ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL RISK OF ECOSYSTEM DEGRADATION IN THE SOUTH-CAUCASUS ENERGY CORRIDOR

Abstract

The South-Caucasus energy corridor passes through the semi-desert and dry steppe ecosystem in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This ecosystem has a very fragile biocenosis and soil cover, which is rapidly degraded due to natural and anthropogenic influences. To prevent this, we have assessed the potential risk of ecosystem degradation in the energy corridor. Using the obtained method, we divided the potential risk of ecosystem degradation into 5 groups: no potential risk, weak risk, moderate risk, severe risk and very severe risk. The research shows that the soils distributed in the corridor are gray-brown, gray, grass-gray and gray-brown, and the vegetation consists of ephemerals, wormwood, various salt grasses, etc. consists of. Crops and perennials rely on irrigation. Proper irrigation causes irrigation erosion in areas with a high tendency to repeated salinization in the depressions of the terrain. The lack of proper and regular organization of grazing in the pastures intensifies the degradation of grass cover and soils. A control measure should be developed and implemented according to each risk level of ecosystem degradation.