WORKING GROUP MEETINGS

Presentation of HE Mr. Vyacheslav Petukhov, Vice Governor of Chitinskaya oblast
The policy of nature use in Daurian ecological region under new social and economic conditions

The territory for presentation is located in the heart of Eurasia continent far from seas and oceans (Map 1). Daurian ecoregion includes (Map 2) two large watersheds: Amur and Uldza-Torey.

The south borders of Durian ecoregion go through Mongolian and China and are divided by the state border. The region includes more than 20 administrative districts of China oblast and Aginsk Buryat autonomous area. The density of population on the territory of the Russian Federations is ecologically favorable (Map 3).

Location of the region almost in the center of Asia promotes to formation of mixed flora and fauna, including representatives of Far East, China, Mongolia, West Siberia and Yakutia.

Local parts of semi-deserted standard steppe (practically unique in the Russian Federations) are preserved, 360 species (202 geneal) of plants are listed oh the territory.

Birds play the leading role among vertebrates of Daurian ecoregion (315 species, that makes about 40% of ornithofauna of the former USSR). 20 globally rear species, included into the list of Nature Protection International Union of rear species inhabit its territory. 37 species are put into the Red Book of the Russian Federations (Tables 1,2,3).
Table 1. Rare species of the birds living in the territory of South-East Transbaikalia.
Kind The security status *
White Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)Oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana)Black stork (Cicinia nigra)Red Breasted goose (Rufibrenta ruficollis)Lesser white-fronded goose (Anser erythropus)Mountain goose (Eulabia indica)Swan goose (Cygnopsis cygnoides)Bewick's swan (Cygnus bewickii)Baikal Teal (Anas formosa)Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)Baer's pochard (Aythia baeri)Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)Steppe hen-harrier (Circus macrourus)Tawny eagle (Aquila rapax)Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca)Golden eagle (Aquila chrisaetos)Black griffon (Aegipius monachus)Gelfalcon (Falco rusticolus)Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)Lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni)Manchurian Crane (Grus japonensis)Great White Crane (Grus leucogeranus)White-naped Crane (Grus vipio)Hooded Crane (Grus monacha)Demoiselle Crane (Anthropoides virgo)White-winged Crake (Porzana exquisita)Great bustard (Otis tarda)Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)Pied Avosed (Recurvirostra avosetta)Australian carley (Numenius madagascsriensis)Asiatic Dowitcher (Limnodronus semipalmatus)Relic gull (Larus relictus)Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)Nothern Eagle owl (Bubo bubo)Mongolian Skylark (Melanocoripha mongolica)(Megalurus prieri) R.F.R.F., IUWMR.F.R.F., IUWMR.F., IUWMR.F.R.F., IUWMR.F.R.F., IUWM R.F., IUWMR.F., IUWMR.F.R.F., IUWMR.F.R.F., IUWMR.F.R.F., IUWMR.F.R.F.R.F.R.F., IUWMR.F., IUWMR.F., IUWMR.F., IUWMR.F., IUWMR.F.R.F., IUWMR.F., IUWMR.F.R.F.R.F., IUWMR.F., IUWMR.F., IUWMR.F.R.F.R.F.R.F.
* R.F.- the Red book of Russian Federation
IUWM-the List of globally kinds which are on the brink of extinction of the
International Union of Wildlife Management

Table 2. World-wide rare bird species
Kind Quantity in region (data 1997 year)
Quantity of birds % of world-wide
Swan goose (Cygnopsis cygnoides)Bustard (O.t. dybowski)White-naped crane (Grus vipio)Demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo)Hooded crane (Gurs monacha)Asiatic Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus)Relic gull (Larus relictus) 100010001400730002503002400 28329373220

Table 3. World-wide biospheric importance of South-Eastern Transbaikalie for some kind of migrating birds
Kind Quantity ofbirds % of birds migrating throughEast-Asian-AustralianMigration way
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialisfulva)Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)Rufous-necked Stint (CaliderisRuficollis)Broad-billed Sandpiper (LimicolaFalcinellus)Ruddy Shelduck (TadornaFerruginea 65004800012000150000450010000 405020321610

The region is located in the center of East Asian-Australian flyway (Map 4). The peculiaryty of this migration way (it has been under study not since long ago) is the fact that flyways of many species of birds get narrow on the territory of Chita area, the so called "bottle neck" (Map 5). This is connected with the fact that in this region a narrow strip of steppe rich with reservoirs and food get to a forest-steppe zone poor with lakes and bogs.

There are 7 species of cranes in the region. Six of them are entered into the Red Books of the Russian Federations, Mongolia, China and the list of rare species of Nature Protection International Union. There are no places like this one in the world. One may see more than 80% of the world populations of East subspecies of bustard, about one third of the world population of White-naped crane and more than one third of the world populations of Demoiselle crane (Table 4).
Table 4. Important of Daurian steppes for preservation of cranes and bustards
Kind Summer number in regionDaurian steppes Number of congestions in theToreyskaya hollow
numberOf birds % ofworld-wide numberOf birds % of
Bustard (O.t. dybowski)White-naped craneDemoisellecraneCommon craneHooded craneGreat White CraneManchurian Crane 1000140073000125025052? 832937<13<1- 20013540000130070032- 17320<181-
The note: In the table estimations of world number of cranes C. Maine and G. Archibald (1998) and east subspecies bustards S. Chan and O. Goroshko (1999) are used.

There are two core within Chita area, where biodiversity of the region is concentrated. They are- the Argun river valley in its upper part and Torey hollow located on the boarder of China, Russia and Mongolia.

The total number of birds that make a stop for rest during spring migration within the territory of the hollow is not less than 3 million, and not less than 6 million during autumn migration.

The Russian area of Daurian steppe is a part of winter territory for gazelles, a vitally important area for numerous (180000-200000 heads) migration population, bred in Mongolia
Ecological and economic risks and threats to natural complexes conservation

The priority natural factor, causing development of the complex of risks, is rather active process of deserting, and as a result of it general biological productivity of the territory is slowing down (Table 5).
Table 5. Ecological threats of the environment preserve
No Natural and anthropogenic risks
1. Climate aridisation:- wind and water erosion (every founth of hectare is erosioned)- salted soil;- bogging;- loss of the biological output;- etc.;
2. Technogenic risks:- agricultural activity (96% of territory of the region-tillage, mowing, pastures);- mineralsextraction (pits, stockpile, tailings);- forest and steeps fires;- transportation system (Transsib, railway road to China, etc.);- forest usage;- pollution in the water & earth ecosystems (radiation, population activity and etc);
3. Social risks:- lack of ecological culture among the native population;- priority of the economics in the procedure of making decisions on all the levels;- lack of scientific knowledge about the biodiversity of the region;- lack of the ecological protection programs;- non-effective international cooperation in terms of nature preservation;
Among factors of anthropogenic origin-fires, poaching, irrational methods in agriculture, landscape changes as a result of mineral resources mining, development of main roads-make negative impact on biodiversity of Daurian steppe (Map 6).

Is there a way for environmental economic development of the region?
The story of active and direct protection of fragile landscapes of biosphere importance in this region began 30 years ago when Sohondo State Biosphere Preserve was established. At the end of 1980-ies Dauria State Preserve was set up and in 1999 the first in East Zabaikalye Alkhanay Natural and Culture National Park was established (Map 7), There are 8 reserves (zakanik) and 12 nature relics (complex, geological and botanic) here. Besides, natural territories of inhabit, migration concentration of vertebrates (gazelles, birds, etc) rare plants entered into Red Book are identified. Some of this territories are "hot spots" where planing or existing economic negative impact is high. There is necessary to plan establishment of Specially Protected Territories having status of nature preserved or reserve territories.

The oblast has a number of conditions to implement tasks of long-term balanced economic development taking into account environmental imperatives and First, Chita area is one of few subject of the Russian Federations that has its own Law "On specially protected and reserve natural territories of the Chita area". The Law stipulates n opportunity to reserve a part of specially valuable natural territories. At present those territories are under revision;

Second, the above mentioned law stipulates activity of the Consultative Public Council for Specially Protected Reserve Natural Territories at the Governor. Scientists, ecologist, executives, representatives of NGO are its members. We have positive experience of international cooperation on transboundary territories (on the level of Specially Protected Natural Territories, Administration of different level);

Third, Interest of China area and Aginsk Buryat Autonomous area Administrations, scientists and NGO are constructively combined. We have examples of good experience, joint activity and high results (implementation of a number of international nature protection projects in the Lake Baikal watershed, etc);

Fourth, the territory of project implementation supplied with information (information on environment condition, depth of ecological problems, etc. is concentrated in reserves, scientific and educational institution, state control bodies, etc);

Fifth, social atmosphere is stable in the region, there are neither national, religious nor social conflicts. Most of the oblast and region population life in rural area, and traditionally and professionally their life is connected with natural conditions.

Potential opportunities of the region for conservation of unique natural complexes of Daurian ecoregion are not availed because of a number of social and economic reasons. At the same time participation of Chita area in implementation of "TumenNET" will let to implement a number of model projects, that will demonstrate settlement of tasks of the following priority directions:

The first priority direction. Introduction of direct and indirect measures for conservation of biodiversity in frontier territories (the project of a netwok (ecological framework) of protected and reserve territories, environmental corridors, biosphere grounds, etc. as a basis of long term environmental planing).

The second priority directions. Joint action of countries struggling with forest and steppe fires, depredatory use of animal and vegetable resources, contamination of boundary waters and territories.