Human pressures on Kura River riparian ecosystems and the role of Tugai forests in biodiversity conservation and green economic resilience in Azerbaijan

Abstract

Riparian ecosystems of the Kura River combine aquatic habitats, floodplain vegetation and Tugai forests that support biodiversity, water regulation, soil stability and local economic activity. This study integrates two author-prepared research projects: one examining the effects of human activities on river ecosystems and another assessing the ecological importance of Tugai forests. The source studies identify industrial effluents, agricultural chemicals, household waste, riparian deforestation, dams, water-resource decline and climate-related stress as major pressures. They also emphasize the role of Tugai forests in erosion control, habitat provision, soil protection, microclimate regulation and landscape quality. The present article preserves these original findings and interprets them through an ecosystem-services and green-economy framework, supported by recent literature on the Kura River and Azerbaijani Tugai forests. Results show that human pressures can simultaneously reduce water quality and weaken the natural infrastructure provided by riparian forests, creating ecological and economic exposure for agriculture, water supply, recreation and local livelihoods. Priority responses include wastewater control, more efficient agricultural inputs, riparian restoration, environmental-flow management, ecological monitoring and environmental education. The study concludes that Tugai conservation should be integrated into river-basin management as an investment in biodiversity, natural capital and long-term green economic resilience.