Current Status and Classification of Vegetation Cover in the Gunnut–Gapicik Region of the Nakhchivan Highlands

Vegetation cover plays a fundamental role in maintaining ecosystem stability, biodiversity conservation, and the sustainable use of natural forage resources in mountainous regions. This study investigates the current status, distribution patterns, and classification of vegetation cover in the Gunnut–Gapicik region of the Nakhchivan Highlands. Field investigations were conducted during 2017–2024 using standard geobotanical survey methods. Vegetation types were identified and classified according to classical and modern geobotanical approaches based on field observations and phytocenological analyses. The results revealed that the vegetation of the study area is represented by eight major vegetation types comprising 33 formation classes, 94 formations, and 137 associations. Mountain-xerophytic, steppe, shrub, forest, meadow, swamp, rock-scree, and oasis vegetation communities were distinguished, while subalpine, alpine, tugay, and wetland ecosystems occupy significant ecological niches within the region. The distribution of vegetation was found to be closely associated with altitudinal gradients and environmental conditions, reflecting the high ecological diversity of the area. The obtained results contribute to a better understanding of the vegetation structure of the Gunnut–Gapicik region and provide an important scientific basis for biodiversity conservation, sustainable pasture management, and future ecological monitoring in the Nakhchivan Highlands.