As part of the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), which will be held in Baku, staff members of the Landscape Science and Nature Management Laboratory of the Institute of Geography under the Ministry of Science and      Education carried out an expedition to the Masalli, Astara, and Lankaran districts.

This information was provided to AZERTAC by Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Associate Professor Mirnuh Ismayilov. According to him, during the research, the dynamics, structure, and functionality of urban and rural residential landscapes formed in coastal zones were studied, along with the role of the ecological framework in ecosystem services.

It was noted that the urban and residential landscapes in the region were formed on the basis of unique natural meadow-forest and forest ecosystems located along the coast of the Caspian Sea, characterized by a humid subtropical climate and high biodiversity. The study area located in the Lankaran Lowland is intensively used in terms of agriculture, urban development, and residential landscape expansion. Urbanization processes in the area have accelerated mainly due to the expansion of coastal settlements, the development of tourism complexes, and the integration of urban elements with agricultural activities. This has a serious impact on the structure and functions of natural landscapes.