Riparian biodiversity of the Kura River and its role in ecosystem services and local green economy development

Abstract

Riparian ecosystems along the Kura River combine riverine vegetation, wetlands, fish communities, birds, mammals and reptiles within a narrow ecological corridor that supports both biodiversity and human well-being. This study develops an academic synthesis from an author-prepared research project on the fauna and flora of the Kura River and interprets its findings through ecosystem-services and local green-economy perspectives. The source project identified Tugai forests, reed and aquatic vegetation, fish, migratory and resident birds, semi-aquatic mammals and reptiles as characteristic components of the riverside system, while emphasizing declining water levels, pollution and flow regulation by dams as major pressures. The study combines this original material with recent research on Azerbaijan’s Tugai forests, riparian restoration and Kura-related ecosystem services. Results show that riparian biodiversity is economically relevant because it contributes to bank stabilization, habitat continuity, water regulation, fisheries potential, recreation and nature-based tourism. Degradation therefore represents not only an ecological loss but also a weakening of natural capital that supports local development. The analysis indicates that restoring river–floodplain connectivity, protecting Tugai vegetation, improving pollution control, maintaining environmental flows and supporting low-impact recreation can generate joint ecological and economic benefits. The paper concludes that Kura riparian biodiversity should be treated as productive natural infrastructure within Azerbaijan’s green-economy transition, while future work should add standardized field inventories, habitat mapping and ecosystem-service valuation.