Definition: Natural monuments are the most characteristic and best preserved small areas of typical landscapes; natural places distinguished by particular beauty which are of particular aesthetic value; certain areas of endemic, relict and endangered species of flora; century-old trees; examples of landscape architecture; water falls; caves; lakes which are unique in genesis and morphology; original geological exposition of mountainous rocks; places of paleonthological remains and other objects and complexes of great historical, practical scientific or cultural-educational value; individual areas of natural forests with particularly valuable tree and bush species; individual areas of artificial plantations having environmental, scientific or aesthetic value; some springs of under-ground waters; and other remarkable sights of nature, situated on the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic.
In the Azerbaijan Republic certain natural complexes and sights are protected by the state in accordance with the adopted list of "natural monuments". On this list are 2,083 trees of more than, 100 years of age; 37 geological and paleontological objects and more than 15 thousand hectares of model indigenous types, endemic, relict species and valuable areas of forests. All these objects are being protected and the State Committee for the Environment has registered and issued a passport for each "natural monument", and the local organs of executive power ensure their protection.
Centuries-old trees officially registered as "natural monuments" are mainly represented by 150-800 year old Platanus orientalis. The majority of such trees are 200-500 years old. At the same time this document includes many relict and endemic species such as: Zelkova -250-400 years; Celtis- 300-600 years; box-tree -200-300 years; black walnut (Juglansnigra) -200-300 years. In this list there are many species which are widespread not only in the Caucasus: oak, ash, lime, maple, nut and others, which have an age of more than 150 years.
In the Republic, special attention is paid to those areas of forest and natural communities, which are specified in the "Natural Monuments" list as being of particular value. There are 30 such items in the document. Among them are:
- Pistacia grove in the Barda region -the unique botanical object belonging to mezofil forest formations, the age of the trees is 370-450 years
- The box -tree grove in the Astara region -the representative of the ancient Hyrcan flora, relict grove of the tertiary period. Communities with evergreen species of the Buxus hyrcana, Taxus baccata; Ruscus and Ilex. The average age of the box-tree (Buxus) is 200-300 years
- The platan forest in the Belocan region -is a relict forest of the tertiary period, it has an extreme value for studying the history of the flora in a natural platan forest, the age of the trees is 50 to 250 years
- The gall oak ( Quercus araxina) in the Zangelan region is an endangered species and is observed only in the tugay forests on the bank of the Araks River.
Oak, pine and beech areas of the forest are also included in the "Natural Monuments" list as areas of natural forests, where the age of trees is more than 200 years.
Among 37 geological (paleontological) "Natural Monuments" under state protection are:
- Nine (9) caves, including the "Azikh" cave, where the Neolithic site of primitive man arid stone-carved drawings were discovered
- Unique geological formations, such as the "Mountain of Baku layer" -with a classic section of lower anthropogenic deposits and of a thickness of 70 m, which is referred to in geological literature as a strata-typical; "Visuvian hill". Here well formed crystals of rare minerals -vesuvian, tourmaline and others were found. Also, the "Tengin canyon", with a depth of 406 m, consisting of marble, the origin of which is associated with limestone; four (4) mud volcanoes "Lokbatan", a mud volcano with a small number of eruptions (20) situated at a height of 130 m above the sea-level, and which, unlike other mud volcanoes, does not have a griffon stage; "Irantekan", one of the most interesting volcanoes of Gobustan, is situated on the boundary of the Kura Lowland on the south-western hill of the Alat Ridge and is like a bastion; and specific mud volcanoes of Gobustan -"Kanizadak", "Dashkil", and" Afurja waterfall", which is the most beautiful natural phenomenon on the Valvali-Chay River, where water falls from a height of 60 m
- paleonthologicfil objects such as "Binagadi Asphalt Lake" -the habitat of quaternary flora and fauna. According to the number of species and due to good conditions it is referred to as the richest deposit in the world. In this area 263 species of fossil flora and fauna were revealed; "Perikushkul deposits of fossil fauna" -a unique accumulation of the remains of marine animals, turtles, cetacean fish, insects and plants, which are associated with the Micope deposits represented by clays and argillaceous slates and others.
In 1994-1995 the State Committee for the Environment carried out an inventory of "Natural Monuments", which has revealed a rapid reduction in the number of century-old trees and a degradation of valuable forest areas. From the previous 2,083 trees, at present there remain 1,810; from 37 geological-paleontological objects there remain 35, and instead of 15,097 hectares of valuable forest area only 6,944 hectares remain. The main reason for the fast reduction of protected objects is the military conflict, as a result of which 20% of the territory of the Republic is under occupation. On the occupied territories there are more than 150 century-old trees, 13197.5 hectares of valuable forest areas and six (6) geological objects. It is obvious that without protection and special measures, all these "Natural Monuments" will remain in a critical state or will be destroyed.
It is also necessary to state that changes in the climate, the rise in
the level of ground waters, as well as the strengthening of the anthropogenic
load have resulted in the death of almost a hundred century-old trees.
