ASSESSMENT OF THE GEOECOLOGİCAL POTENTİAL OF SUBALPİNE AND ALPİNE MEADOW LANDSCAPES OF THE HİGHLANDS OF THE NORTH-EASTERN SLOPE OF THE LESSER CAUCASUS

S.M.Abbasova

Ganja State University, Ganja, Azerbaijan

seadet.abbasova.90@mail.ru

DOI: 10.59423/gnr.2026.89.22.004

Abstract. The article, based on the information obtained from satellite images, analyzes the morphogenetic features, regional differentiation and anthro-pogenic load of subalpine and alpine meadow landscapes formed in the highlands of the north-eastern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus, as well as their change depending on the absolute altitude. It was determined that more than 80% of the high-mountain forests of the region are located up to 1800 meters, and more than 90% of mountain meadows are located above 2200 meters. These meadows are ecosystems that exist in high-mountain regions and are used as summer pastures, consisting of perennial herbaceous plants. Most of the mountain meadows are restorative in mid-mountain regions where forests have been cut down, and are divided into 4 groups according to the change as a result of anthropogenic impact – virtually unchanged; slightly changed; moderately changed; Radically transformed landscape groups are identified and landscape and ecological features, development and changes in each of them are separately characterized. The analysis focuses on pastures that depend on their natural and geographical features and are particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation due to over-grazing, which leads to low productivity and significant landscape changes.

Keywords: Landscape, alpine and subalpine meadows, geoecological potential, mountain meadows,  pastures, microlandscape, pasture plants.

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Accepted for publication: November 20, 2025

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S.M. Abbasova – Assessment of the geoecological potential of subalpine and alpine meadow landscapes of the highlands of the north-eastern slope of the Lesser Caucasus. Geography and Natural Resources, №2 (24), 2025, pp. 20-26.