On 14 October 2026, employees of the Laboratory of Landscape Studies and Nature Management, Firuza Aghayeva and Aygun Hajiyeva, Kamala Mahmudova together with Saida Zeynalova, Scientific Secretary of the Institute and PhD in Geography, Associate Professor, conducted short-term field research and landscape-indication observations in Gobustan to study the current state of semi-desert landscapes.

During the observations, the researchers assessed the natural conditions of the area, vegetation characteristics, the distribution of wormwood semi-desert landscapes, soil surface conditions, and signs of soil salinization.

The study examined the influence of mud volcanoes, one of Gobustan’s characteristic natural geosystems, on the surrounding landscapes, as well as landform characteristics and changes observed in soil and vegetation cover. Particular attention was paid to the role of arid climatic conditions, soil salinization, and sparse vegetation in the formation and development of landscapes.

The field observations are important for the preliminary assessment of the ecological condition of Gobustan’s semi-desert landscapes, the identification of natural processes through landscape indicators, and the more detailed investigation of changes occurring in the area in the future. The collected observational data will contribute to establishing an initial scientific database for analysing and assessing the current state of the region’s landscapes.