The presentation ceremony of the book "Vegetation Cover of Azerbaijan" by Elshad Gurbanov, Head of the Department of Botany and Plant Physiology at Baku State University (BSU) and Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), was held.

The President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbayli, emphasized the significance of the book, which was dedicated to Science Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan on March 27. He highlighted that the publication addresses global challenges and provides a comprehensive synthesis of research on Azerbaijan’s vegetation cover. He noted that the book presents taxonomic classifications of plant types found across all botanical-geographical regions of Azerbaijan, detailing their distribution and current status. Isa Habibbayli also mentioned that, based on his studies and referenced materials, Elshad Gurbanov has compiled a "Vegetation Cover Map of Azerbaijan."

The Vice-President of ANAS and Director General of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the Ministry of Science and Education, Academician Irada Huseynova, underlined the book’s relevance and importance. She stated that the book, along with the "Vegetation Cover Map of Azerbaijan" and the "Botanical-Geographical Regions Map of Azerbaijan," systematically documents the current state of vegetation types that had not been classified for over 40 years. The new publication classifies Azerbaijan's vegetation into 17 families, categorizing plant types into formation groups and associations while identifying their edifying species.

She further emphasized that "Elshad Gurbanov has made a significant scientific contribution by proving the presence of the 'desert' and 'pseudomacchia' vegetation types in Azerbaijan, based on their morphological and ecological characteristics as well as dominant and subdominant species. These findings have been incorporated into the vegetation map, bringing innovation to the field." She also noted that these maps have been officially certified by the Intellectual Property Agency.

The event featured speeches from Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vugar Karimov, Vice-Rector of Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Professor Mahira Huseynova, Head of the Department of Botany at Ganja State University and Corresponding Member of ANAS, Vagif Novruzov, Member of Parliament and Editor-in-Chief of Iki Sahil newspaper, Vugar Rahimzade, as well as the Director General of the Institute of Botany, Professor Sayyara Ibadullayeva. They shared their thoughts on the book, emphasizing its value as a significant scientific resource containing crucial data for modern Azerbaijani science.

At the conclusion of the event, the book’s author, Corresponding Member of ANAS Elshad Gurbanov, expressed his gratitude to the organizers and attendees. He highlighted that the scientific monograph covers a broad spectrum, from the geobotanical classification of plants to their roles in ecosystems, adaptation mechanisms, and resilience strategies against anthropogenic impacts. The book includes phytogeographical zoning and biodiversity mapping, identifying nine primary plant formation types and 65 plant associations in Azerbaijan. Additionally, it documents 215 Caucasian endemic species and 50 endemic species of Azerbaijan. The study also analyzes the impact of climate change on flora, the adaptation mechanisms of plants to extreme environmental factors, and strategies for conserving plant genetic resources to enhance ecosystem resilience.

(SDG) 15: Life on Land