The harmonized water quality monitoring program in the Selenga river basin
The basin of Lake Baikal is one of the most outstanding ecosystems previously untouched by any significant impacts of economic activity. Preservation and maintaining of the natural condition of the Selenga river ecosystem (a part of Lake Baikal’s ecosystem) serve not only the national interests of the Russian Federation and Mongolia, but the entire world community.
The surface waters condition and pollution monitoring system in the territory of Russia and Mongolia should be orientated towards strengthening of transboundary cooperation, acquisition of universal and commeasurable information. Alongside with the information on the condition of other environmental media it will serve as a basis for the support of executive decision making for the integrated water resource management in the basins of Lake Baikal and Lake Khubsugul to provide sustainable functioning and protection of the unique ecosystems under the conditions of economic development of the states concerned.
The harmonized water quality monitoring program in the Selenga river basin is aimed at the drawing together of the monitoring systems in Russia and Mongolia, exposure and fixing of discrepancies and disagreements in the course of its organization and maintenance.
