When you have friends you are vast as a steppe, without friends you are narrow as a palm

(Mongolian proverb)

Today, there are many environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Russia. Many have extensive experience of  successfully implementing projects concerning nature protection, practical aspects of sustainable development, environmental education, and effective forms of self-maintenance. Such experience is very important for the development of public activity, unfortunately this experience is often lacking in regional NGOs which often don’t have the close contacts with colleagues enjoyed by national organizations (Sobolev, 2006).

Some regions of Russia have reputable environmental organizations which have strong links with governmental organizations. Members of these organizations are experienced in preparing official documents and can find meaningful solutions to ecological problems. The NGO “Baikal Ecological Wave” from Irkutsk city is a good example of such an organization (Yablokov, 2004).

Well-known scientist Vladimir Yakimets who studied non-governmental organizations in Russia proposes that there have been three hypothetical periods in the development of NGOs in Russia: 1991-1995 “romantic period”, 1996-2000 – “meaningful and controversial period”, 2001 – present (this period doesn’t have a symbolic name because of contradictive evaluation into ongoing processes: decreasing or increasing of public initiatives). The author analyzed this process by investigating the system of interactions between government and civil society in the frame of dominating in Russian research tendencies, which reflect the condition of official and non-official rhetoric in civil society. Such models have some shortcomings and need to be corrected. However, this represents one of the few attempts to study the history and development of non-governmental organizations in Russia (Demidov, 2008).

Improving the environmental awareness of the public is an important factor in securing the sustainable development of society and non-governmental organizations make great contributions to such processes. These organizations include environmental NGOs which are specifically targeted on nature protection and sustainable management. Their main goals are environmental education, practical preservation of natural objects, leading public ecological control and promoting the alignment of the economy and society to environmental protection and sustainable development. They develop public initiatives and involve the public in decision-making processes.

Lake Baikal (UNESCO World Heritage Site) has the potential to develop the environmental awareness not only of Irkutsk Oblast’, Republic of Buryatia, Zabaikalsky Krai of Russia, and Mongolia, but of the whole world.

Implementation of the proposed network can help in strengthening and facilitating cooperation between Russian and Mongolian NGOs in the field of sustainable development of the Baikal Basin.

It should be noted that environmental NGOs play an important role in the facilitation, elaboration and implementation of different projects, such as

• Nature conservation and improvement;
• Facilitating social and educational activities for training of scientific and creative forces in local communities;
• Promoting of local community to participate in environmental and natural resources protection and their sustainable use.

Creation of the transboundary NGO network “Friends of Baikal Basin” will be the first step towards enhancing the involvement of civil society in the transboundary collaborative process.

The network will form structured, well-defined and efficient NGO partnerships to allow for adequate and coordinated representation of civil society in the context of the implementation of the transboundary and national strategy action plan (SAP). Virtual web-based tools for creating and maintaining partnerships will include a website and an email list-serve. It will encourage the membership of community-based organizations (CBOs) and NGOs (registered and non-registered). The virtual partnership will operate in Russian, Mongolian, and English, with country-specific content managed in each country respectively.

This Friends of Baikal Basin Network will also be engaged under a UNDP/Coca Cola funded, practical, hands-on initiative to benefit Baikal and to see the benefits called “Every Drop Matters”. The Every Drop Matters Project in Russia is part of the regional UNDP-Coke water partnership and is one of the five pilot projects planned in five countries (Russia, Romania, Turkey, Kazakhstan, andCroatia). One of the purposes of the initiative is the protection of drinking water resources and promoting the sustainable economic development of local communities and their water resources, as well as awareness-raising on water issues (Project document, 2010).

1. Experience of international cooperation of NGOs

1.1. Questions of international cooperation of NGOs

International cooperation between NGOs started in the former USSR in 1988 through the organization of Nature Protection Brigades and the Socio-Ecological Union. The first step was the joint project with German conservationists “Green Movement” (Larin et al.,). One of its significant breakthroughs was a conference which was organized by the Socio-Ecological Union. This organization later formed the professional – Center for Independent Ecological Programs (CIEP) together with American environmental non-governmental organizations. Many organizations participated at this conference, such as ISAR, Sacred Earth Network, Earth Island Institute, etc. This conference was very important for the Soviet conservation community, especially for leaders and activists of regional NGOs.

At the same time top international environmental NGOs began to work in the country. After the second visit of David McTaggard (one of Greenpeace’s founders) the Greenpeace Department opened in Moscow. At the same time the first international field projects financed by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) began operations.

International collaboration between Russia and Mongolia started during the Soviet era. T.B. Tsyrenova (2011) gave the historical digression of formation and development of both governments cooperation in the field of protection and sustainable use of transboundary water bodies. At the current time the political base of Russia and Mongolia cooperation is an Agreement signed in 1995. This Agreement defined the political and legal framework for the implementation of interstate policy based on principles of “reasonable and equitable use” of transboundary waters. Such cooperation to a large extent ensured the holding of international status of Russia as the guarantor country for preserving the unique UNESCO World Heritage Site – Lake Baikal.

The problem of distribution and sharing of transboundary waters is a big concern for the Mongolian economy given the limited water resources available in the country. On the other hand, cooperation with Russia in the field of sustainable use and protection of water resources give the opportunity to explore the positive Russian experience in scientific and educational studies.

In the Baikal region the active collaboration between Russian and Mongolian NGOs also started from international projects, notable projects include: Davis Plan (1991-1993), Cambridge University project “Preserving of natural and cultural environment of Inner Asia” (1993-1996), project with Scientific Committee of NATO (1994, 1998), TACIS project on technical assistance at the Baikal region (1997-2000), GEF project “Biodiversity conservation in the Baikal region” (1998-2003), etc.

The Tahoe-Baikal Institute (TBI) Summer Environmental Exchange Program worked in the Baikal region from 1992 in the frame of international exchange, where in addition to Russian and American participants projects often included young scientists and conservationists from Mongolia. Besides, some TBI projects have been implemented in the Mongolian portion of Baikal basin. The oldest NGO of our region “Buryat Regional Association on Lake Baikal” has good experience in cooperating with colleagues from Mongolia. It is one of the few examples of effective cooperation between Russian and Mongolian NGOs.

1.2. Challenges of cooperation between Russian and Mongolian NGOs

The conservation of Lake Baikal’s ecosystem cannot be realized without Russian-Mongolian interaction in the field of transboundary water protection, because the great portion of the Selenga river basin (the main water resource of Lake Baikal) is situated within the territory of Mongolia.

Cooperation between Russian and Mongolian NGOs is far from perfect, something which can be attributed partly to the following factors:

-          State border is a barrier to mobile interaction between Russian and Mongolian NGOs. The distance between Ulan-Ude and Ulan-Bator is about 580 km (about 8 hours drive), but people often spend a lot of time at customs during the border crossing.

-          Language restrictions. Few representatives of environmental NGOs in Russia and Mongolia can speak fluent English. Organizing the communication only on Russian or Mongolian can be complicated.

-          Cooperation between NGOs of Irkutsk Oblast’, Republic of Buryatia, and Zabaikalsky Krai of Russia is not coordinated which does not give the opportunity to organize systematic policy with NGOs of Mongolia.

-          Small budgets of NGOs. Usually, Russian and Mongolian NGOs operate mostly on the basis of small grants.

In conclusion, significant barriers hamper both countries’ ability to move ahead both within their national envelopes and jointly on a robust transboundary level. These barriers include: policy and regulatory gaps, institutional weaknesses, poor utilization of Best Available Techniques and Best Environmental Practices relevant to key issues facing the Baikal Basin, and low levels of awareness of transboundary Baikal Basin issues.

2. Goals and tasks of NGO Network “Friends of Baikal Basin”

There were about 80 registered environmental NGOs in the Baikal Region of Russia at the beginning of 2013. A quarter of these are non-profit organizations – autonomous non-profits, non-profit partnerships, coalitions, and unions (Saraev, 2013).

There are around 25 environmental NGOs in Mongolia right now, with the number of active participants ranging from 300 to 8000 people. People from the countryside (herders, farmers, local people of small settlements, representatives of small tourist companies, etc.) are actively participating in public awareness actions. The activity of Mongolian environmental NGOs is coordinated by Mongolian Nature Protection Coalition (Shirapova, 2010).

Directions of activity of the NGO Network “Friends of Baikal Basin”:

-          Establishing constructive dialogue between government and society in the field of ecological safety and protection of citizens rights for a better environment;

-          Development of relations between NGOs and state authorities on the basis of partnership for solving environmental problems of the transboundary Baikal Basin;

-          Participation of NGOs in realizing the GEF/UNOPS project “Integrated Natural Resource Management in the Baikal Basin Transboundary Ecosystem”;

-          Organizing the Baikal Forum of NGOs;

-          Analysis, summarization and practical implication of Russian and international experience in NGO partnerships

-          Preparing and organizing of joint social actions and activities.

-          Organization and leading the discussions using email list-serve on the base of a web portal www.baikalcenter.info (which will be created by the Baikal Information Center);

-          Creation of a unified register (White Book of Baikal Region) of the CBOs and NGOs (registered and non-registered);

-          Enhancement of relations between NGOs and mass-media;

-          Supporting of purposeful Web sites, publishing and distribution of information bulletins and other information resources about CBOs and NGOs activities for the citizens.

3. How the NGO Network “Friends of Baikal Basin” will work

Organization of the transboundary network “Friends of Baikal Basin” will be developed by the Baikal Information Center (BIC) on the BIC web portal www.baikalcenter.info in Russian, Mongolian, and English for creating different discussions. Participants who have problems with registration, communication, etc will receive free consulting.

“White book of the Baikal region - 2010” will be republished and become available on the BIC web portal. Representatives of environmental NGOs of the Baikal Basin will be invited to participate at the interactive Baikal Forum of NGOs. Information will be distributed by list-serve. Thus, environmental NGOs will have constant contact and connections with each other.

4. Expected results

Implementation of the NGO network “Friends of Baikal Basin” will increase the prestige of NGOs, social responsibilities of businesses, civil activity in the Baikal region, consolidate efforts of government, NGOs and business in order to obtain effective results in complex management of natural resources of Baikal region which will provide sustainable development of tranboundary Baikal Basin.

According to defined tasks we expect the following results:

-          Improvement of interactions between Russian and Mongolian environmental NGOs;

-          Preparing an analytic report detailing activity of environmental NGOs in the transboundary basin;

-          Creation of a platform for discussion of cooperation problems and development of social partnership technologies (public expertise, social project fair, etc.)

-          Conducting regular information exchange between Russian and Mongolian NGOs;

-          Launching special TV programs about activities of NGOs on local TV.

-          NGO network “Friends of Baikal Basin” members are able to quickly respond to pertinent and burning issues;

-          Increasing the number of joint Russia-Mongolian projects and volunteers participate in projects;

-          NGOs take active part in the creation of transboundary protected areas (“Baikal-Hovsgol”).

Имеешь друзей - широк как степь; не имеешь - узок, как ладонь

(монгольская поговорка)

К настоящему времени в России имеется немало разнообразных природоохранных общественных объединений. Они накопили богатый опыт успешной деятельности в таких сферах, как охрана природы, практическое применение принципов устойчивого развития общества, экологическое просвещение, нашли эффективные формы самоорганизации. Этот опыт очень важен для развития общественной активности, но, к сожалению, он часто неизвестен организациям, работающим на местном уровне и ещё не установившим тесных связей с коллегами (Соболев, 2006).

В ряде регионов России возникли авторитетные экологические организации, с которыми считаются органы власти. Члены экологических организаций составляют документы, находят конструктивные решения экологических проблем. В качестве примера можно отметить НКО «Байкальскую экологическую волну» из г. Иркутска (Яблоков, 2004).

Известный исследователь развития феномена третьего сектора в России В. Якимец предлагает выделять три условных периода в эволюции НКО в России: 1991- 1995- «романтический период», 1996-2000- «конструктивный и противоречивый период», 2001- настоящее время (этот период остается без символического названия в силу неоднозначности оценок идущих процессов: сворачивание или активное развитие гражданских инициатив). Он анализирует этот процесс через призму построения системы взаимоотношений власти и структур гражданского общества, в рамках доминирующей исследовательской тенденции в сфере изучения гражданских институтов в России, отражающей состояние официальной и неофициальной риторики, когда речь заходит о феномене гражданского общества. Модель не лишена недостатков и требует уточнений, однако представляет собой одну из немногих попыток проследить историю развития третьего сектора в России (Демидов, 2008).

Совершенствование экологической культуры населения является важнейшим фактором устойчивого развития общества и весомый вклад в него вносят некоммерческие организации. Среди них существует ряд организаций (экологических НКО), для которых вопросы экологии и природопользования являются приоритетными. Их основными целями являются экологическое воспитание и просвещение, практическое содействие сохранению природных объектов, осуществление общественного экологического контроля, содействие ориентированию экономики и общества на защиту окружающей среды и устойчивое развитие. Они выступают с гражданскими инициативами, осуществляют вовлечение общественности в процесс принятия решений.

Статус озера Байкал - как участка Всемирного природного наследия способствует развитию экологической культуры населения не только в Иркутской области, Республики Бурятия, Забайкальском крае, в России, в Монголии, но и во всем мире.

Реализация данной Концепции будет способствовать в первую очередь усилению связей между российскими и монгольскими НКО в деле устойчивого развития Байкальской природной территории.

Необходимо отметить, что экологические НКО играют активную роль в содействии, разработке и реализации проектов в различных сферах, таких как:

• Охрана, сохранение и улучшение окружающей среды;
• Социальная и образовательная деятельность для культивирования научных и творческих способностей местного населения;
• Содействие местному населению в лучшем участии в деятельности по охране окружающей среды и использовании природных ресурсов.

Создание трансграничной сети НКО «Друзья бассейна Байкала» явится первым шагом к расширенному вовлечению гражданского общества в процесс трансграничного сотрудничества. Сеть сформирует структурированные, четко определенные и эффективные партнерства НКО для адекватной и координированной репрезентативности гражданского общества в контексте трансграничной и национальной реализации стратегического плана действия. Виртуальные облачные средства для формирования и поддержания партнерств будут включать веб-сайт и электронную почту с технологией лист-сёрв (list-serve)[1]. Это будет поощрять участие общественных организаций, как официально зарегистрированных, так и групп активных людей или сообществ, занимающихся вопросами охраны окружающей среды. Виртуальные партнерства будут функционировать на русском, монгольском и английском языках, а контент, имеющий отношение к разным странам, будет регулироваться с особенностями каждой страны.

Указанная сеть «Друзья бассейна Байкала» будет также привлекаться в рамках финансируемой ПРООН/Кока-Кола инициативы «Каждая капля имеет значение». Проект «Каждая капля имеет значение» в России представляет собой часть регионального партнерства ПРООН/Кока-Кола по воде и является одним из пяти пилотных проектов запланированных в пяти странах (Россия, Румыния, Турция, Казахстан и Хорватия). Одной из целей инициативы является охрана ресурсов питьевой воды и устойчивое экономическое развитие местных сообществ и их водных ресурсов, а также повышение осведомленности о проблемах, связанных с водой (Проектный документ, 2010).

[1] Технология list-serve – телекоммуникационное информирование малых групп пользователей путем автоматической рассылки по e-mailадресам.

1.Опыт международного взаимодействия НКО

1.1. Вопросы международного взаимодействия НКО

Международное взаимодействие общественных организаций берет начало еще со времен СССР (Дружины охраны природы, Социально-Экологический Союз) - с 1988 года. Первым был совместный проект германских «зеленых» с «Зеленым движением» (Ларин и др.,). Одним из наиболее существенных прорывов в этом направлении стала конференция, которую организовал Социально-Экологический Союз и возникшая в его составе одна из первых профессиональных структур – «Центр независимых экологических программ» (ЦНЭП) совместно с различными американскими неправительственными природоохранными экологическими организациями. В конференции приняли участие такие организации как ISAR, Sacred Earth Network, Earth Island Institute и многие другие. Для отечественного природоохранного сообщества эта конференция сыграла роль настоящего прорыва для руководителей и активистов многих региональных общественных экологических организаций.

В это же время в стране начали работать и ведущие международные природоохранные организации. После повторного приезда в страну основателя Гринпис Дэвида Мактаггарта открывается офис Гринпис. В этот же период начинаются и первые международные полевые проекты, финансируемые Всемирным фондом дикой природы (WWF).

Международное взаимодействие между Россией и Монголией началось в советский период. В работе Т.Б. Цыреновой (Цыренова, 2011) дается исторический экскурс формирования и развития взаимодействия двух государств в области охраны и рационального использования трансграничных водных объектов. В настоящий момент политической основой взаимодействия России и Монголии является подписанное в 1995 г. Соглашение между Правительством Российской Федерации и Монголии, в котором определены политические и правовые механизмы реализации межгосударственной политики, основанной на принципах «разумного и справедливого использования» трансграничных вод. Кроме того, такое взаимодействие в немалой степени обеспечивает сохранение международного статуса России как гаранта сохранения уникальной экосистемы объекта Всемирного природного наследия ЮНЕСКО – озера Байкал.

Для Монголии проблема распределения и совместного использования трансграничных вод в условиях лимитированности ее водных ресурсов затрагивает жизненно важные сферы экономики. С одной стороны, взаимодействие с Россией в вопросах использования и охраны водных ресурсов позволяет использовать позитивный российский опыт в научных и образовательных сферах в области охраны и использования водных ресурсов.

В Байкальском регионе активное сотрудничество российских и монгольских НКО так же началось с международных проектов: План Девиса 1991–1993 г., проект с Кембриджским университетом «Сохранение природной и культурной среды Внутренней Азии» (1993–1996 г.), проекты с Научным комитетом NATO (1994, 1998), проекты ТАСИС по техническому содействию Байкальскому региону (1997–2000 г.), проект ГЭФ «Сохранение биоразнообразия в Байкальском регионе» (1998–2003 г.) и ряд других.

В рамках программ международного обмена с 1992 года работает общественная организация «Тахо-Байкал Институт» (ТБИ), в которой часто принимают участие помимо россиян и американцев представители Монголии. Кроме того, несколько проектов «ТБИ» было реализовано на территории Монголии. Опыт сотрудничества с монгольскими коллегами имеет старейшее НКО нашего региона – «Бурятское региональное объединение по Байкалу». Однако, это только несколько примеров взаимодействия российских и монгольских НКО.

1.2. Проблемы взаимодействий НКО России и Монголии

Полноценная охрана байкальской экосистемы невозможна вне контекста российско-монгольского взаимодействия в области охраны трансграничных вод, поскольку большая часть бассейна реки Селенги приходится на территорию Монголии. Взаимодействие НКО России и Монголии еще далеко от совершенства, что обусловлено следующими объективными причинами:

- государственная граница как барьер для оперативного взаимодействия НКО России и Монголии. Хотя расстояние от Улан-Удэ до Улан-Батора составляет 580 км или 8 часов езды на автомобиле, не всегда можно быстро пересечь границу.

- языковые ограничения. Английским, как языком международного общения на достаточном уровне владеют небольшое число представителей общественных экологических организаций Монголии и России. Организовывать общение только на русском или только на монгольском языке также не представляется возможным;

- не скоординированы взаимоотношения между НКО Бурятии, Иркутской области и Забайкальского края, что не позволяет проводить планомерную политику взаимодействия с монгольскими НКО.

- скромные финансовые ресурсы. Как правило, НКО России и Монголии существуют в основном за счет грантовой деятельности.

2. Цели и задачи сети НКО «Друзья бассейна Байкала»

На начало 2013 года общее количество зарегистрированных экологических НКО в Байкальском региона (в России) составляло около 80 организаций. Четверть из них являются некоммерческими объединениями - автономные некоммерческие организации, некоммерческие фонды, некоммерческие партнерства, учреждения, объединения юридических лиц (Сараев, 2013).

В данное время в Монголии насчитывается порядка 25 общественных экологических организаций. Число участников в отдельных акциях достигает от 300 до 8000 человек. Активно участвуют жители районов: скотоводы, жители поселений, представители мелкого бизнеса (туристического и др.). Создалась коалиция Общественных организаций Монголии – MNPC (Mongolian Nature Protection Coalition), где они вместе решают общие проблемы (Ширапова, 2010).

Направлениями деятельности НКО «Друзья бассейна Байкала» могут следующими:

- Установление конструктивного диалога между властью и обществом по вопросам экологической безопасности и защиты прав граждан на благоприятную окружающую среду;

- Развитие отношений между неправительственными экологическими организациями и государственными структурами в решении экологических проблем трансграничного бассейна озера Байкал на основе партнерства;

- Участие НКО в реализации проекта ГЭФ/ПРОООН «Комплексное управление природными ресурсами трансграничной экосистемы бассейна Байкала»;

- Учреждение Байкальского форума НКО;

- Анализ, обобщение и практическое применение отечественного и зарубежного опыта партнерства НКО;

- Подготовка и проведение совместных социально значимых акций и мероприятий;

- Организация и проведение дискуссий за счет технология list-serve на базе сайта www.baikalcenter.info (который будет создан Байкальским информационным центром)

- Создание единого реестра (Белая книга Байкальского региона) общественных и иных некоммерческих экологических организаций Байкальского региона;

- Совершенствование механизмов освещения деятельности НКО со стороны СМИ;

- Поддержка целевых сайтов, издание и распространение информационных бюллетеней, других средств информирования граждан о деятельности общественных объединений и некоммерческих организаций;

3. Механизмы работы сети НКО «Друзья бассейна Байкала»

Организация трансграничной сети «Друзья бассейна Байкала» предполагается на базе сайта www.baikalcenter.info (который будет создан Байкальским информационным центром) портального типа на русском, монгольском и английском языках для организации и проведения дискуссий. У кого будут возникать сложности (регистрация, коммуникация и т.д.), тем будут оказаны бесплатные консультационные услуги.

Будет переиздана «Белая книга бассейна озера Байкал» и размещена на данном сайте. Представители общественных экологических организаций бассейна озера Байкал (как России, так и Монголии) будут приглашены для участия в интерактивном Байкальском форуме НКО. Рассылка будет осуществляться за счет технология list-serve.

Таким образом, будут постепенно налажены постоянные связи и экологи-общественники станут тесно поддерживать свои контакты.

4. Ожидаемые результаты

Реализация Концепции сети НКО «Друзья бассейна Байкала» будет способствовать укреплению авторитета общественных организаций, повышению социальной ответственности бизнеса, росту гражданской активности Байкальского региона, позволит консолидировать усилия органов государственной власти, общественного сектора и бизнес сообщества в целях достижения эффективных результатов в осуществлении комплексному управлению природными ресурсами Байкальского региона, что обеспечит устойчивое развитие трансграничного бассейна озера Байкал.

Применительно к сформулированным задачам ожидаемые результаты концепции следующие:

- совершенствуется система взаимодействия российско-монгольский экологических общественных организаций;

- составляется информационно-аналитический отчет о деятельности экологических общественных объединений и некоммерческих организаций трансграничного бассейна;

- создана площадка для обсуждения проблем взаимодействия, развиваются иные технологии социального партнерства (общественная экспертиза, ярмарка социальных проектов и др.);

- налажен регулярный информационный обмен между НКО России и Монголии;

- на региональном телевидении появляются программы/цикл передач о деятельности НКО;

- члены сети НКО «Друзья бассейна Байкала» оперативно реагируют на актуальные и злободневные вопросы;

- увеличивается численность совместных российско-монгольских проектов и волонтеров, в них участвующих;

- общественные экологические организации принимают активное участие в создании трансграничных ООПТ («Байкал-Хубсугул»).

Список литературы

1. Демидов А.А.. Некоммерческие организации в государственной политике и управлении: участие в разработке и реализации социальной политики: на примере Республики Карелия: Дисс... канд. полит. наук. – Санкт-Петербург, 2008. – 193 с.
2. Зелёные страницы Байкальского региона, 2002 г.
3. Белая книга, 2003, 2004 гг.
4. Сараев В.Г. Некоммерческие организации Байкальского региона в формировании экологической культуры населения // Материалы Третьей Всероссийской научной конференции по социальной географии (Иркутск, 22-24 октября 2013 г.). – Иркутск: Изд-во ИГ СО РАН, 2013. – С.83-85.
5. Белая книга Байкальского региона. – Улан-Удэ:  Изд-во «Экос», 2009. – 73 с
6. Цыренова Т.Б. Государственное управление водными ресурсами в условиях межгосударственного взаимодействия России и Монголии: Автореф. дисс… докт. полит. наук. – Чита, 2011.
7. Яблоков А.В. Зеленое движение и гражданское общество: документы 2000-2004 гг. М.: Товарищество научных изданий КМК, 2004. – 343 с.
8. Ларин В., Мнацаканян Р., Честин И., Шварц Е. Охрана природы России: от Горбачева до Путина. – М.: КМК, 2003. – 416 с.
9. Соболев Н.А. Успех «безнадежного дела»: положительный опыт общественной природоохранной работы. – М.: Изд-во Центра охраны дикой природы, 2006. – 232 с.

10.  Проектный документ «Комплексное управление природными ресурсами трансграничной экосистемы бассейна Байкала», 2010 г.

11.  Ширапова С.Д. Социально-экологические проблемы Монголии, связанные с добычей золота на реках — притоках реки Селенга // Реки Сибири: Материалы V Международной конференции (г. Томск, 16–18 апреля 2010 г.). – Томск: Дельтаплан, 2010. – С. 115-116.

12. Экологическое движение в России. Сб. научн. статей / Под ред. Здравомысловой Е., Тысячнюк М. СПб.: ЦНСИ, 1999. Труды. Вып. 6. 108 с.

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Patterns of territorial combinations of conditions and factors of the development of environmental problems in the Baikal basin are, to a large extent, determined by the basin’s location in the northern temperate latitudes of Eurasia, in its inner ultracontinental sector, and by its natural isolation from adjacent territories. The Baikal basin has all the features of the landscape and ecological integrity and economic and cultural unity. The region is home to one of the world's major watershed divides between the catchment areas of the Arctic Ocean (the Yenisei and Lena basins), Pacific Ocean (the Amur basin), and the drainless region of Central Asia. It is precisely here, on orographic barriers, where airflows from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Arctic, and southern territories subside.

Lake Baikal is the oldest, deepest, and largest by volume lake among the great rift lakes of the world. The lake is situated at an elevation of 455.5 meters above sea level, between 51°28’ - 55°47’N and 103°43’ - 109°58’E. The Baikal basin's catchment area is located in the heart of Asia on the territory of two states – Russia and Mongolia - between 46°20’ - 56°40’N and 96°50’ - 114°10’E. It has an elongated shape stretching from southwest to northeast. The total area of the Baikal basin is 576.5 sq. km, including the water area of Lake Baikal - 31.7 sq. km. 44.6 % of the catchment area is located in the Russian Federation (31.8 % in the Republic of Buryatia, 10.2 % in Zabaikalsky krai, 2.2 % in Irkutsk oblast, and 0.4 % in the Republic of Tuva) and 55.4 % in Mongolia. About 53 % of the volume of river water is formed in Buryatia, 27 % in Mongolia, 16 % in Zabaikalsky krai, and 4 % in Irkutsk oblast.

In general, due to its geographical and geopolitical location, as well as natural, resource, economic, ethnic, cultural, and human resources potential and the lake itself, the Baikal basin represents a key strategic region in eastern Russia and northern Mongolia - a major foothold for social and economic development of the two countries. However, such development has its own peculiarities, because the Baikal basin has a special regime of natural resources management. The fact that Lake Baikal and its surrounding territory was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site has attracted attention of the global community. It also underlined the role of the great lake as both a unique natural phenomenon and a place for establishing a recreation zone of the planetary significance, as well as a source of the exclusively eco-oriented land management and business in the future. Over the long term, in the context of the growing deficit of freshwater in the world, Lake Baikal’s water will become the most important strategic resource of the world. Therefore, the water factor of development is a priority. Reproduction and recovery of the lake’s water take place on the territory of the whole Baikal basin, which predetermines a particular attention towards nature protection in this region and dictates the prohibition of numerous types of production in order to prevent environmental pollution and preserve the Baikal water for humankind. Presently, the necessity of nature protection activities for maintaining the unmatched biological and landscape diversity of the lake's basin has emerged as a result of the intensive use of natural resources in different parts of the basin, where anthropogenic impact of varying degree and type is observed. Only responsible use of the complex of adaptive techniques and methods of organization of economic activity with due consideration to the special environmental and resource-related role and strategic importance of the Baikal region can make it, as early as in the first third of the 21st century, one of the full-fledged subjects of economic, geopolitical, and geo-demographic processes and relations of global significance. The Ecological Atlas of the Baikal Basin will be quite helpful in this endeavor. For the first time ever, the maps of this Atlas will reflect spatial patterns of the development of the environmental situation within the whole catchment basin of Lake Baikal and its water area, which makes it possible to define and substantiate the directions of environmentally balanced and sustainable territorial development of Russia and Mongolia in the future.

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Editorial Council

N. S. KASIMOV

M. V. SLIPENCHUK

A. K. TULOKHONOV (Chair)

V. M. PLYUSNIN (Deputy Chair)

S. V. KUDELYA (Deputy Chair)

S. ENKH-AMGALAN

D. DORZHGOTOV

S. OYUN

B. TULGA

Z. BATBOLD

R. R. GIZATULIN

A. M. AMIRKHANOV

B. O. MAMAEV

Z. TSOGTBAATAR

O. E. KRAVCHUK

O. A. POLYAKOV

Y. P. SAFYANOV

A. V. LBOV

A. N. BESHENTSEV (Executive Secretary)

Editorial Board

V. M. PLYUSNIN, Dr.Sc. Geogr., (Co-chair, Editor-in-Chief)

D. DORZHGOTOV, Academician of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, (Co-chair)

A. R. BATUEV, Dr.Sc. Geogr., (Deputy Chair, Executive Editor)

E. Z. GARMAEV, Dr.Sc. Geogr., (Deputy Chair)

L. M. KORYTNY, Dr.Sc. Geogr., (Deputy Chair, Executive Editor)

Z. OYUUNGEREL, Dr.Sc. Geogr., (Deputy Chair, Executive Editor)

V. S. TIKUNOV, Dr.Sc. Geogr., (Deputy Chair)

D. ENKHTAIVAN, Dr.Sc. Geogr., (Deputy Chair, Executive Editor)

V. N. BOGDANOV, Cand.Sc. Geogr., (Executive Secretary)

A. V. ARGUCHINTSEVA, Dr.Sc. Tech.

A. N. BESHENTSEV, Dr.Sc. Geogr.

S. R. CHALOV, Cand.Sc. Geogr.

I. A. BELOZERTSEVA, Cand.Sc. Geogr.

G. DAVAA, Dr.Sc. Geogr.

T. I. ZABORTSEVA, Dr.Sc. Geogr.

E. E. KONONOV, Cand.Sc. Geogr.

T. I. KUZNETSOV, Cand.Sc. Geogr.

K. G. LEVI, Dr.Sc. Geol.

T. V. KHODZHER, Dr.Sc. Geogr.

S. SHIYREV-ADYA, Dr.Sc. Geogr.

M. N. SHIMARAEV, Dr.Sc. Geogr.

Dear Reader

Geographical maps offering a clear picture of how great and at the same time how tiny our world of Planet Earth is accompany one's life journey for the most of its part. Earth still has places, where wonderful landscapes of untouched nature have been preserved. Among them is Lake Baikal - one of the most beautiful places attracting tourists from all over the world.

In 1996, by UNESCO’s decision Lake Baikal was listed as a World Heritage Site. In doing so, Russia and Mongolia jointly with the international community took responsibility to protect its nature. However, both the lake itself and its surrounding territory, where over three million people live, cannot be turned into a nature reserve. In our plans, here there should be a modern, high-tech, and environmentally friendly economy ensuring the necessary living standards for the local community.

A poor and deprived individual cannot protect the environment. He or she is more concerned about providing food, clothes, and other necessary resources for oneself and family. From this perspective, the Baikal basin has all the riches to have spiritually and materially affluent people living on its shores.

In order to achieve this, both local residents and visitors should have ample information to develop the economy and address social issues. This Atlas has been created precisely for this purpose. It includes data about the structure and wealth of mineral resources, flora, and fauna, climate, and hydrosphere. Some of the maps feature information, which helps understand the impact of the anthropogenic activity on the environment.

A. K. Tulokhonov, Chair of Editorial Council

About the Project

The Project "The Ecological Atlas of the Baikal Basin" has been commissioned by and implemented with the support of the Global Environment Facility. It aims to integrate current information and knowledge about the key factors driving the development of the environmental situation in the Baikal basin and the existing state of natural environment. It presents this information in a form, which is adequate for addressing the issues of economically and environmentally balanced development of the region.

The Atlas considers the Baikal basin as a special trans-border and inter-regional development system and part of the all-Russian and all-Mongolian territorial development systems. Therefore, the creation of the Atlas required an integrated study of environmental problems from both territorial and content-related perspectives. From the territorial perspective, the formed structure of the Atlas
database comprehensively localizes municipalities of the second level (city and municipal districts) on the Russian part of the Baikal basin and aimags on the Mongolian part. In terms of the content, the combination of economic, social, demographic, natural resource, and biotic factors of the development of the environmental situation became possible thanks to a purposefully developed and integrated program of environmental mapping. The state-of-the-art developments in the thematic atlas mapping, GIS-technologies, remote sensing techniques, and constantly supplemented and updated databases of the research organizations-executing agencies of the Project, such as the V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS, Limnological Institute SB RAS, Institute of the Earth's Crust SB RAS, Irkutsk State University (Irkutsk), Baikal Institute of Nature Management SB RAS (Ulan-Ude), Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology and Cryology SB RAS (Chita), and the Sh. Tsegmid Institute of Geography of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (Ulaanbaatar) were used to create this Atlas.

The mapping of the Baikal basin was carried out using two main scale levels: 1:5 000 000 for physical maps and 1: 6 000 000 for the maps showing social and economic factors of the development of the environmental situation. The thematic database of the map series had the following requirements: it must be contemporaneous, i.e. its quantitative data on all variables must belong to the same point in time; sufficiently detailed; positionally accurate; completely compatible with other data; adequately reflect the nature of phenomena; and be available to users. When developing the content of the maps, even when referring to individual topics, not to mention complex characteristics, the task was not just to show the actual state of the mapped phenomenon or process, but also to emphasize the patterns in their development and highlight the dynamic aspects as far as possible. For the first time ever, the Atlas reflects spatial patterns of the development of the environmental situation within the whole catchment basin of Lake Baikal and its water area, which makes it possible to define and substantiate the directions for environmentally balanced and sustainable territorial development in the future.

Structurally, the Atlas consists of eight blocs, including an introduction and seven thematic sections: 1) Natural conditions of the development of the environmental situation; 2) Resource factors of the development of the environmental situation; 3) Socio-economic factors of the development of the environmental situation; 4) Environmental transformation; 5) Medico-ecological situation, 6) Environmental protection; and 7) Ecological state of Lake Baikal.

The Atlas is published in digital and hard-copy formats. A digital copy of the Atlas will be incorporated as an electronic resource with a database into the Geoportal of the Baikal Region, which is being created by the Global Environment Facility. A hard-copy of the Atlas will be released as a fundamental reference atlas.

The Atlas is a collective work of many scientists who are experts in various fields of knowledge. The maps were created using library and published statistical materials provided not only by research institutions, but also by government authorities of the regions of the Russian Federation: Irkutsk oblast, Republic of Buryatia and Zabaikalsky krai, as well as research organizations and government authorities of Mongolia, and the authors of the Atlas are
deeply grateful for it.

V. M. Plyusnin, Chair of Editorial Board

List of Creators

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The Aesthetic Image of the Baikal Coastal Area

Riviera - an aesthetically holistic coastal territory, where, provided that the specifics of visual perception are duly considered, the integrity, beauty, and picturesqueness of spatial processes of interaction between settlements and the coast is reflected through the development of cultural recreation landscapes.

The map of the coastal organization is created as a result of the landscape and architectural assessment that evaluated not only functional and utilitarian requirements reflecting current transportation, communication, and settlement situations, but also aesthetic, architectural, and artistic (scenic) qualities of landscapes and conditions of their development within the belt of the best visual perception.

Structurally, this map represents a system of landscape and architectural centers, axes, zones, and basins. Two zones are identified in the belt of visual perception (approx. 8 km wide): the zone of the best visual perception and the zone for developing visual perception (inset) that include the main types of natural landscapes assessed by their aesthetic value. Segments of the Baikal coastal area are considered as the landscape and architectural basins. Visually, they are relatively homogeneous and located within the open or closed angles of view from recreation centers and settlements and from some segments of highways.

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Ecological state of the Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory

The Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory (CEZ BNT) includes Lake Baikal itself with its islands, the adjacent water protection zone, and specially protected natural areas (SPNA) (Federal Law No. 94-FZ “On Protection of Lake Baikal” dated May 1, 1999). Its boundaries coincide with the boundary of the World Natural Heritage site “Lake Baikal” and follow the outer boundaries of the Baikal-Lena, Barguzinsky, and Baikalsky reserves (zapovedniks), Pribaikalsky, Zabaikalsky, and Tunkinsky national parks, Frolikhinsky, Pribaikalsky, Enkhaluksky, and Snezhinsky nature-sanctuaries (zakazniks), as well as the main watersheds of the Primorsky, Baikalsky, Verkhne-Angarsky, Barguzinsky, Golondinsky, Ulan-Burgasy, Morskoy, and Khamar-Daban ridges. The main function of the central ecological zone is to preserve the unique ecological system of Lake Baikal and to prevent the negative impact of economic and other activity on its state.

The main sources of the atmospheric impact on Lake Baikal are industrial enterprises located in the basin and on the shores of the lake, and sections of the Trans-Siberian Railway and Baikal-Amur Mainline. Air emissions from industrial enterprises and boiler stations of the towns of Baikalsk, Slyudyanka, Severobaikalsk, and Nizhneangarsk and villages located in the Baikal basin have the highest probability of falling into the lake. Air transport products from the Irkutsk-Cheremkhovo agglomeration constitute a much smaller part of the total air pollution over Lake Baikal because of the remoteness and a large number of calms and fogs. Emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulphide and hydrocarbon, methyl mercaptan, formaldehyde, and phenol, produced by coastal enterprises have a negative impact on the ecological situation.

On the northern shore of Lake Baikal a single zone of the atmospheric pollution distribution, stretched along Lake Baikal, is formed. Its area for the town of Severobaikalsk amounts to approximately 150 km, and for Nizhneangarsk – to 60 km. Despite the fact that the content of certain impurities tends to decrease, the level of air pollution remains high.

The snow cover, having a high sorption capacity, is the most informative object in identifying the technogenic pollution of the atmosphere. According to the data of the Irkutsk Territorial Administration for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, in the CEZ BNT there are several zones of technogenic pollution with the solids concentration in snow ranging from 0.5 to 10 g/kg. Mineralization of snow waters near the sources may exceed the background one by 10 times. The maximum amount of solids in snow reaches 200 g/m². Zones with increased concentration of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium were identified. Concerning the cations, which are soluble in snow, the predominance of sodium and potassium was revealed. The maximum values ​​of the insoluble residue of snow associated with the operation of CHP plants, boiler stations, and stove heating, are registered in the vicinity of Kultuk and Sludyanka; as regards the soluble residue, its maximum values are recorded in the area around Baikalsk. The total area of snow pollution with chemical elements extends 60 km from the southeast to the northwest with a width of 10-15 km.

In connection with the spontaneous development of tourism on the shores of Lake Baikal in the CEZ BNT, one of the most pressing issues is the problem of collecting, processing, and recycling of solid household wastes. Most of the garbage goes to disposal sites, both approved and unauthorized.

Within the CEZ BNT, cement and quartz raw materials, facing and ornamental stones, and different kinds of building materials are produced with local environmental disturbances. Significant anthropogenic changes of the natural environment (felled and burnt areas, etc.) are also observed near settlements, roads, and tourist centers and camps.

In order to establish a long-term strategy for the organization of the use of the CEZ BNT, which would ensure a sustainable development and preservation of the unique ecological system of Lake Baikal through reducing the anthropogenic impact and preventing the damage, a technique and scheme of territorial planning of the CEZ BNT was developed [Plyusnin and Vladimirov, 2013].

References

Plyusnin, V. M., Vladimirov, I. N. (2013). Territorial planning of the Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory. Novosibirsk: Geo. p 407.

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Recreation on Lake Baikal

Recreation as an essential type of human activity is mapped as an integral phenomenon. The degree of territorial development of recreational activities is reflected through the use of zoning (natural and natural-social recreation zones). The zones' borders correspond to the isohypse of 1500 m. The contours are defined by a natural and landscape differentiation. Five levels of maximum permissible density (people/ha/day) have been identified.

The main point in the explanatory note is the district and settlement zoning of recreation territories (the main and supplemental recreation centers) with due consideration to the typology of destinations and their specialization by forms and types of recreational activities. 

Assessment of the coastal landscapes for recreational activities.

Natural landscapes untouched by human activity directly and comprehensively satisfy the requirements of the physiologically needed recreation (unconscious-reflectory), such as contemplation, solace, relaxation, and so on.  These landscapes (groups of landscapes) must be protected. The most accessible part of the Baikal coast demonstrates a certain degree of environmental transformation. Social and specific (purposeful and deliberate) forms of recreation dominate recreation activities on these territories. The accumulation of the problems connected to the anthropogenic impact leads to the digression of landscapes and even to the loss of landscape diversity and total uselessness of the territory in terms of meeting the needs of recreation.

The map shows the types and subtypes of natural landscapes within the Central Ecological Zone of Lake Baikal. It also shows the zones of natural resources management, where integrated targets of the landscape and territorial planning should be achieved (preservation, improvement, development), and the territories that should be protected and recultivated

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Hydroacoustic measurement of the Baikal omul resources

In 2011, the assessment of the number and biomass of the Baikal omul Coregonus migratorius was carried out using the hydroacoustic method [1].

The results of the assessment are shown in Tables 1 and 2. The distribution of the number and biomass of the Baikal omul in the water area of Lake Baikal is uneven. Amassments with the density above average take less than a quarter of the examined area. However, they contain almost two thirds of the Baikal omul reserves. A general picture of the spatial distribution of the omul in the lake's water area corresponds with trawling and acoustic measurements. Our work confirmed the necessity of conducting such measurements immediately after ice clearance, but before the start of feeding migrations of the Baikal omul. During this period, the omul forms dense shoals that are easy to register using the hydroacoustic technique, which improves the accuracy of measurements. The derived number and biomass figures of the Baikal omul, especially in the Selenga shallow water area and Northern Baikal, correspond quite well with the forecast of the long-term dynamics based on the peculiarities of the size- and age-related composition of the fish population[2].

We confirmed the findings about the presence of a significant part of the omul population in the deep-water zones of the lake.

References:

Makarov, M. M., Degtev, A. I., Kucher, K. M., Mamontov, A. M., Nebesnykh, I. A., Khanaev, I. V. & Dzyuba, E. B. (2012). Assessment of the number and the biomass of the Baikal omul using trawling and acoustic techniques. DAN, 447(3). p 343-346.

Melnik, N. G., Smirnova-Zalumi, N. S., Smirnov, V. V., et al. (2009). Hydroacoustic measurement of the Baikal omul resources. Novosibirsk: Nauka. p 244.

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