Ilisu State Reserve, Nature reserve in Qakh District, Azerbaijan

Ilisu State Reserve is a protected area on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus range in northwestern Azerbaijan. It covers several elevation zones, from dense broadleaf forests at lower levels to open alpine meadows higher up.

The reserve was founded in 1987 to protect the mountain forests and wildlife of the Greater Caucasus in what was then Soviet Azerbaijan. After independence, the protected zone was extended to cover additional land.

The reserve lies in Qakh Rayon between the Zaqatala and Ismayilli reserves, and its name comes from the nearby village of Ilisu. Local residents use the surrounding slopes for grazing and hay meadows; about 228 hectares inside the reserve are former pasture, cropland and mowing land. The forest is dominated by eastern beech (50%), Caucasian hornbeam (25%) and Iberian and eastern oaks (20%).

Access to the reserve is regulated, so it is worth checking the current entry conditions before planning a visit. Trails can vary a lot depending on the season, so wearing appropriate footwear is a good idea.

The reserve forms a continuous corridor with neighboring protected areas, allowing wildlife to move across a much larger territory than the reserve itself covers. Species like the Caucasian brown bear and the Caucasian tur benefit directly from this connection.