Employees of the department "Landscape research and landscape planning" of the Institute of Geography named after academician H.Aliyev of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Doctors of Philosophy in Geography, Associate Professors Mirnukh Ismayilov (head of the department), Saida Zeynalova and Gulnar Hajiyeva, as well as junior researcher Amina Muradova conducted field research in the Salyan and Neftchala regions.

The purpose of landscape-ecological monitoring and scientific research, conducted from March 10 to 14, was to study the ecological situation caused by the lack of fresh water in natural and anthropogenic ecosystems in the lowland region of Azerbaijan.

Scientists have noticed that the shortage of fresh water in the part of the Kura River, which passes through the Salyan and Neftchala regions, is more acute than in other parts of these regions: the Kura River dried up, and small drainless ponds remained in its channel. In the riverbed, landscapes with continuous vegetation dried up over a large area, and a hilly channel formed. The exchange between the river and marine ecosystems has completely stopped due to the construction of an artificial dam where the river is flowing into the sea. In this section, the river water level dropped to 1.6 m below sea level.

Experts who believe that this aquatic ecosystem will become a source of disease in the summer months, argue that the population will not be able to be fully provided with water, and there will also be serious problems when irrigating agricultural fields: “If the decline in the river level continues, the situation in both regions may get worse”.

Experts continue to analyze the materials they have received to determine the causes of problems and countermeasures, as well as to manage freshwater ecosystems.