Riparian flora and fauna diversity along the Kura River and key conservation pressures

Abstract

Riparian zones along the Kura River support a mosaic of aquatic, riverbank and nearby terrestrial habitats that are important for plants, fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. This article develops an original student research project on flora and fauna diversity around the Kura River into a structured academic review while preserving its central species examples, research questions, methodological approach and original river photograph. The source project identified poplar, willow, plane trees, tamarisk, reeds and herbaceous plants as characteristic vegetation and listed carp, kutum, catfish, waterbirds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians among the fauna associated with the river corridor. The present study reorganizes these observations into habitat groups and compares them with recent literature on Azerbaijani Tugai forests, water quality, ecosystem services and restoration. Results indicate that riparian biodiversity depends on the interaction of water regime, floodplain connectivity, vegetation structure, water quality and human disturbance. Pollution, waste discharge, tree cutting, overfishing, hydrological alteration and climate-related stress can affect several trophic and habitat levels simultaneously. Riparian vegetation is especially important because it stabilizes banks, provides shade and nesting or refuge habitat, and contributes to ecological connectivity. Interpreted through a green-economy perspective, protecting the Kura’s flora and fauna also protects natural capital supporting water security, agriculture, recreation and local landscape value. Priority actions include pollution control, riparian restoration, biodiversity monitoring, sustainable fishing, efficient water use and environmental education.