ent basin, approx. until longitude of Mt. Elbrus. Central coordinates: 40° 42' 35" E; 43° 44' 29" N; North: 40° 35' 42"E; 44° 7' 43" N; West: 37° 49' 44" E; 44° 41' 44"N; East: 42° 26' 20.53" E; 43° 21' 10" N; South: 40° 32' 44"E; 43° 7' 23"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 4,046 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 304 Total Area (km²): 26,070.4 Terrestrial area: 25,847 Marine area: 223 Average length (km): 403 Average width (km): 139 KBAs (number): 18 KBAs: Gorge of the Eshkakon and Malka Rivers, Upstreams of the Podkumok and Kuma Rivers, Dautskiy, Teberdinksi-Marukhskiy, Damkhurtskiy, Psebay, Caucasian, Northern Black sea region, Sochinsky, Arabika, Ritsa, Bzipi, Range Bzipi, Bichvinta-Miusera, Pskhu-Gumista, Abkhazia, Svaneti (2), Range Kodori KBAs (total area, km²): 14,461 KBA coverage (% of PCL’s total area): 55.5% Protected Areas (number): 28 Protected Areas (total area within the CL, km²): 10,999.4 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 42.2% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 67% Areas under International Conventions: one World Natural Heritage Site (Western Caucasus, Russia), two Biosphere Reserves (Kavkazskiy and Teberda, Russia), one European Diplom a Protected Area (Teberda Biosphere Reserve, Russia). Main habitats: humid Colchic mixed forests/temperate rainforests, temperate broad-leaved, coniferous and m ixed forests, high m ountain krum holtz2, grasslands, meadows and thickets, sub-nival areas. Principal fauna species: Western Tur, Red Deer, Brown Bear, Leopard (reintroduced), various bird and reptile species. Important phenomena: large areas of pristine forests; evolutionary phenom ena of Colchic relict forests; globally significant congregations of the endemic Caucasian Black Grouse (Teberda Biosphere Reserve). Basis for delineation: high num ber and coverage of KBAs. Threats: infrastructure developm ent (m ostly roads), unsustainable tourism , poaching, illegal logging, habitat fragm entation. Conservation focus: increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening law enforcement and m onitoring capacity, Leopard reintroduction, Western Tur conservation. 2 A type of stunted, deformed vegetation encountered in subarctic and subalpine tree line landscapes, shaped by continual exposure to fierce, freezing winds. 160 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 3. Central Greater Caucasus Countries: Russian Federation, Georgia Location: central section of the Greater Caucasus range, approx. between longitudes of Mt. Elbrus and upper Terek river basin (including both). Central coordinates: 43° 17' 3" E; 43° 1' 8"N; North: 42° 49' 53" E; 43° 57' 24"N; West: 41° 36' 48"E; 42° 54' 55N; East: 44° 51' 30"E; 42° 35' 30" N; South: 43° 10' 7"E; 42° 34' 51"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 5,642 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 388 Total Area (km²): 21,132.7 Average length (km): 272 Average width (km): 163 KBAs (number): 14 KBAs: Severno-Osetinsky-Tseiskiy, Alania, Kabardino-Balkarskiy, Kara-Su Sanctuary, Baksan Gorge, Prielbrusie, Gorge of the Eshkakon and Malka Rivers, Surrounding of Kislovodsk, Svaneti (1), Svaneti (2), Range Kodori, Racha, Askhi Massif, Kazbegi KBAs (total area, km²): 11,954.1 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 56.6% Protected Areas (number): 24 Protected Areas (total area within the CL, km²): 5,130 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 24.3% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 40.4% Areas under International Conventions: none. Main habitats: temperate mixed forests, high mountain krumholtz, grasslands, meadows and thickets, subnival and nival areas. Principal fauna species: Leopard, Eastern Tur, Northern Cham ois, Brown Bear, European Lynx, various species of birds and sm all m am m als. Important phenomena: one of the centres of high m ountain plant species origination; large areas of intact high m ountain habitats. Basis for delineation: high num ber and coverage of KBAs. Threats: infrastructure developm ent (hydro power, roads, electricity transm ission lines, gas pipelines), poaching and habitat fragm entation, unsustainable tourism . Conservation focus: establishment of new protected areas and increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening law enforcem ent and m onitoring capacity, restoration of European Bison, Western Tur conservation. 161 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 4. Eastern Greater Caucasus Countries: Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Georgia Location: eastern section of the Greater Caucasus range, approx. east from upper Terek river basin. Central coordinates: 46° 46' 5" E; 42° 2' 41" N; North: 46° 44' 52"E; 43° 2' 38"N; West: 44° 18' 18"E; 42° 29' 22"N; East: 49° 13' 0"E; 40° 46' 42"N; South: 46° 58' 21"E; 41° 22' 19"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 4,492 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 355 Total Area (km²): 38,445.1 Average length (km): 451 Average width (km): 167 KBAs (number): 23 KBAs: Melishtinskiy, Kayakentsky-Deshlagarsky, Itsari, Shalbuzdag, Laman-Kam Area, Tlyaratinsky, Kosobsko-Kelebsky, Bezhtinskiy, Khunzakhskiy, Kezenoi-Am (Lake Eizenam) Basin, Erzi, Ingushskiy, Pshav-Khevsureti, Tusheti, Babaneuri, Eastern Caucasus, Lagodekhi, Zagatala, Ilisu-Gakh, Shahdag, Shahdag Mountain (1), Shahdag Mountain (2), Altyaghach KBAs (total area, km²): 9,981.7 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 26% Protected Areas (number): 36 Protected Areas (total area within the CL, km²): 12,108.6 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 31.5% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 82.3% Areas under International Conventions: none. Main habitats: temperate broad-leaved forests, high mountain krumholtz, grasslands, meadows and thickets, sub-nival areas. Principal fauna species: Leopard, Bezoar Goat, Eastern Tur, Northern Cham ois, Red Deer, Brown Bear, European Lynx, various bird species. Important phenomena: one of the centres of high m ountain plant species origination; large areas of intact forest and high m ountain habitats. Basis for delineation: high num ber and coverage of KBAs. Threats: infrastructure developm ent (roads, hydro power), unsustainable tourism , overgrazing, poaching, illegal logging, habitat fragm entation. Conservation focus: establishm ent of ecological corridors (m ostly for Red Deer and Eastern Tur) and increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening law enforcement and monitoring capacity, restoration of European Bison range, transboundary conservation. 162 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 5. Caspian Countries: Russian Federation, Azerbaijan Location: along the western cost of the Caspian Sea, both in coastal and m arine areas from the Talysh mountains in the south to the northern border of the Caucasus, and into Kura river flood plains within Azerbaijan. Central coordinates: 47° 29' 55" E; 40° 13' 14" N; North: 47° 0' 48"E; 44° 51' 0"N; West: 47° 0' 44"E; 40° 45' 44"N; East: 50° 39' 2"E; 40° 17' 41"N; South: 48° 48' 38"E; 38° 51' 30"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 846 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 2 Total Area (km²): 21,835.3 Terrestrial area: 16,265.5 Marine area: 5,569.8 Average length (km): 257 Average width (km): 70 KBAs (number): 25 KBAs: Kizlyar Bay, Tarumovsky, Argakhanskiy, Yangiyurtovskiy-Sulakskaya, Dagestanskiy (Sarykumskiy barkhan), Papas (Adji) Lake, Samurskiy, Berkubinsky, Orta Kur Akhmazy, Samur-YalamaGusar, Aghzibir Lakes, Absheron Archipelago and Pirallahi Bay, Gyrmyzygol Lake, Factory Shelf, Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (1-6), Shirvan, Kura Delta, Gizilaghach, Araz-Bahramtepe, Ag-Gol-Sarisu KBAs (total area, km²): 11,954.1 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 34.5% Protected Areas (number): 20 Protected Areas (total area km² within the CL): 3,698.6 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 16.9% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 48.5% Areas under International Conventions: two Ramsar Sites (Ghizil-Agaj, Agh-Ghol, Azerbaijan). Main habitats: coastal wetlands, river and marine habitats, lakes, semideserts, deserts and flood plains. Principal fauna species: globally threatened species of sturgeon, various bird species, Caspian Seal and Goitered Gazelle. Important phenomena: the largest flyway of migrating birds in the Caucasus, around 20 KBAs have im portant congregations of waterfowl, and som e KBAs are critical spawning areas for sturgeon populations; globally important population of Goitered Gazelle containing around 10% of the total number of mature individuals (Shirvan National Park). Basis for delineation: importance for migratory waterfowl and sturgeon group of species, its significant num ber of IBAs, key freshwater areas and KBAs. Threats: infrastructure development (oil & gas, roads, tourism), illegal fishing and bird poaching, illegal logging, habitat fragm entation. Conservation focus: increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening law enforcement and m onitoring capacity, restoration of historic range of Gazelles via translocation from Shirvan National park. 163 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 6. Kolkheti Countries: Georgia Location: between the Western Greater, Western Lesser Caucasus and Likhi ridge (Landscapes), including deltas of Rioni and Chorokhi rivers, and m arine section along to the Black Sea cost from Kolkheti Lowlands to Georgia’s border with Turkey. Central coordinates: 42° 6' 20" E; 42° 10' 3" N; North: 41° 31' 46"E; 42° 42' 21"N; West: 41° 30' 29"E; 42° 12' 9"N; East: 42° 44' 21"E; 42° 9' 52"N; South: 41° 32' 53"E; 41° 31' 24"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 448 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 1 Total Area (km²): 1,969.7 Terrestrial area: 1,448.9 Marine area: 520.9 Average length (km): 143 Average width (km): 103 KBAs (number): 8 KBAs: Lake Bebesiri, Kolkheti (Aquatory), Enguri River, Khobi River, Kolkheti, Rioni River, Supsa River, Chorokhi-Sarpi KBAs (total area, km²): 1,405.6 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 71.4% Protected Areas (number): 2 Protected Areas (total area km² within the CL): 446 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 22.6% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 31.7% Areas under International Conventions: two Ram sar Sites (Wetlands of Central Kolkheti and Ispani Mires, Georgia). Main habitats: swam p alder forests, wetlands, river and m arine habitats. Principal fauna species: various bird species, sturgeon species. Important phenomena: evolutionary im portance of lowland endem ic Colchic forests; im portant wetland habitats (percolating bogs); im portant stopover site for m igrating birds with congregations of waterfowl; the last spawning grounds of sturgeon in the eastern Black Sea (Rioni river). Basis for delineation: importance for migratory waterfowl and sturgeon group of species, its significant num ber of IBAs, key freshwater areas and KBAs. Threats: coastal infrastructure development (sea ports, oil terminals, roads), mass tourism, illegal fishing and bird poaching, habitat degradation due to m elioration. Conservation focus: establishm ent of new protected areas (especially freshwater and m arine), increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening law enforcement and monitoring capacity, conservation of the last spawning grounds of sturgeon in the eastern Black Sea. 164 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 7. Western Lesser Caucasus Countries: Georgia, Turkey Location: north-western and western parts of Lesser Caucasus mountain chain (Meskheti range, Georgia), Doğu Karadeniz mountains (Turkey) and several other associated mountain ranges, extends along the Black Sea from north-eastern Turkey to south-western Georgia, ending in central Georgia. Central coordinates: 40° 40' 56" E; 40° 43' 41" N; North: 42° 44' 7"E; 41° 59' 46"N; West: 37° 37' 10"E; 40° 45' 29"N; East: 43° 48' 33"E; 41° 45' 8"N; South: 39° 50' 37"E; 39° 58' 35"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 3,937 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 49 Total Area (km²): 33,236.8 Marine area: 257.2 Terrestrial area: 32,979.6 Average length (km): 546 Average width (km): 170 KBAs (number): 24 KBAs: Batumi 1, Batumi 2, Machakhela, Shavsheti Range (1), Shavsheti Range (2), Mtirala-Kintrishi, Bakhmaro, Goderdzi pass, Borjomi-Kharagauli, Nedzvi, Trialeti Range, Ktsia-Tabatskuri, Tetrobi, Giresun and Ordu Coast, Giresun Mountains, Zigana Mountain, Karadere, Ikizdere and Soganli Mountain, Upper Chorukh Valley, North Kackars, South Kackars, Hatila Valley, Hopa, Karcal Mountains KBAs (total area, km²): 16,708.6 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 50.3% Protected Areas (number): 35 Protected Areas (total area within the CL, km²): 3,393.8 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 10.2% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 20.2% Areas under International Conventions: one Biosphere Reserve (Cam ili, Turkey) Main habitats: mixed relict Colchic forests, temperate broad-leaved forests, high mountain krumholtz, grasslands, m eadows and thickets. Principal fauna species: relict and endem ic Caucasian Salam ander, Red Deer, Northern Cham ois, Brown Bear, European Lynx, various raptor species. Important phenomena: the highest level of mean annual precipitation in the Caucasus (up to 4,500 mm); evolutionary phenomena of Colchic Forest also classified as Temperate Rainforest: contains the highest levels of woody plant diversity in the region with a large percentage of endem ic and relic species; one of the m ost im portant sites of raptor’s autum n m igration (so called Batum i Bottleneck, at the Black Sea cost). Basis for delineation: importance of Colchic forest habitats, its significant number of IBAs and KBAs. Threats: infrastructure developm ent (hydropower), tourism , poaching, illegal logging, habitat fragm entation. Conservation focus: establishm ent of ecological corridors (m ostly for Caucasian Red Deer, Cham ois and Brown Bear), increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening the law enforcement and monitoring capacity, transboundary conservation. 165 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 8. South Caucasus Uplands Countries: Arm enia, Georgia, Turkey. Location: in the northern part of the Southern Uplands on the border of Arm enia, Georgia and Turkey. Central coordinates: 43° 27' 11" E; 41° 2' 55" N; North: 43° 54' 50"E; 41° 32' 8"N; West: 42° 33' 29"E; 41° 30' 19"N; East: 44° 19' 17"E; 41° 12' 45"N; South: 43° 25' 40"E; 40° 48' 60"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 3,008 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 735 Total Area (km²): 5,648.3 Average length (km): 165 Average width (km): 83 KBAs (number): 15 KBAs: Meskheti, Kartsakhi-Sulda Mire, Javakheti, Khanchali Lake, Bugdasheni Lake, Madatapa Lake, Saghamo Lake, Paravani Lake, Javakheti Range, Lake Arpi, Mount Achkasar, Tashir, Posof Forest, Aktas Lake, Cildir Lake KBAs (total area, km²): 3,263.7 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 57.8% Protected Areas (number): 10 Protected Areas (total area within the CL, km²): 1,274.6 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 22.6% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 39.1% Areas under International Conventions: one Ram sar Site (Lake Arpi, Arm enia). Main habitats: high m ountain wetlands with lakes of volcanic origin, grasslands, m eadows and steppes, rem nants of pine forests and krom holtz. Principal fauna species: various bird species. Important phenomena: one of the three im portant m igratory corridors for birds in the Caucasus with sites of significant congregations of waterfowl. Basis for delineation: im portance for m igratory birds, its num ber of IBAs and KBAs. Threats: infrastructure developm ent (hydropower, roads), unsustainable water m anagem ent, poaching of birds and overgrazing, habitat fragm entation. Conservation focus: increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening law enforcement and m onitoring capacity, transboundary conservation. 166 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 9. Sarikamish-Maku Countries: Turkey, Iran, Arm enia Location: southern part of the Southern Uplands on the border of Turkey, Iran and Arm enia, along the southern border of the Caucasus. Central coordinates: 43° 3' 38" E; 40° 8' 31" N; North: 43° 29' 56"E; 40° 10' 26"N; West: 41° 10' 25"E; 39° 37' 11"N; East: 44° 58' 48"E; 39° 26' 57"N; South: 44° 26' 4"E; 38° 22' 41"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 5,165 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 784 Total Area (km²): 20,904.8 Average length (km): 345 Average width (km): 178 KBAs (number): 12 KBAs: Palandoken Mountain, Bingol Mountains, Karasu Plain, Aras Valley, Igdir Plain, Agri Mountain, Dogubeyazit Marshes, Tendurek Mountain, Eastern Van Mountains, Maku and Iran West Border, Maku, Agh-Gol KBAs (total area, km²): 8,774.8 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 42% Protected Areas (number): 4 Protected Areas (total area km² within the CL): 1,333.8 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 6.4% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 13.1% Areas under International Conventions: no. Main habitats: m ountain steppes, thornbush com m unities and scattered wetlands. Principal fauna species: Bezoar Goat, Mouflon, Leopard, various bird and reptile species. Important phenomena: diversity of plant species and vegetation at the Mt. Ararat (Ağri Dağı), the highest peak in southern Caucasus (5,137 m), including small growth of birch – the most southern border od birch krom holtz in the Caucasus; bird diversity, including congregations, m ostly along the Ara(k)s river. Basis for delineation: its significant number of IBAs and KBAs. Threats: overgrazing, poaching. Conservation focus: establishment of protected areas, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening the law enforcem ent and m onitoring capacity, Leopard survey. 167 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 10. Eastern Lesser Caucasus Countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan Region) Location: in the eastern and south-eastern parts of the Lesser Caucasus Mountain Chain, from northern border of Armenia with Georgia to Armenia’s and Nakhchivan Region’s (Azerbaijan) borders with Iran. Central coordinates: 46° 2' 54" E; 39° 11' 39" N; North: 46° 44' 52"E; 43° 2' 38"N; West: 44° 18' 18"E; 42° 29' 22"N; East: 49° 13' 0"E; 40° 46' 42"N; South: 46° 58' 21"E; 41° 22' 19"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 3,550 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 815 Total Area (km²): 15,347.5 Average length (km): 323 Average width (km): 117 KBAs (number): 14 KBAs: Zangezur-Darasham, Aras Reservoir, Sadarak, Northeast, Sevan Ridge, Khosrov Forest, Goravan Sands, Urts Range, Gndasar, Arpa, Jermuk-Eghegis, Meghri, Tatev, Khndzoresk KBAs (total area, km²): 9,607.9 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 62.6 Protected Areas (number): 34 Protected Areas (total area within the CL, km²): 3,542 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 23.1% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 36.2% Areas under International Conventions: two Ram sar sites (Lake Sevan and Khor Virap m arsh); one European Diplom a Protected Area (Khosrov Forest Reserve, Arm enia). Main habitats: temperate broad-leaved forests, open Juniper woodlands, mountain steppes and thornbush com m unities, high m ountain grasslands. Principal fauna species: Leopard, Bezoar Goat, Mouflon, Brown Bear, various reptile species. Important phenomena: one of the centres of wild relatives of cultivated plants; the m ost im portant area for Leopard conservation in the Caucasus (southern part of CL). Basis for delineation: its significant number of KBAs (with coverage more than 60% of CL’s total area). Threats: infrastructure developm ent (hydropower, roads), poaching (except Nakhchivan where poaching ban enacts since 2001), overgrazing and habitat fragmentation. Conservation focus: establishm ent of ecological corridors (m ostly for Leopard and its prey species) and increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening law enforcement and monitoring capacity, Leopard and its prey species conservation, Red Deer reintroduction. 168 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 11. Iori-Mingachevir Countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia Location: central part of Transcaucasian Depression, Iori-Ajinour plateau, south from Eastern Greater Caucasus on the border between Azerbaijan and Georgia. Central coordinates: 46° 30' 20" E; 41° 8' 22" N; North: 45° 33' 17"E; 42° 1' 19"N; West: 44° 59' 7"E; 41° 32' 19"N; East: 48° 0' 45"E; 40° 38' 47"N; South: 46° 29' 48"E; 40° 49' 4"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 990 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 82 Total Area (km²): 10,728.6 Average length (km): 273 Average width (km): 88 KBAs (number): 16 KBAs: Alazani Valley, Chachuna-Vashlovani, Iori-Korugi, Iori Plateau, Jandari Lake, Gardabani, Garayazi, Jandar Lake, Agstapha, Shamkir, Turyanchay, Korchay, Qabirri-Mingachevir, Ajinohur, Ilisu (Akhar-Bakhar), Ganikh Valley KBAs (total area, km²): 5,608.7 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 52.3% Protected Areas (number): 17 Protected Areas (total area within the CL, km²): 1,526.2 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 14.2% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 27.2% Areas under International Conventions: one European Diplom a Protected Area (Vashlovani National Park, Georgia). Main habitats: dry open Pistachio-Juniper woodlands, steppes, semideserts and flood plain forests. Principal fauna species: Goitered Gazelle, Brown Bear, European Lynx, various bird and reptile species. Important phenomena: intact arid plateau and foothill habitats with pistachio-juniper woodlands; significant portion of the floodplain forests in the region; sites with bird congregations. Basis for delineation: its significant number of KBAs with more than 50% coverage. Threats: overgrazing, poaching, conversion of lands into agriculture. Conservation focus: establishm ent of protected areas, ecological corridors (m ostly for Gazelle) and increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening the law enforcement and monitoring capacity, restoration of historic range of Gazelles via translocation from Shirvan National park, transboundary conservation. 169 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S 12. Arasbaran Countries: Iran Location: extreme north-western part of Iran at the junction of the Southern Uplands and south-eastern part of Lesser Caucasus in the west and Talysh-Alborz Mountains in the east, along the Ara(k)s river and border with Azerbaijan and Armenia in the north. Central coordinates: 47° 30' 59" E; 39° 7' 32" N; North: 47° 23' 25"E; 39° 28' 7"N; West: 45° 5' 54"E; 38° 55' 21"N; East: 48° 22' 7"E; 39° 22' 53"N; South: 47° 10' 32"E; 38° 40' 8"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 3,358 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 24 Total Area (km²): 13,643.1 Average length (km): 292 Average width (km): 103 KBAs (number): 5 KBAs: Aras Dam Lake, Dizmar-Arasbaran, Kiamaky-Kantal, Marakan, Parsabad KBAs (total area, km²): 6,650.9 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 48.7% Protected Areas (number): 6 Protected Areas (total area km² within the CL): 3,845.8 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 28.2% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 52.5% Areas under International Conventions: one Biosphere Reserve (Arasbaran). Main habitats: remnants of temperate broad-leaved forests, steppes and wetlands (Ara(k)s river watershed). Principal fauna species: Leopard, Bezoar Goat, Mouflon, various bird and reptile species. Important phenomena: one of the m ost im portant areas for Leopard conservation in the region; bird congregations; the m ost southern Caucasian tem perate forests. Basis for delineation: its significant number of KBAs with almost 50% coverage. Threats: overgrazing, poaching, dam and road construction. Conservation focus: increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening law enforcement and m onitoring capacity, restoration of Caucasian Red Deer. 170 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS 13. Hyrcan Countries: Iran, Azerbaijan Location: Talysh Mountains and western part of Alborz Mountains, along with a section of the Caspian coast. Central coordinates: 49° 43' 6" E; 37° 5' 19" N; North: 48° 23' 41"E; 39° 10' 26"N; West: 48° 32' 47"E; 37° 58' 21"N; East: 51° 27' 45"E; 36° 40' 32"N; South: 49° 52' 38"E; 36° 47' 14"N Max. elevation (m above sea level): 4,805 Min. elevation (m above sea level): -19 Total Area (km²): 18,676.6 Average length (km): 410 Average width (km): 129 KBAs (number): 8 KBAs: Hyrkan Forests, Zuvand, Lavandvil, Lisar, Anzali Lagoon, Gashtroodkhan, Sepirud River and Bujagh, Amirkelayeh KBAs (total area, km²): 5,957.4 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 31.9% Protected Areas (number): 17 Protected Areas (total area within the CL, km²): 2,031.6 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of CL’s total area): 10.9% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the CL): 23.6% Areas under International Conventions: Hyrcanian Forests (within Iranian part) was recently inscribed on World Heritage list; three Ram sar Sites (Iran). Main habitats: Hyrcanian refugial broad-leaved forests, temperate broad-leaved forests and woodlands, high m ountain steppes and grasslands, and partly coastal wetlands. Principal fauna species: Leopard, Brown Bear, various bird species, sturgeon species. Important phenomena: evolutionary phenomena of Hyrcanian forests, also classified as temperate rainforests; some coastal wetlands - important wintering grounds for endangered bird species. Basis for delineation: im portance of Hyrcanian forests and num ber of IBAs and KBAs. Threats: unsustainable logging, poaching and partly overfishing of sturgeon species. Conservation focus: establishment of new protected areas, increasing connectivity, effectiveness of PAs, strengthening law enforcem ent and m onitoring capacity, Leopard conservation. 171 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S BRID GIN G LAN D SCAPES A. Likhi Countries: Georgia Location: water divider ridge between the Black and Caspian Seas’ basins, connects the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the western part of the Caucasus. Central coordinates: 43° 36' 26" E; 42° 13' 11" N; North: 43° 40' 23"E; 42° 31' 58"N; West: 43° 31' 2"E; 42° 15' 42"N; East: 43° 56' 16"E; 42° 18' 38"N; South: 43° 15' 46"E; 41° 56' 32"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 2,470 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 759 Total Area (km²): 1,031.8 Average length (km): 82 Average width (km): 33 KBAs (number): 0 Protected Areas (number): 0 Areas under International Conventions: none. Main habitats: Colchic and tem perate m ixed forests. Principal fauna species: Brown Bear, European Lynx. Important phenomena: only natural corridor between Greater and Lesser Caucasus; eastern closing ridge of Colchic refugia. Basis for delineation: im portant natural corridor function. Threats: illegal harvesting of fuelwood, poaching. Conservation focus: establishm ent of protection regim e. B. Trialeti-Gombori Countries: Georgia Location: central part of the Caucasus, m ostly Trialeti and Gom bori ridges between Western Lesser Caucasus and Iori-Mingachevir Conservation Landscapes. Central coordinates: 44° 0' 25" E; 41° 51' 7" N; North: 43° 58' 27"E; 41° 57' 31"N; West: 43° 39' 53"E; 41° 49' 5"N; East: 45° 29' 36"E; 41° 44' 6"N; South: 44° 29' 9"E; 41° 45' 28"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 2,757 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 520 Total Area (km²): 1,972.4 Average length (km): 167 Average width (km): 31 KBAs (number): 1 KBAs: Tbilisi National Park KBAs (total area, km²): 210.3 KBA coverage (% of BL’s total area): 10.7% 172 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Protected Areas (number): 2 Protected Areas (total area within the BL, km²): 220.5 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of BL’s total area): 11.2% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the BL): 100% Areas under International Conventions: none. Main habitats: temperate broad-leaved and pine forests. Principal fauna species: Brown Bear. Important phenomena: Tbilisi National Park is considered as the m ost eastern border of distribution of som e Colchic relict species. Basis for delineation: potential ecological corridor function of the area. Threats: illegal harvesting of fuelwood, poaching. Conservation focus: establishm ent of protected areas and ecological corridors. C. Algeti-Loqi Countries: Georgia Location: south from central part of Trialeti ridge to border with Arm enia covering southern wings of Trialeti and northern slopes of Loqi mountain ridge, connects Trialeti-Gombori BL (and trough it Western Lesser Caucasus) with Eastern Greater Caucasus Conservation Landscape. Central coordinates: 44° 25' 55" E; 41° 18' 18" N; North: 44° 29' 9" E; 41° 45' 28"N; West: 44° 8' 49"E; 41° 30' 58"N; East: 44° 28' 0"E; 41° 29' 14"N; South: 44° 32' 47"E; 41° 11' 29"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 2,122 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 1,088 Total Area (km²): 1,461.2 Average length (km): 65 Average width (km): 45 KBAs (number): 1 KBAs: Bedeni KBAs (total area, km²): 139.8 KBA coverage (% of BL’s total area): 9.6% Protected Areas (number): 2 Protected Areas (total area within the BL, km²): 10.5 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of BL’s total area): 0.7% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the BL): 0 Areas under International Conventions: none. Main habitats: tem perate m ixed forests, secondary scrublands, steppes and grasslands Principal fauna species: Brown Bear. Important phenomena: none. Basis for delineation: its corridor function. Threats: illegal harvesting of fuelwood, poaching, overgrazing. Conservation focus: establishm ent of protected areas and ecological corridors. 173 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S D. Sarikamish-Posof Countries: Turkey Location: the largest BL, m ountain ridges and plateaus within Southern Uplands connecting Western Lesser Caucasus and South Caucasus Uplands CLs with Sarikamish-Maku CL, valleys of Chorukh (Choroki) and Oltu rivers and between upper Kura river and upper Ara(k)s river Central coordinates: 42° 2' 47" E; 40° 59' 17" N; North: 42° 30' 9"E; 41° 26' 29"N; West: 41° 44' 54"E; 40° 45' 54"N; East: 43° 2' 1"E; 40° 48' 43"N; South: 42° 35' 37"E; 40° 12' 9"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 3,165 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 753 Total Area (km²): 6,955.2 Average length (km): 140 Average width (km): 102 KBAs (number): 3 KBAs: Yalnizcam Mountains, Allahuekber Mountains, Sarikamis Forests KBAs (total area, km²): 5,290 KBA coverage (% of BL’s total area): 76.1% Protected Areas (number): 5 Protected Areas (total area within the BL, km²): 262.1 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of BL’s total area): 3.8% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the BL): 5% Areas under International Conventions: none. Main habitats: pine and temperate broad-leaved and mixed forests, fragments of Mediterranean scrublands, m ountain steppes and grasslands, partly high m ountain wetlands. Principal fauna species: Bezoar Goat, Northern Cham ois, Brown Bear, European Lynx, Caucasian Salam ander, various bird species. Important phenomena: the southernm ost intact pine forests in the region (Sarikam ish National Park). Basis delineation: importance for migratory waterfowl, its significant number of IBAs and KBAs. Threats: infrastructure development (oil & gas, roads, tourism), illegal fishing and bird poaching, illegal logging, habitat fragm entation. Conservation focus: establishm ent of protected areas and ecological corridors. E. Aras Countries: Turkey Location: m ountainous area from Southern Caucasus Uplands to Igdir Plain, Arpachay (Akhurian) river valley on the border between Turkey and Armenia, connects South Caucasus Uplands and Sarikamish-Maku Conservation Landscapes. Central coordinates: 43° 28' 53" E; 40° 33' 58" N; North: 43° 33' 31"E; 40° 59' 41"N; West: 43°13' 16"E; 40° 32' 50"N; East: 43° 44' 53"E; 40° 40' 36"N; South: 43° 29' 56"E; 40° 10' 27"N; 174 2020 EDITION SU P P LE M E N TAR Y R E P O R TS Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 2,695 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 1,239 Total Area (km²): 2,523.3 Average length (km): 93 Average width (km): 48 KBAs (number): 2 KBAs: Kuyucuk Lake, Kars Ovasi KBAs (total area, km²): 298.9 KBA coverage (% of BL’s total area): 11.8% Protected Areas (number): 3 Protected Areas (total area within the BL, km²): 96.7 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of BL’s total area): 3.8% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the BL): 32.4% Areas under International Conventions: one Ram sar Site. Main habitats: m ountain steppes and thornbush com m unities, grasslands, riverside and m ountain wetlands, lakes/ reservoirs. Principal fauna species: Bezoar Goat, Brown Bear, various bird species. Important phenomena: im portant stopover sites of m igrating birds (e.g. Lake Kuyucuk – Ram sar site); bird congregations; regionally im portant wildlife m igration. Basis for delineation: its ecological corridor function and im portance for m igratory waterfowl. Threats: overgrazing, poaching. Conservation focus: establishm ent of protected areas and ecological corridors. F. Bazum Countries: Arm enia Location: Bazum m ountain ridge in northern Arm enia connecting South Caucasus Uplands and East Lesser Caucasus Conservation Landscapes. Central coordinates: 44° 19' 0" E; 40° 56' 58" N; North: 44° 20' 45"E; 41° 0' 29"N; West: 44° 4' 57"E; 40° 59' 30"N; East: 44° 35' 33"E; 40° 53' 1"N; South: 44° 14' 53"E; 40° 53' 28"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 2,992 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 1,400 Total Area (km²): 403.9 Average length (km): 45 Average width (km): 15 KBAs (number): 0 Protected Areas (number): 1 Protected Areas (total area within the BL, km²): 26.5 175 E CO R E GI O N AL CO N SE R VATI O N P LAN F O R TH E CAU CASU S Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of BL’s total area): 6.6% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the BL): 0 Areas under International Conventions: none. Main habitats: mountain steppes and high mountain grasslands, partly temperate broad-leaved forests. Principal fauna species: Brown Bear, various reptile diversity. Important phenomena: none. Basis for delineation: its corridor function. Threats: poaching, illegal fuelwood harvesting. Conservation focus: establishm ent of protected areas and ecological corridors. G. Aragats Countries: Arm enia Location: central part of Armenia, serves as bridge between Eastern Lesser Caucasus and Sarikamish-Maku Conservation Landscapes; within this BL is located Mt. Aragats, the highest peak in Arm enia. Central coordinates: 43° 55' 48" E; 40° 18' 50" N; North: 44° 12' 10"E; 40° 34' 52"N; West: 43°41' 28"E; 40° 21' 25"N; East: 44° 32' 25"E; 40° 24' 32"N; South: 43° 52' 53"E; 40° 2' 37"N Maximal elevation (m above sea level): 4,090 Minimal elevation (m above sea level): 962 Total Area (km²): 1,179.3 Average length (km): 83 Average width (km): 40 KBAs (number): 3 KBAs: Mount Ara, Aragats, Armavir (partially) KBAs (total area, km²): 728.1 KBA coverage (% of CL’s total area): 61.7% Protected Areas (number): 1 Protected Areas (total area within the BL, km²): 3.0 Protected Areas coverage 1 (% of BL’s total area): 0.3% Protected Areas coverage 2 (% of total area of KBAs within the BL): 0.4% Areas under International Conventions: none. Main habitats: m ountain steppes and high m ountain grasslands, partly wetlands. Principal fauna species: various bird and reptile species. Important phenomena: none. Basis for delineation: its corridor function. Threats: poaching. Conservation focus: establishm ent of protected areas and ecological corridors. 176 Annex 5: Map of Key Biodiversity Areas, and Conservation and Bridging Landscapes Key Biodiversity Areas: Ru s s ia 1. Abrausky Peninsula 2. Tamanskiy 3. Delta Kuban 4. Krimsky 5. Primorsko-Akhtarsk Salt Lakes 6. Lower reaches of the Beisug and Chelbas Rivers 7. Lower Ei 8. Don Delta 9. Novoberezanskiy 10. Sredne-Labinskiy 11. Novotroitskiy 12. Veselovskoye Reservoir 13. Manych-Gudilo Lake 14. Dadynskiye Lake 15. Irgakliskaya Forest Area 16. Kizlyar Bay 17. Tarumovsky 18. Argakhanskiy 19. Yangiyurtovskiy-Sulakskaya 20. Dagestanskiy (Sarykumskiy Barkhan) 21. Melishtinskiy 22. Kayakentsky-Deshlagarsky 23. Papas (Adji) Lake 24. Itsari 25. Samurskiy 26. Berkubinsky 27. Shalbuzdag 28. Laman-Kam Area 29. Tlyaratinsky 30. Kosobsko-Kelebsky 31. Bezhtinskiy 32. Khunzakhskiy 33. Kezenoi-Am (Lake Eizenam) Basin 34. Erzi 35. Ingushskiy 36. Severno-Osetinsky-Tseiskiy 37. Alania 38. Kabardino-Balkarskiy 39. Kara-Su Sanctuary 40. Baksan Gorge 41. Prielbrusie 42. Gorge of the Eshkakon and Malka Rivers 43. Surrounding of Kislovodsk 44. Upstreams of the Podkumok and Kuma Rivers 45. Dautskiy 46. Teberdinksi-Marukhskiy 47. Upstreams of the Urup River 48. Akhmet-Skala Ridge 49. Damkhurtskiy 50. Psebay 51. Gorge of the White River 52. Caucasian 53. Northern Black Sea Region 54. Sochinsky Ge o rgia 55. Arabika 56. Ritsa 57. Bzipi 58. Range Bzipi 59. Bichvinta-Miusera 60. Pskhu-Gumista 61. Abkhazia 62. Svaneti (2) 63. Range Kodori 64. Lake Bebesiri 65. Svaneti (1) 66. Racha 67. Askhi Massif 68. Khvamli 69. Sataplia 70. Kolkheti (Aquatory) 71. Enguri River 72. Khobi River 73. Kolkheti 74. Rioni River 75. Supsa River 76. Batumi 1 77. Chorokhi-Sarpi 78. Batumi 2 79. Machakhela 80. Shavsheti Range (2) 81. Mtirala-Kintrishi 82. Bakhmaro 83. Goderdzi Pass 84. Shavsheti Range (1) 85. Borjomi-Kharagauli 86. Nedzvi 87. Trialeti Range 88. Ktsia-Tabatskuri 89. Tetrobi 90. Meskheti 91. Kartsakhi-Sulda Mire 92. Javakheti 93. Khanchali Lake 94. Bugdasheni Lake 95. Madatapa Lake 96. Saghamo Lake 97. Paravani Lake 98. Javakheti Range 99. Bedeni 100. Kvernaki Ridge 101. Tbilisi National Park 102. Kazbegi 103. Pshav-Khevsureti 104. Tusheti 105. Babaneuri 106. Eastern Caucasus 107. Lagodekhi 108. Alazani Valley 109. Artsivi Gorge 110. Chachuna-Vashlovani 111. Iori-Korugi 112. Iori Plateau 113. Jandari Lake 114. Gardabani Aze rbaijan 115. Garayazi 116. Jandar Lake 117. Agstapha 118. Shamkir 119. Shortepe 120. Gyzilja 121. Goy-Gol 122. Lachin 123. Gubadli 124. Dashalty 125. Orta Kur Akhmazy 126. Turyanchay 127. Korchay 128. Qabirri-Mingachevir 129. Ajinohur 130. Ilisu (Akhar-Bakhar) 131. Sheki 132. Ganikh Valley 133. Zagatala 134. Ilisu-Gakh 135. Shahdag 136. Shahdag Mountain (1) 137. Shahdag Mountain (2) 138. Samur-Yalama-Gusar 139. Aghzibir Lakes 140. Altyaghach 141. Garghabazar and Gush-Gaya Mountains 142. Absheron Archipelago and Pirallahi Bay 143. Gyrmyzygol Lake 144. Factory Shelf 145. Gobustan 146. Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (1) 147. Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (2) 148. Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (3) 149. Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (4) 150. Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (5) 151. Alat Bay-Baku Archipelago (6) 152. Shirvan 153. Kura Delta 154. Gizilaghach 155. Hyrkan Forests 156. Zuvand 157. Mahmud-Chala Lake 158. Araz-Bahramtepe 159. Ag-Gol-Sarisu 160. Zangezur-Darasham 161. Aras Reservoir 162. Sadarak Arm e n ia 163. Lake Arpi 164. Mount Achkasar 165. Tashir 166. Jajur 167. Akhuryan Reservoir 168. Armavir 169. Aragats 170. Mount Ara 171. Northeast 172. Sevan Ridge 173. Lake Sevan 174. Khosrov Forest 175. Khor Virap 176. Armash Fish Ponds 177. Goravan Sands 178. Urts Range 179. Gndasar 180. Arpa 181. Jermuk-Eghegis 182. Meghri 183. Tatev 184. Khndzoresk Tu rke y 185. Giresun and Ordu Coast 186. Giresun Mountains 187. Zigana Mountain 188. Karadere 189. Ikizdere and Soganli Mountain 190. Upper Chorukh Valley 191. North Kackars 192. South Kackars 193. Hatila Valley 194. Hopa 195. Karcal Mountains 196. Yalnizcam Mountains 197. Posof Forest 198. Ardahan Plain and Forest 199. Aktas Lake 200. Cildir Lake 201. Kuyucuk Lake 202. Kars Ovasi 203. Allahuekber Mountains 204. Sarikamish Forests 205. Olur-Oltu Steppe 206. Tortum Basin 207. Kop Mountain 208. Palandoken Mountain 209. Bingol Mountains 210. Karasu Plain 211. Aras Valley 212. Igdir Plain 213. Agri Mountain 214. Dogubeyazit Marshes 215. Tendurek Mountain 216. Eastern Van Mountains Iran 217. Maku and Iran West Border 218. Maku 219. Agh-Gol 220. Aras Dam Lake 221. Marakan 222. Kiamaky-Kantal 223. Dizmar-Arasbaran 224. Parsabad 225. Mountain Sahand-Sabalan 226. Lavandvil 227. Lisar 228. Anzali Lagoon 229. Gashtroodkhan 230. Sepirud River and Bujagh 231. Amirkelayeh Conservation Landscapes: Bridging Landscapes: 1 - Kuma-Manych 2 - Western Greater Caucasus 3 - Central Greater Caucasus 4 - Eastern Greater Caucasus 5 - Caspian 6 - Kolkheti 7 - Western Lesser Caucasus A - Likhi B - Trialeti-Gombori C - Algeti-Loqi D - Sarikamish-Posof E - Aras F - Bazum G - Aragats 8 - South Caucasus Uplands 9 - Sarikamish-Maku 10 - Eastern Lesser Caucasus 11 - Iori-Mingachevir 12 - Arasbaran 13 - Hyrcan