Employees of the department "Landscape and landscape planning" of the Institute of Geography named after acad. H.A.Aliyev ANAS - Doctors of Philosophy in Geography, head of the department, associate professors Mirnukh Ismayilov and Saida Zeynalova conducted research in the Okhchuchay river basin.
The purpose of the expedition, organized by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources on May 16-17, 2022, is to compile a large-scale landscape map of the Azerbaijani part of Okhchuchay, assess the landscape and ecological state of the area, study the impact of landscapes on river flow, anthropogenic disturbances in the ecosystems of the basin, etc.

According to scientists, 10 km of the 43-km section of the Okhchuchay River, passing through the territory of Azerbaijan, directly correspond to the current state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 32.2% of it is forest-shrubby, 32.1% xerophytic steppes, 12% dry steppes and 6.9% riverine-meadow forests. The slopes of the Iris, Pilasar, Aghjagayin and Asgulum ridges facing the river were steep and basically looked like tectonic faults. The slopes of volcanic rocks, sometimes covered with bare rocks, and sometimes with forests and forest shrubs, play an important role in regulating surface runoff, forming groundwater and maintaining river water throughout the year. Biodiversity of unique value and richness has been formed in the basin due to the gradual change of natural landscapes from dry steppes to mountain forests at a short distance and the influence of the Okhchuchay River, which plays the role of an ecological corridor between them.
As a result of their research, the specialists found that the ecosystems of the river basins suffered greatly from the landscape-ecological systems during the occupation period. The forests were barbarously plundered, the industrially important birch, walnut, ash and other trees were cut down, and other types of wood and shrubs were used as fuel. Today, these green forests consist of globular shoots that grow on the roots of trees that were once cut down by the Armenians. Restoration and protection of such forests is important for the transmission of the unique natural gene pool of the river basin to future generations.