The Selenge River – Lake Baikal Transboundary...

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TheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikalTransboundaryBasin:

APreliminaryAssessmentofOpportunitiestoEnhanceCollaborationonConservation&Development

Center for Natural Resources & Environmental Policy

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TableofContents

ExecutiveSummary

1. Introduction

2. TheTransboundaryBasin

3. ProposedDams&InfrastructureProjects

4. OtherInitiativesintheTransboundaryRiverBasin

5. KeyIssues&Concerns

6. OptionsMovingForward

7. Conclusions&NextSteps

8. Appendices

a. ListofIndividualsandOrganizationsConsulted

b. MapofSelengeRiverBasinandLocationofProposedProjects

March2019

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ThankstoSponsorsSeveralindividualsandorganizationscontributedfinancialandotherresourcestothisassessment.Wearegratefultothesecontributors:

Ø BioRegionsInternationalØ CenterforNaturalResources&EnvironmentalPolicy,UniversityofMontanaØ HandsAcrossBorders1Ø MongoliaRiverOutfittersØ NomadicJourneysØ TheTrustforMutualUnderstandingØ TheTransglobeExpeditionTrustØ TheTaimenFund

AbouttheAuthorsMatthewMcKinneyservesastheProjectLead.HeisdirectoroftheCenterforNaturalResources&EnvironmentalPolicyattheUniversityofMontana.Duringthepasttwodecades,hehasworkedwithdiversegroupsofpeopletodesignandfacilitatetransboundaryconservationinitiativesintheCrownoftheContinentandtheColumbiaRiverBasin;co-convenedandfacilitatedHandsAcrossBorders,aninternationalworkshopontransboundaryconservation;andpublishedresearchandgivenpresentationsoninternationalwaterlaw,policy,andgovernance.matthew.mckinney@umontana.edu406-459-5166ChrisRycewiczservesasaProjectAssociate.Hehaspracticednaturalresourceandenvironmentallawforover30-years.BasedinPortland,Oregon,Chrishasextensiveexperienceanalyzingandresolvingcomplex,multi-partydisputesinvolvingmyriadissuesincludingwateruseandconservation,energydevelopment,energytransmission,andalternativeenergydevelopment.Chrisspecializesincraftingcreativesolutionstoseeminglyunsolvableproblems.crycewicz@nwresourcelaw.com503.664.3581

1AninternationalcooperativeprojectamongGlacierNationalParkConservancy;Waterton-GlacierInternationalPeaceParkAssociation,Rotary;andIUCNTransboundaryConservationSpecialistGroup.http://naturalresourcespolicy.org/projects/transboundary-conservation.php

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ExecutiveSummaryIntroductionAttherequestoftheBaikalHeadwatersExpedition,theCenterforNaturalResources&EnvironmentalPolicyiscompletingapreliminary,independentassessmenttoidentifyopportunitiestoenhancecollaborationonconservationanddevelopmentintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin.Toachievetheseobjectives,theCenter(1)reviewedappropriatebackgrounddocuments;(2)completedinterviewswithindividualsandorganizationsrepresentingarangeofviewpoints;and(3)consultedwithaninternationalnetworkofexpertsintransboundarycollaboration.TheCenterisarecognizedexpertincollaborativeapproachestonaturalresourcesmanagementandhasworkedonseveraltransboundaryresourceinitiatives.Itsroleinthisassessmentistoserveasaneutral,impartialservantofalldecision-makersandstakeholders.Itisnotadvocatingforanyparticularinterestoroutcome;rather,theCenter’sintentistoaccuratelycaptureandcommunicatetheneedsandinterestsofdecision-makersandstakeholdersrepresentingadiversityofviewpoints.Itwillalsointegrateinformationandoptionsbasedonsimilarprojectsthroughouttheworld.TheTransboundaryBasin TheSelengeRiveroriginatesinMongoliaandflowsnorthintoRussia,eventuallydrainingintoLakeBaikal.ItisformedbytheconfluenceoftheDelgermoronandIderrivers,anditsmaintributariesincludetheEg,Orkhon,andUdarivers.TheSelengeRiveraccountsformorethanone-halfoftheinflowsintoLakeBaikal,whichisthelargestfreshwaterlakeintheworld.Itisalsotheworld’sdeepestlake,theworld’soldestlake,andoneoftheclearestlakesintheworld.LakeBaikalishometothousandsofspeciesofplantsandanimals,manyofwhichexistnowhereelseintheworld,aswellasaresidentpopulationofabout100,000people.ProposedDams&InfrastructureProjects TheprimaryfocusofthisassessmentrevolvesaroundthreewaterdevelopmentprojectscurrentlyunderconsiderationbytheMongoliangovernment:(1)theShurenHydropowerProject(HPP),locatedontheSelengeRiverupstreamfromLakeBaikal;(2)theOrkhon-GobiProject,locatedonatributaryoftheSelengeRiver;and(3)theEgiinGolHydropowerProject,locatedontheEgRiver,anothertributaryoftheSelenge.FeasibilitystudiesandimpactassessmentsfortheShurenHPPandtheOrkhonGobiProjecthavebeenconductedbyMongolia’sMiningInfrastructureInvestmentSupport(MINIS)Project,withfundingfromtheWorldBank.2 2AsofMarch2019,theregionalenvironmentalassessmentsfortheShurenandOrkhon-Gobiprojectshavebeencancelled.Seeadditionalinformationinthefullbodyofthisreport.

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OtherInitiativesintheTransboundaryRiverBasinInadditiontotheactivityassociatedwiththeproposedhydropowerandinfrastructureprojects,severalotherinitiativeshavesoughttoaddressthechallengesofconservationanddevelopmentinthetransboundaryriverbasin.Inordertoidentifythemostcompellingopportunitiesforcollaborationinthebasin,itisimportanttounderstandtheseotherinitiativesandtheopportunitiestheymayprovidetoeffectivelyintegrateconservationanddevelopmentinterests.KeyIssues&ConcernsThekeyissuesandconcernsraisedbyintervieweesrevolvearoundfivedominantthemes:a) MongoliaandRussiadonotagreeonhowtoeffectivelybalancedevelopmentand

conservationinterestsinthetransboundarybasin.

b) Thecommitmenttodevelopabasin-wide/transboundaryapproachtothejointuseofwaterresourcesbyMongoliaandRussiaisatbestnascentandemerging.

c) Decision-makers,experts,andstakeholdersdisagreeonthelikelysocialand

ecologicalimpactstothebasinfromtheproposedwaterdevelopmentprojects.d) WhiletheMINISandEgRiverHPPprojectteamsregularlyprovideinformationto

andconsultthepublic,severalpeoplebelievethatthepublicparticipationprocesscouldbemorerobustandmeaningful.

e) Manyconservationanddevelopmentactivitieswithinthetransboundarybasinseemtobefragmentedanddisconnectedfromoneanother.

OptionsMovingForwardOption#1–Enhancethecapacityofexistinginstitutionstodesignandfacilitateeffectivetransboundarycollaborativeprocesses.

v Provideon-siteworkshopstoreviewanddiscussinternationalbestpracticesfortransboundarycollaborativeproblem-solvingandnaturalresourcesdiplomacy.

v Provideahands-onclinictodesignatransboundarycollaborativeprocesstosatisfytheparticularmissionsandmandatesoftheMINISandEgRiverHPPprojectteams,aswellasintegraterelevantlegal,institutional,financial,policy,andotherconstraints.

o InthecaseoftheMINISproject,explorethefeasibilityofprovidinginputandadviceinthedesignandimplementationoftheRegionalEnvironmentalAssessment.

o InthecaseoftheEgRiverHPPproject,exploretheinterestandfeasibilityofdesigningandfacilitatingajointfact-findingprocesstocompletethebiodiversityassessmenttheyarecontemplating.

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o Explorethefeasibilityofconveningabasin-widecollaborativeprocessamongtheMINISandEgRiverHPPprojectteamsgiventheapparentcomplementarynatureandgeographyoftheprojects.

v ProvideanexecutiveseminarforthetransboundarycommissiononinternationalbestpracticesandthemeritsofsupportingaparallelorTrackIIinformalprocesstosupplementthemoreformalprocessoftransboundarycollaboration.

Option#2–Buildthecapacityofcommunity-basedinitiativesandconnectthemviaanappropriatenetwork.

v Provideresourcesand/ortrainingonwhatcatalyzes,enables,andsustainscommunity-basedapproachestoconservationanddevelopment–buildingonthecapacity-buildingworkshopsandexperimentswithcommunity-basedorganizations(CBO)thathavemanifestedsince2004.

v LinkCBOsthroughaninformalnetworkand/oranannualgathering,whereleadersandparticipantscanexchangeinformation,buildrelationships,learnfromeachother,andimprovetheircapacitytooperateCBOs.

v UseestablishedCBOsinthetransboundaryregiontofacilitatepublicreviewandcommentontheMINISandEgHPPprojects.

Option#3–Buildthecapacityoffutureleaderstocatalyzeandengageincollaborativeproblem-solving.

v ConsidercreatingaNaturalResourcesConflictResolution(NRCR)ProgramatanappropriateuniversityoreducationalcenterinMongolia.

v Explorethemeritsandfeasibilityofcreatingatransboundaryconsortiumofuniversitiesandotherexpertsto(1)provideindependentresearchandknowledge;and(2)conveneandfacilitateimpartial,non-partisanforumstoexchangeinformation,buildrelationships,andsolveproblems.

v EncourageandsupportRotaryClubsinMongoliaandRussiatoprovideanindependentforumtoconnectpeopleandsearchforwaystobalanceconservationanddevelopmentinterestsinthetransboundarybasin.

Option#4–Enhanceopportunitiesandincentivesforconservationofthreatenedspeciesinthebasin,particularlytaimen.

v Pursueaspecialdesignationfortaimenconservationunderappropriate

internationaltreatiesand/orconventions.1. SeektohavetaimenlistedontheUNConventiononMigratorySpecies.2. TesttheideaofanInternationalPeaceParkand/orRiverBasin(oranother

appropriatetransboundarydesignation3)withRotaryClubsandotherstakeholdersinMongoliaandRussia.

3Forareviewofalternativetransboundaryconservationdesignations,seethewealthofmaterialsandcasestudiesathttp://naturalresourcespolicy.org/projects/transboundary-conservation.php

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v Reviewexistingenvironmentallawsthatinfluencetaimenconservation,includingtheMongolianLawonWaterandLawonHunting,andidentifyopportunitiestoimprovethelegalandinstitutionalframework.

ConclusionsAsyouconsiderthefindings,conclusions,andoptionspresentedinthisassessment,keepinmindthefollowingover-archingprinciples–letformfollowfunction;seekahomegrownsolution;andintegrateformalandinformalmechanismsforgovernance.Thispreliminaryassessmentisnotanendinitself.Atbest,itisthebeginningofiterative,incrementalprocesstobuildthecapacityforcollaborativeproblem-solvingtopromoteandsupportlivablecommunity,vibranteconomies,andhealthylandscapesintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin.

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2. Introduction

AttherequestoftheBaikalHeadwatersExpedition,4theCenterforNaturalResources&EnvironmentalPolicyiscompletinganindependentassessmenttoidentifyopportunitiestoenhancecollaborationonconservationanddevelopmentintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin.TheCenterisarecognizedexpertincollaborativeapproachestonaturalresourcesmanagementandhasworkedonseveraltransboundaryresourceinitiatives.5BackgroundTheSelengeRiveroriginatesinaremotecornerofMongolia.ItflowsnorthintoRussiaandLakeBaikal,whereitprovidesmorethanone-halfofthelake’sannualinflows.TheheadwatersoftheSelengeRiverarisenearly1,500kilometersfromthelake.UNESCOdesignatedLakeBaikalasaWorldHeritageSitein1996.Itcontainsone-fifthofthefreshwaterontheearth’ssurface,andtwo-thirdsoftheplantandanimalspecieswithinthelake’secosystemexistnowhereelseintheworld.TheMongolianportionofthewatershedhasbeentraditionallyusedforlivestockgrazing.Recently,therehasbeenanincreaseinminingactivityaswellasoutdoorrecreationinthebasin.TheErdenetcopperminehasprovidedasignificantpercentageofMongolia’sGDPsincethe1950s,andtheTuulbasinishometoanumberofgoldminingoperations.HovsgolAimagisagrowingcenterforoutdoorrecreation,withbothnationalandinternationaltourists.TourismhasincreasedsincetheroadfromUlaanbaatartoHovsgolwaspaved,andthousandsofMongoliansnowvisittheregioneveryyear,especiallyalongthesouthernshoresofLakeHovsgol.Thereisalsoasmallbutrobustfly-fishingindustrythatrevolvesaroundtaimen(Huchotaimen),theworld’slargestsalmonid.6TheMongoliangovernmentisproposingtobuildandoperateaseriesofdamsanddiversionsinthebasin,includingbothhydropowerprojectsandplanstosupplywatertofarawaycitiesandmines.Projectmanagershavecompletedpreliminaryfeasibilitystudiesandenvironmentalreviewsforthesuiteofproposeddamsanddiversionstructures,andarenowpoisedtocompleteevenmorecomprehensivesocialandenvironmentalimpactassessmentsinthenearfuture.

4TheexpeditioninvolvedateamofMongolian,Russian,andAmericanscientiststravellingfromtheheadwatersoftheDelgermoronRivertoLakeBaikalduringthesummerandfallof2018.Thegoalsoftheexpeditionwerethree-fold:(1)togatherbaselinedataonaquaticfauna,includinginvertebratesandfish;(2)tocontinuethecollectionofwater-qualitydatabegunbyotherresearchers;and(3)toraiseawarenessoftheriver’sintrinsicvalueatboththelocalandgloballevels.Formoreinformation,seehttps://www.baikalheadwaters.org/blog5http://naturalresourcespolicy.org/projects/transboundary-conservation.php6JamesOwen,“CanAnglingSavetheWorld’sLargestSalmon?”NationalGeographicNews(August19,2004).

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ObjectivesInresponsetotheongoingplanstodevelopdamsanddiversionstructuresintheSelengeRiverbasin,theobjectivesofthisindependentassessmentareto:

1. Clarifytheinterestsandconcernsofdecision-makersandvariousstakeholders

relativetotheproposeddams,traditionallivelihoods,theemergingrecreationaleconomy,andenvironmentalvalues;

2. Examinepastandcurrenteffortstofacilitatecollaborativeproblem-solvingwithinthetransboundarybasin;

3. Sharelessonsfromsimilartransboundaryconservationinitiativesthroughouttheworld;and

4. Identifyoptionstoenhancecollaborativeproblem-solvingwithinthetransboundarybasin.

Fromtheoutset,theCenterassumesthatthereisnosinglemodelforthesuccessfulmanagementoftransboundarylandandwaterresources.Eachinitiativemustbedesignedtomeettheuniqueneedsandinterestsofaspecificgeographicalarea.Likewise,thereisnosingularwaytobalanceconservationanddevelopmentinterests,andthebestapproachtogenerateinformed,durabledecisionsistoensurethattherightpeopleareengagedinacollaborativeprocesswiththebestavailableinformation.

MethodsandLimitationsToachievetheseobjectives,theCenter(1)reviewedappropriatebackgrounddocuments;(2)completedinterviewswithindividualsandorganizationsrepresentingarangeofviewpoints;and(3)consultedwithaninternationalnetworkofexpertsintransboundarycollaboration.WeconductedinitialinterviewsviaskypeduringMay,June,andJuly2018,andcompletedmostoftheface-to-faceinterviewsinAugust2018inUlaanbaatarandduringafieldtripalongtheDelgermoronRiver.AfewinterviewswereconductedinSeptemberandOctober2018.ThelistofindividualsandorganizationsconsultedispresentedasAppendix1.TheCenter’sroleinthisindependentassessmentistoserveasaneutral,impartialservantofalldecision-makersandstakeholders.Itisnotadvocatingforanyparticularinterestoroutcome;rather,theCenter’sintentistoaccuratelycaptureandcommunicatetheneedsandinterestsofdecision-makersandstakeholdersrepresentingadiversityofviewpoints.Torespectpeople’sconfidentiality,thisreportdoesnotpresentwhosaidwhat;rather,itemphasizeswhatwassaid.Consideringthepreliminaryandincompletenatureoftheconsultations,italsodoesnotinclude“stakeholdermapping.”Thereportdoesintegrateinformationandoptionsbasedonsimilarprojectsthroughouttheworld.

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Fromtheoutset,werecognizefourlimitationstothispreliminaryassessment.

• First,duelargelytoalackoftimeandotherresources,werecognizethattherearemanyotherindividualsandorganizationsthatcouldprovidevaluableinformationandinsightsonthissuiteofissues.Thislistincludes,butisnotlimitedto,representativesoflocalcommunities,river-dependentbusinesses,stakeholdergroupsinRussia,andexpertsandofficialswithvariousinternationalbodies;

• Second,andrelatedtothefirstlimitation,wehavenotsufficientlyaddressedtheissuesandexistingcollaborativeinitiativesintheRussianpartofthetransboundarybasin;

• Third,wehavereviewedandtakenintoconsiderationasmuchpublishedmaterialastimepermitted.Wefullyrealizethatamorethoroughassessmentwouldincludeamorecompletereviewofpublishedmaterials.

• Fourth,itispossiblethatwehaveunintentionallymischaracterizedsomeofthehistoryandfactsassociatedwiththeissuesdiscussedherein.

Theseandotherlimitationsofthispreliminaryassessmentshouldbeaddressedasthiseffortmovesforward.Thelistofindividualsandorganizationsinterestedinthiswork,includingnextsteps,continuestoexpand.Inthefinalanalysis,thispreliminaryassessmentisnotanendinitself.Atbest,itisthebeginningofaniterative,incrementalprocesstobuildthecapacityforcollaborativeproblem-solvingtopromoteandsupportlivablecommunities,vibranteconomies,andhealthylandscapesintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin.

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TheTransboundaryBasina) PhysicalGeography

TheSelengeRiveroriginatesinMongoliaandflowsnorthintoRussia,eventuallydrainingintoLakeBaikal.Sixty-sixpercentofthebasiniswithinMongolia.7FormedbytheconfluenceoftheDelgermoronandIderrivers,theSelengeisthelargestriversysteminMongolia;itsotherprincipaltributariesincludetheEg,Orkhon,andUdarivers.TheSelengeproperisabout1,000kilometerslong(or621miles)andcarriesabout935cubicmeterspersecond(or33,000cuft/s)ofwaterintoLakeBaikal,whichaccountsformorethanone-halfofsurfaceinflows.8TherivermouthformsalargedeltaonthesoutheastshorelineofLakeBaikal(680squarekilometersor260squaremiles).9LakeBaikalislocatedinsouthernSiberiabetweenIrkutskOblasttothenorthwestandtheBuryatRepublictothesoutheast.Itisthelargestfreshwaterlakebyvolumeintheworld,containingsomewherebetween20and25percentoftheworld'sfreshsurfacewater.Forcomparison,LakeBaikalcontainsmorewaterthanthefiveNorthAmericanGreatLakescombined.Itisalsotheworld’sdeepestlake(withamaximumdepthof1,642m(or5,387ft)),theworld’soldestlake(somewherebetween25and30millionyears),the7thlargestlakeintheworldbysurfacearea,andoneoftheclearestlakesintheworld.LakeBaikalishometothousandsofspeciesofplantsandanimals,manyofwhichexistnowhereelseintheworld.b) HumanGeography

Mongoliaisoneoftheworld’sleastpopulatedcountries,withasurfaceareaof1.6millionsquarekilometersandabout3millioninhabitants(or1.9inhabitantspersquarekilometer).Somewherebetween60and70percentofMongolia’spopulationlivesintheSelengeRiverbasin,withoverhalfresidinginUlaanbaatar,significantpercentagesinDarkhanandErdenet,10andtheremainderinmoreruralcommunitiesscatteredacrossthelandscape.Administratively,thebasinincludesUlaanbaatarandnineaimags(orprovinces).11TheRussianportionoftheSelengewatershedincludesthecityofUlan-Ude,capitaloftheRepublicofBuryatia.Ulan-Udeisthethird-largestcityineasternSiberiawithapopulation

7TermsofReference(TOR)foraRegionalEnvironmentalAssessment(REA)fortheSelengeRiverBasinandLakeBaikalAreaintheContextoftheProposedShurenHydropowerProjectandOrkhonWaterDiversionProject(MINISJune2018):15.8UnitedStatesGeologicalSurvey,2011,TheSelengaRiver,USGSDeltaResearchAndGlobalObservationNetwork(DRAGON).9NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration,2011,SnowfallontheSelengaRiverDelta,RussianFederation.10IntegratedWaterManagementModelontheSelengeRiverBasinStatusSurveyandInvestigation(2008).11MINISTOR,page5

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ofmorethan400,000.12TheareaimmediatelysurroundingLakeBaikalisapopulartouristdestinationandhometoabout100,000residents.TheSelengeRiverisusedforagriculturalirrigation,communitywatersupplies,industry,mining,recreation,tourism,andtransportation.InMongolia,largeamountsofwaterareusedtoirrigatefieldsofwheatandothergrains.NearthedeltainRussia,networksofcanalshavebeenbuilttoirrigateagriculturalland.Manyoftheseusesdegradethequalityofthewater,limitdownstreamavailability,andproduceecologicalimpacts.MongoliaandRussiashareaninternationalefforttomanagetheSelengeRivertoimprovewaterqualityandsustainthewaterresource.13TheSelengaDeltaisusedextensivelybylocalpeopleforlivestockgrazing,hayandgraincultivation,commercialfishing,trapping,hunting,andotherrecreationalactivities.Theseactivitiesoftenencroachonthehabitatsofendangeredplantsandanimals.TheIrkutskHydroelectricPowerStationwasbuiltontheAngaraRiver,theonlyriverdrainingLakeBaikal.ItisthelargestoffourdamsontheAngarariverandregulatestheflowoftheriverandcauseswater-levelfluctuationsinLakeBaikal.Thesewater-levelchangesresultinalargepartoftheSelengaDeltabeingwaterloggedandthendrainedinresponsetoactivitiesatthepowerstation.c) EcologicalValues

UNESCOdesignatedLakeBaikalaWorldHeritageSitein1996.ThewetlandsoftheSelengeRiverDeltaaredesignatedasaRamsarSite.14Theyprovidevaluablehabitatformorethan170speciesofbirds,includingmanymigratingspecies.LikeLakeBaikal,theSelengedeltaisuniqueandishometomorethan70rareorendangeredspeciesofplantsandanimals.15AportionoftheSelenge’sheadwatersliewithintheUlaanTaigaSpeciallyProtectedAreas.Between1997and2011,Mongoliaestablishedthreespeciallyprotectedareasinthenorth-centralpartofthecountrytoprotectvarioushigh-valueresources.TheseareasarejointlyreferredtoastheUlaanTaigaSpeciallyProtectedAreas.16LakeKhovsgolNationalPark,longregardedasthe“BluePearlofMongolia,”isalsolocatedinthebasin.TheEgRiverflowsoutofthelakeandintotheSelengeRiver,whichconnectsLakeBaikalwithLakeKhovsgol.

12TheBuryatsareconsideredthelargestindigenousgroupinSiberia.TheyarethemajornorthernsubgroupoftheMongolsandsharemanytraditionalcustomswithotherMongols,includingnomadicherdinganduseofgersforshelter.Today,themajorityofBuryatsliveinandaroundUlan-Ude.TheyspeakacentralMongoliclanguagecalledBuryat.AccordingtoUNESCO's2010editionoftheAtlasoftheWorld'sLanguagesinDanger,theBuryatlanguageisclassifiedasseverelyendangered.13UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme,2008,IntegratedWaterManagementModelontheSelengeRiverBasin,Researchreportandstatussurvey.14https://www.ramsar.org/sites-countries/the-ramsar-sites15[4]TheRamsarConventiononWetlands,1997,SelengaRiverDelta,InformationSheetonRamsarWetlands.16https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2017/1025/ofr20171025.pdf

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ThetransboundaryriverbasinisimportantforreproductionoftheBaikalsturgeon(includedinthesecondAnnexoftheBonnConventiononmigratoryspecies),aswellasanumberofrareandendemicfishspecieslistedinnationalandinternationalRedBooks.Itisalsohometotheworld’slargestsalmonid–Huchotaimen.Thesefishcangrowupto1.5meters(or5.0feet),weighupto100kilograms(220pounds),andarethefocusofanemergingecotourismindustry.17However,thespecieshasdeclinedthroughoutmuchofitshistoricalrangeduetopoaching,logging,livestockgrazing,andmining.18

17http://www.rareplanet.org/sites/rareplanet.org/files/Jensen_etal_2009_CJFAS.pdf18JamesOwen,“CanAnglingSaveWorld’sLargestSalmon?”NationalGeographicNews(August19,2004).FormoreinformationonthetheAltai-Sayanecoregion,includingatleastpartoftheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin,seehttp://wwf.panda.org/our_work/biodiversity/protected_areas/pa4lp/altai_sayan/.

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3. ProposedDams&InfrastructureProjectsTheprimaryfocusofthisassessmentrevolvesaroundthreewaterdevelopmentprojectscurrentlyunderconsiderationbytheMongoliangovernment(seeAppendix2foramapshowingthelocationofeachproject):

Ø TheShurenHydropowerProject(HPP),locatedontheSelengeRiverabout360kmupstreamfromLakeBaikal,wouldsupplyelectricitytothegrowingminingsectorandhelpfilltheshortfallofelectricityfacedbythecountry;

Ø TheOrkhon-GobiProject,locatedonatributaryoftheSelengeRiver,wouldfacilitateandsupportinvestmentsintheminingsectorandtransferwaterfromtheOrkhonRivertotheGobidesertviapipelines;and

Ø TheEgiinGolHydropowerProject(HPP),locatedontheEgRiver,atributaryoftheSelengeRiver,580kmupstreamfromLakeBaikal,wouldrespondespeciallytothepeakseasonaldemandsforelectricityinthecentralpartofMongolia.

ThefirsttwoprojectsarepartoftheMiningInfrastructureInvestmentSupport(MINIS)Project,whichwascreatedbytheMongoliangovernment(seewww.minis.mn).ThesecondarygoalsofallthreeprojectsaretoproviderenewableenergyandenableenergyindependencefromtheRussianpowersystem.19a) TheEgiinGolHydropowerProject

AccordingtoareportpreparedbytheIUCNfortheWorldHeritageCommitteein2015,20severalstudieshavebeencompletedoverthelast25yearsonthepotentialofhydropowerontheEgRiver.21Themostrecentfeasibilitystudywasconductedin2014,alongwithanenvironmentalimpactassessmentin2015.22

19RegionalenvironmentalassessmentsfortheShurenandOrkhon-Gobiprojectshavebeencancelled,whichmayindicatethattheMongoliangovernmentdoesnotpresentlyconsiderthemtobeofequalprioritytotheEgiinGolHPP.Seehttp://www.transrivers.org/2017/2020/;andpage2ofhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/421161525703214988/text/Plan-Archive-7.txt20ReactiveMonitoringMissiontoMongoliaConcerningtheWorldHeritagePropertyofLakeBaikal.21ExpertsfromtheAsianDevelopmentBank(ADB)beganstudyingwaystoestablishhydroelectricpowerplantsinMongoliain1991[seeundatedsummaryofCabinetMeetingNovember14].TheirstudiesconfirmedthepotentialprofitabilityofsuchprojectsandtheADBexpressedinterestinprovidinggrant-in-aidandsoftloansforapre-feasibilitystudyanddesignofahydroelectricpowerplantontheEgRiverinMay1991.Laterthatyear,theMongoliangovernmentacceptedtheADBproposalandmadeplansforapre-feasibilitystudyandprojectdesign.Thepartiessignedacontractofloanandgrant-in-aidinApril1992.Thepre-feasibilitystudy,design,andbiddocumentsfortheplantwerereadyby1994.Buttheconstructionoftheplantwaspostponedin1996duetoconflictsintheprojectfinancing.22SeeTractebelEngineeringGDFSuez,etal.,EgiinGoliinHydropowerPlantProject:Introduction(MinistryofEnergy,MinistryofFinance,MinisterofEnvironmentalandGreenDevelopment,andDevelopmentBankofMongolia,undated);andTractebelEngineeringGDFSuez,EgiinGoliinHydropowerPlantProject:HydrologicalImpactsontheSelengaRiverRegimeandLakeBaikal(EgiinGoliinHydroPowerPlantProjectUnit,MinistryofEnergy,March2015).

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AlthoughthefeasibilitystudyandEIAhaveneverbeenreleasedtothepublic,theIUCNreport–citingengineeringreportsassociatedwiththeproject–explainsthattheEIAconcludesthattherewouldbe“negligible”effectsonLakeBaikalandtheSelengeRiver.AccordingtotheIUCN’sinterpretationoftheengineeringreports,winterflowsmayslightlyincreaseandsummerflowsmayslightlydecrease,howeverthechangeswouldneverbemorethanonepercentoftheannualinflowoftheSelengeRiverintoLakeBaikal.Insum,theEIAconcludesthattherewouldbe“noecologicalimpact”fromthechangeinstreamflow.23TheIUCNreportgoesontoexplainthattheEIAfortheEgRiverprojectonlyconsideredtheimpactstothehydrologyofthebasinanddidnotconsiderthebroaderecologicalimpacts.ItnotesthattheSelengeRiveranditstributaries,includingtheEgRiver,arehometotaimen(Huchotaimen),amigratoryfishthatmovesupanddownriverstospawnandoverwinterindeeppools.Apparently,theproposedhydropowerprojectcontemplatesasystemoftrappingmigratorytaimenandtransportingthembyvanaroundthedam.TheEIAdoesnotassesstheimpactontaimenoronotherecologicalvaluesinthebasin.Inconclusion,theIUCNreportexplainsthatitisnotinapositiontofullyassesstheimpactsoftheproposeddamgiventhelackofavailableinformation.Thatsaid,itgoesontoclaimthattheEIAistoogeneralanddoesnotmeetinternationalstandards;alloftheecologicalimpactsoftheproposedprojecthavenotbeenconsidered;thecumulativeimpactofthisproposedprojectalongwithotherprojectsintheSelengeRiverbasinhasnotbeenaddressed;noalternativeswereconsideredintheEIA;andlocalstakeholderswerenotconsulted.TheIUCNrecommendsthattheMongoliangovernmentcompleteanEIAthatassessespotentialimpactsonhydrologyaswellasecologicalvalues;completeacumulativeimpactassessmentonallthreeproposedprojects;andworkwiththeRussianFederationto“developacommonstrategicapproachtowaterresourcemanagementattheSelenge/LakeBaikalecosystemlevel.”Threeadditionalinitiativesdeservetobementionedinthiscontext.First,theGlobalEnvironmentFacility(GEF),attherequestoftheAmericanflyfishingcompanySweetwaterTravelanditsMongolianpartner,HovsgolTravel,developedaconservationmanagementsystemin1999toprotectthenaturalresourcesoftheEg-UurWatershedArea.24TheEg-UurwatershedisamajortributaryoftheSelengeRiver.ThetwocompaniesestablishedtheTaimenConservationFundtofacilitatethisprojectandsecuredfundingfromtheInternationalFinanceCorporation(ICF),aWorldBankGroup.Tofacilitatethisinitiative,thetwocompaniesestablishedanNGO,theTributaryFund(whichthenmorphedintothe 23Someobservershavenotedthatthisdoesnottakeintoaccountthelikelychangesinwatertemperatureoftheinflows;somescientistsbelievethatrivertemperaturescouldrise1or2degreesCinwinter.Otherobservershaveraisedthequestionofwhetherwatertemperatureswillriseinthereservoirsbehindtheproposeddamsandifso,whattheimpactsmightbe. 24TheGlobalEnvironmentFacilityisaninternationalpartnershipof183countries,internationalinstitutions,civilsocietyorganizationsandtheprivatesectorthataddressesglobalenvironmentalissues.https://www.thegef.org/.SeethereportConservationoftheEg-UurWatershed(2003)http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/570721468779691955/pdf/298480Mongolia0revised.pdf

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TaimenFund),toassistthelocalcommunitiestomanagenaturalresourcesinthewatershed.25Theintentoftheprojectwastoremovethreatstobiodiversityby(1)developingaparticipatorymanagementplan,implementationstructure,andpolicyframeworkforbiodiversityconservationinthewatershed;(2)improvinghumanandtechnicalcapacitytobettermanageandconservebiodiversityandecosystemsinthewatershed;(3)improvingsustainableusepracticesandlivelihoodoptionsintheEUWA;(4)improvinginformation,communication,andeducationsystemtosupportpolicy,planninganddecision-makinginthewatershed;and(5)providingforfinancialsustainabilitytoensurethatthelocalinhabitantshavesufficientresourcestoaddressfuturethreats.Toachievetheseobjectives,GEFandtheWorldWildlifeFundfacilitatedtwostakeholdermeetingsinJune2001andJune2002withtherepresentativesfromthetwocompanies,localcommunities,andprovincialandnationalgovernmentstodevelopconsensusontheobjectivesanddeterminetheprojectstructure.Theprimaryrecommendationthatemergedfromthiseffortwastopromoteandsupportfly-fishingecotourismthroughcommunity-basedcollaborativegroupsatthewatershedlevel.26Second,FAOandtheTaimenConservationFund(TCF)convenedtwocommunity-based,multi-stakeholderworkshopsin2014onthedesignoffishpassagesystems.27ParticipantsincludedrepresentativesfromtheMinistryofNatureandGreenDevelopmentofMongolia,theEgiinGolHydroPowerPlantProjectUnit(EGHPPPU),theDorgonhydropowerstation,theMongolianMiningCorporation,theNationalWaterAssociation,civilsocietyorganizations,andtheTCF.Theparticipantsreviewedthestatusoffishpassagedevelopment,research,andconstructioninMongolia,aswellasthebiologyandbehavioroffishspeciesthatwouldneedtobeconsideredinplanningfishpassagefacilitiesinMongolia,inparticularintheEgRiver.TheyreviewedlessonsonengineeringandbiologyfromNorthAmericaandEurope,emphasizingthatthemosteffectivefishpassagesystemsareadaptedtolocalconditions.WithrespecttotheproposedEgRiverHPP,theparticipantsdidnotreachconsensusonthelikelyenvironmentalimpactsoftheproposeddam.However,theparticipantsagreedthat,shouldthedamontheEgRiverbeconstructed,afishpassagesystemwouldbeneededtomitigatetheblockedupstreamanddownstreampassageandformaintaininggeneticexchangebetweenfishintheEgandSelengeRivers.Theparticipantsagreedthatatrap-and-transportsystemforbothupstreamanddownstreamfishpassagewouldmostlikelybethemostviablesolutionforthisEgRiverHPP,withthecaveatthatitcouldbeadjustedand/oradaptedinthefuture.However,theresourcepeopleparticipatingintheworkshop 25http://www.taimen.org26ConservationoftheEg-UurWatershed(2003)http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/570721468779691955/pdf/298480Mongolia0revised.pdf27FAO/TCFWorkshoponFishPassageDesignatCrossRiverObstacles–ExperiencesfromDifferentCountrieswithPotentialRelevancetoMongolia(2014)

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emphasizedthatthedamshouldnotbeconstructedattheplannedlocationbecauseitwouldinflictirreversibledamagetofish(particularlytaimen),biodiversity,andtheaquaticecosystem.Theresourcepeoplesuggestedthatalternativesshouldbeconsideredwithrespecttotheproposeddam,includingbutnotlimitedtofindinganalternativelocation,buildingseveralsmallerdams,and/orinvestinginsolarandwindenergysystems.Thethirdandfinalinitiativethatdeservesmentionherewaspreparedin2014byDr.OlafP.Jensen,affiliatedwiththeInstituteofMarine&CoastalSciences,RutgersUniversity.Dr.JensenreviewedandprovidedcommentsontheFrenchconsultants’reportfortheTaimenConservationFund.28AccordingtoDr.Jensen’sreview,“Thesectiononlikelyimpactsisthemostimportant,andheretoo,Igenerallyagreewiththereport'sconclusionsthattheimpactonfishpopulationsislikelytobesevere.Thereportconcludesthatwithinthe60kmlongreservoir,‘thecalmwaterspecieswillbefavoredwhilerunningwaterspecieswilldisappear.’Iagreethatthisislikely.Itisalsonotsimplyaneutralexchangeofonefishcommunityforanother.Thecalmwaterspeciesinquestion(e.g.,pikeandperch)areabundant,widespread,andofmodestvaluetoanglers.Therunningwaterspecies,whicharelikelytonegativelyimpacted,includethreatenedandendangeredspeciessuchasthetaimen,whichalsosupportsavaluablerecreationalfisheryontheEgRiver.”Dr.Jensengoesontoexplainthat“thereportnotesthattherearelikelytobesubstantialadverseimpactsonfishdownstreamofthedamfromhydropeaking:“themainimpactofthehydropeakingpatternisthatthepopulationoffishwilldecreaseandtheweakerspeciesmaydisappear.Theconditionswillnotbefavorabletothepotentialreturnofsturgeon."Thereportdownplaystheimpactofblockedmovementsandpopulationfragmentation,butasIdescribebelow,thesecouldalsobeimportantnegativeimpacts.”Giventheapparentconflictoverscientificandtechnicalinformation,itisperhapsnotsurprisingthatinJune2016“China’sNationalDevelopmentandReformCommission,theChinaEXIMBankandthegovernmentofMongoliaannounced…theyhaveplacedatemporaryholdonconstructingtheproposedhydroelectricprojectontheEgRiver,citingconcernsovertransboundaryissuesand‘duediligence’relatedtodownstreamenvironmentalconcerns.”29Severalmonthslater,duringitsregularcabinetmeetingheldonApril12,2017,theMongolianGovernmentdecidedtoestablishstate-ownedEgRiverHydroPowerPlantLLC,whichwillberesponsibleforplanningandbuildingtheEgRiverHydroPowerPlant.AccordingtotheMontsameNewsAgency,thecompanywillberesponsibleforobtainingland-usecertificatesandnegotiatingcontractsforpower,engineering,andconstruction,amongotherduties.Thecompanywillalsobeinchargeoftheoperationsoftheplantonceconstructioniscompleted.30

28Dr.OlafP.Jensen,ReviewofChapter15(undatedmanuscript,InstituteofMarine&CoastalSciences,RutgersUniversity).Availablefromtheauthorsofthisreport.29https://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2016/06/us-1-billion-proposed-315-mw-egiin-hydroelectric-project-in-mongolia-on-hold.html30TheUBPost,April14,2017;https://www.pressreader.com/mongolia/the-ub-post/20170414

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RiverswithoutBoundaries(atransboundarycoalitionofinterestedpeople,includingacademics,inRussia,China,andMongolia)believesthatthedecisiontomoveforwardwiththedamontheEgRivercompromisesanyfuturepublicconsultationabouttheproject,violatestheWorldHeritageConventionandotherbilateralagreementsandwillinevitablyleadtoadversesocialandenvironmentalimpactsintheLakeBaikalwatershed.31Inresponsetothesedevelopments,theUBPostreportedonFebruary12,2018,thattheRussianEnergyMinistryhasofferedtheMongolianGovernmentalternativeenergysuppliestomeettheamountofelectricitygeneratedbythethreeproposeddamsintheSelengeRiverBasin.Apparently,Mongoliaimportedmorethan20percentmoreenergyfromRussiainthefirstninemonthsof2017.Theproposednewagreementisalong-termcontractforgreatervolumesatacost3.5timeslowerthantheexpectedpriceofpowerfromtheproposedhydropowerplants.32Atthetimeofthiswriting,theEgRiverHPPteamisplanningtoconductacomprehensiveassessmentofthepotentialimpactofthedamonthebiodiversityofthewatershed–fromthesiteoftheproposeddamallthewayto(andincluding)LakeBaikal.33Asexplainedinthenextsub-section,theregionalenvironmentalassessmentontheproposedShurenHPPontheSelengeRiverwillalsoincludetheEg,sinceitisatributarytotheSelengeRiverupstreamoftheShurenHPP.However,theMongolian-RussianTransboundaryCommission(seebelowformoreonthisinstitution)doesnotfocusontheEgRiversinceitisnotatransboundarywatercourse.b) TheMINISProjects

AccordingtotheTermsofReference(TOR)foraRegionalEnvironmentalAssessment(REA)fortheSelengeRiverBasinandLakeBaikalAreaintheContextoftheProposedShurenHydropowerProjectandOrkhonWaterDiversionProject(MINISJune2018),theShurenHPPwasidentifiedwithanothertwo-dozenpotentialhydropowerpowerprojectsinthe1960s.Afeasibilitystudywasconductedin1973,buttheprojectwasnotpursuedbecauseotherenergysupplyoptionswereavailable.Tomeetthegrowingdemandforelectricity,promoteenergysecurity,andsupportdevelopmentoftheminingsector,theMongoliangovernmentmadetheShurenHPPanationalpriorityin2011.34 31https://www.transrivers.org/2017/1913/32https://newsbase.com/topstories/russia-drafts-deal-power-sales-mongolia33SeeRequestforExpressionofInterest(ConsultingServices),AnAdditionalImpactStudyoftheEgiinGolHydroPowerPlantProjectonBiodiversityoftheSelengeRiverandLakeBaikal(thedeadlineforproposalswasOctober10,2018).34MongoliaMinistryofFinance,TermsofReferencefortheFeasibilityStudyforShurenHydropowerPlantProject(September2016).“Duetoitsgrowingpopulation,Mongolia’sprimaryenergyconsumptionhassteadilyincreasedoverthelastyearswhileconsumptionintensityremainedthesame.Mongoliaisindangerofaseriousenergyshortfallasearlyas2012,atwhichpointthemaximumimportedcapacityof255MWfromRussiamaynotmeetdemand.Russianpowerhasbecomemoreexpensive.Thisshortfallwillgrowwithrapidexpansionofthecountry`sminingsector.Toaddressenergyshortfall,theGovernmentcabinetmeeting(November2011)discussedtheShurenhydropowerplant(HPP)alongwithseveralotherenergyprojectsandrecognizedtheShurenHPPasapriorityproject.”

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TheproposedShurenHPPwillbelocatedontheSelengeRiver,thelargestriverinMongoliaandthemainfeederriverintoLakeBaikal.TheOrkhon-GobiRiverDiversion,aseparateproject,isdesignedtopipewaterfromtheOrkhonRiver,atributaryoftheSelengeRiver,innorthernMongoliatotheminesintheSouthGobiregion,adistanceofover1,000km.TheWorldBankapprovedaninitial$25millioncredittotheMongoliangovernmentfortheMiningInfrastructureInvestmentSupport(MINIS)ProjectonMay10,2011.35ThepurposeofMINISistoprovidetechnicalassistancetotheGovernmentofMongoliatofacilitateinvestmentsintheinfrastructureneededtosupportmining(suchasroadsorpowersources)andbuildthecapacityofthegovernmenttoprepareandseekfinancingforsimilarprojectsinthefuture.Theprojectdoesnotfundanyphysicalactivitiesorworks,onlyfeasibilitystudiesandotherpreparatoryassessments.In2012,afeasibilitystudyforShurenHPPwasinsertedintotheMINISportfolio,alongwiththeOrkhon-GobiProject.ThegovernmentofMongoliaalsorestartedplanningoftheEgiinGolHPPontheEgRiverin2013,andtheinternationalNGORiverswithoutBoundariesstartedtoraisequestionsaboutthelegitimacyandimpactoftheproposedwaterdevelopmentprojects.TheinternationalcoordinatorofRiverswithoutBoundaries,Dr.EugeneSimonov,wasdeportedfromMongoliaasa“personpresentingathreattonationalsecurityofMongolia.”36OnFebruary10,2015,representativesfromcommunitiesinMongoliaandRussiasubmittedarequestforinspectiontotheWorldBank’sindependentaccountabilitymechanism,theInspectionPanel.37ThecomplaintfocusedonthepotentialimpactsoftheShurenHPPandtheOrkhon-GobiRiverDiversionprojects.WhiletheBankisonlyfundingthefeasibilitystudiesandthesocialandenvironmentalimpactassessments,thecomplainantsandtheirsupportingNGOs(GreenpeaceRussiaandRiverswithoutBoundaries)areconcernedthatthesestudieswillserveasarubber-stampfortheMongoliangovernmenttofacilitatetheconstructionoftheseprojectswithouttheinputofconcernedstakeholdersandimpactedcommunities.Therequestforinspectionhighlightedseveralinterestsandconcerns:

35InresponsetoaquestionaboutwhyTheWorldBankisfinancingthisproject,theMINIS“frequentlyaskedquestions”factsheetexplainsthat“Mongoliaishometosomeoftheworld’srichestdepositsofcopper,uranium,coal,ironore,andgold.Inrecentyears,severallarge-scaleprojectshavestarteddevelopmentthroughsignificantdomesticandforeigninvestment.ThereisthereforeahighurgencyforMongoliatoensurethatnecessaryregulatoryframeworksandinfrastructureareinplacetosupporttheseminingactivitiesinanenvironmentallyandsociallysustainablemanner.“36RiverswithoutBoundaries,“Baikalvs.Dams–GameOver?”(August3,2017).http://www.transrivers.org/2017/1952/37http://ewebapps.worldbank.org/apps/ip/Pages/ViewCase.aspx?CaseId=107

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Ø ThepotentialimpactoftheproposedprojectsonthehydrologicalflowandwaterlevelsintheSelengeDeltaandLakeBaikal(andthustheimpactontheecologicalhealthoftheseecosystems,specificallyonsturgeonandomulpopulations);

Ø Theneedforabasin-wideapproachtothejointuseofwaterresourcesbyMongoliaandRussia;

Ø TheimpactsoftheproposedprojectsonthelivelihoodsandculturalheritageofcommunitieslivingadjacenttotheDeltaandLake;and

Ø Thelackofinformationandpublicconsultation38.ThecomplaintwasregisteredbythePanelinMarch2015.StaffwiththeInspectionPaneltraveledtoMongoliaandRussiainMay2015toassesstheeligibilityofthecomplaint.Insupportofthecomplaint,apetitionwassentbyAvaaz–aninternationalnetworkofactivists–totheWorldBankandthegovernmentsofChina,Russia,andMongoliainMay2015askingthemtoprotectLakeBaikalfromdestructivehydropowerprojects.Thepetition,SavetheBlueJewelofSiberia,hadover55,000signatoriesfromaroundtheworld.39InJuly2015,thePanelproposed–andtheBoardapproved–deferringforoneyearthePanel’srecommendationonwhethertoinvestigatethecomplaint.ThePanelconcludedthattheBankwascommittedtoimprovingtheprocessbasedontheissuesraisedbythecomplaint.Ayearlater,inJuly2016,thePanelrecognizedthatwhileprogresshadbeenmade,therewerestillseveralpendingactionstoaddresstheconcernsraisedinthecomplaint.ItstatedthatmoretimewasneededbeforeassessingtheimplementationoftheBank’sactions,specificallyregardingthequalityoftheconsultationprocessandtheprogressandscopeoftheproject’ssocialandenvironmentalimpactassessment.ThePanelrecommended–andtheBoardapproved–aseconddeferralandcommittedtoreportbacktotheBoardwithinoneyear.Overthenextyear,thePanelfrequentlyconsultedwiththecomplainants,theBank,IUCN,andtheWorldHeritageCommittee.Inaddition,aPanelteamvisitedMongoliaandRussiainJune2017andmetwithstakeholderswhohadparticipatedinthepublicconsultationsfortheREA,40scientificexperts,governmentofficials,andWorldBankstaff.Insum,the 38ThecompleterecordofpublicconsultationontheShurenandOrkhonprojectsisavailableathttp://www.minis.mn/enbyclickingthe“ConsultationHub”tab.39FormoreinformationonintegratednaturalresourcesmanagementintheBaikalbasintransboundaryecosystem,seehttp://baikal.iwlearn.org/en/project/project-document/view.40MINISconductednumerouspublicconsultationmeetingsonthedraftTORfortheREAin2017,including14locationsinRussiaand19inMongolia.ThepublicconsultationprocessfacilitatedbyMINISisdesignedtofollowtheWorldBank’schecklistofbestpractices,whichincludes–amongotherthings–identifyingstakeholders;includingaffectedcommunities;involvingpeopleintheplanning,designing,implementing,monitoring,andevaluatingphasesoftheproject;andexplaininghowfeedbackwasconsidered.https://drive.google.com/file/d/135KsS5giGTnTno4uP5uW1FtIr9S7EuZp/viewForareviewofthe“consultation”processcompletedtodate,gotohttp://minis.mn/en/p/Consultation-overview.ThiswebsiteexplainstheMINISproject'sconsultationhistory,includingwhatsubjectswereconsulted,whowasconsulted,

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Panelwassatisfiedthattheprojectwasmovingintherightdirection–thanksinlargeparttotheissuesandconcernsraisedintheoriginalRequestforInspection.ThePanelhighlightedtheBank’scommitmenttoaddresstransboundaryissues,meaningfullyengagestakeholdersinMongoliaandRussia,consideralternativestotheproposedprojects,andconductregionalandcumulativeimpactassessments.InJuly2017itrecommended–andtheBoardapproved–tonotinvestigatethecomplaint.Inmakingthisrecommendation,thePanelemphasizedtheneedfortheBanktoremaininclosecontactwiththeRequestersandaffectedcommunities,tobuildonthelessonsofpreviousconsultations,andtoensurediligentimplementationofthefullsetofenvironmentalassessmenttoolsthathavebeenidentified.ConsistentwiththerecommendationsoftheWorldBank,IUCN,andRiverswithoutBoundaries,theMINISProjectTeamreleasedtheTermsofReference(TOR)foraRegionalEnvironmentalAssessment(REA)fortheSelengeRiverBasinandLakeBaikalAreaintheContextoftheProposedShurenHydropowerProjectandOrkhonWaterDiversionProjectinJune2018forpublicreviewandcomment.TheProjectTeamacceptedpubliccommentsuntilAugust30,2018,andatthetimeofthiswritingtheyarereviewingandanalyzingthepubliccomments.Acompilationofallthecommentsreceivedcanbefoundhere.Accordingtothe2018TOR,41apreviousversionoftheTORwaspresentedtostakeholdersinMongoliaandtheRussianFederationinaseriesofpublicconsultationmeetingsbetweenMarchandJune2017.ThefeedbackreceivedduringthesemeetingsreflectedstrongoppositiontotheproposedShurenandOrkhonprojects.Thekeypointsatthattimecanbesummarizedasfollows:

• ManystakeholdersbelievethatthereisnowaytodevelopShuren(andtoalesserdegreeOrkhon)withoutsignificantnegativeimpactsontheSelengeRiverecosystem(includingthedelta)andLakeBaikal;

• Severalpeopleexpressedconcernaboutwateravailabilityandwaterquality,impactsonecosystemsinriversandLakeBaikal,impactsonsensitiveandvulnerablespecies,impactsonlivelihoods,climate,andconcernsabouthydrologicalchanges,flooding,seismicityanddamsafety,andemergencyscenariosincaseofdamfailure;

• NGOspointedoutthattheprojectshouldhaveneverpassedtheinitialscreeningstage,andthatdetailedstudiesshouldnotevenbeconsidered,giventhattheSelengeRiverbasinandLakeBaikalmostlikelyfallundertheWorldBank’sdefinitionofcriticalnaturalhabitats;

whatformconsultationstookin,whereandwhentheconsultationswereheld,whatweretheresultsofconsultations.ThiswebsitealsoprovidesinformationaboutupcomingconsultationsthattobecarriedoutbyMINIS.41TermsofReference(TOR)foraRegionalEnvironmentalAssessment(REA)fortheSelengeRiverBasinandLakeBaikalAreaintheContextoftheProposedShurenHydropowerProjectandOrkhonWaterDiversionProject(MINISJune2018):44-45.

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• NearlyeveryoneencouragedtheGovernmentofMongoliatoconsideralternative

sourcesofenergy,suchaswindandsolar,tofillMongolia’senergysupplygap;and

• NGOsarguedthattheREAshouldbecompletedbeforetheESIAsarestartedtoallowtheREAtobeusedasvehicleforameaningfulanalysisofalternatives,cost-benefitanalysis,anddecision-making.

c) OtherDevelopmentsin2017and2018

Ø Commitmenttotransboundarycollaboration–OnFebruary22,2017,Mongolia’s

ForeignMinisterTs.Munkh-OrgilissuedastatementthatMongoliadiscussedwithRussiatheproposeddamsontheEgandSelengeRiversandagreedtoconductajointstudytodetermineiftheprojectswilladverselyimpacttheLakeBaikalecosystem.(MontsameNewsAgency).

Ø MongoliangovernmenttestifiesatWorldHeritageCommittee–Atthe42nd

WorldHeritageCommitteemeetingheldJune28,2018,theMongoliangovernmentexplainedthatitrecognizesthesignificanceofLakeBaikal,theimpactsofclimatechange,anditsobligationsundertheParisClimateAgreement.Italsosaidthatitiscommittedtodevelopingrenewableenergyresources(i.e.,hydropower)tohelpreducegreenhousegasemissions;promotingsustainableuseofwater;facilitatinganopenprocessfortheRegionalEnvironmentalAssessment;andcooperatingwithRussiaviaannualmeetingsofthetransboundarycommission.

Ø UnitedNationsEconomicCommissionforEuropereleasesthe“environmentalperformancereview”forMongolia42–Thisimpressivereport,preparedattherequestoftheGovernmentofMongolia,“takesstockofprogressmadebythecountryinthemanagementofitsenvironmentsince1987.Itcoverslegalandpolicyframeworks,complianceassurance,greeningtheeconomy,environmentalmonitoring,publicparticipationandeducationforsustainabledevelopment.Furthermore,theEPRaddressesissuesofspecificimportancetothecountryrelatedtoairprotection,biodiversityconservationandwater,wasteandlandmanagement.”

Amongmanyobservations,thereportconcludesthat“Since1987,Mongoliahasdevelopedanextensivelegalframeworkonenvironmentalprotection.Theenvironmentallegislationislargelyconsistentandcoherent.However,implementationofenvironmentallegislationisoftendelayed.Furthermore,enforcementofenvironmentallawsandenvironment-relatedprovisionsinsectorallegislationoftenrepresentsaseriouschallenge.”Italsoconcludesthat“Thelegislativeframeworkregulatingaccesstoenvironmentalinformationisinplaceandevolving.Nevertheless,adequateimplementationby

42UnitedNationsEconomicCommissionforEurope,EnvironmentalPerformanceReviews:Mongolia(2018).

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boththeGovernmentandthepublicremainsachallenge.”And“Mongoliaisprogressingtowardsdevelopingthelegalframeworkforpublicparticipationinenvironmentaldecision-makingandimplementingitinpractice.However,numerouschallengesremaintoensureeffectivepublicparticipation.”

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4. OtherInitiativesintheTransboundaryRiverBasinInadditiontotheactivityassociatedwiththeproposedhydropowerandinfrastructureprojects,severalotherinitiativeshavesoughttoaddressthechallengesofconservationanddevelopmentinthetransboundaryriverbasin–thoughnotallofthemaretransboundaryinitiativesperse.Inordertoidentifythemostcompellingopportunitiesforcollaborationinthebasin,itisimportanttounderstandtheseotherinitiativesandtheopportunitiestheymayprovidetoeffectivelyintegrateconservationanddevelopmentinterests.Takenasawhole,thesevariousinitiativesdemonstrateadeepinterestandcommitmenttoaddressamixofconservationanddevelopmentgoals,aspirations,andchallenges.WepresenttheseinitiativesinchronologicalordertohelpfacilitatethenarrativeorstoryofconservationanddevelopmentintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin.1974–MongoliaandRussiaenterintotransboundaryAgreementbetweentheGovernmentoftheRussianFederationandtheGovernmentofMongoliaonrationalmanagementandconservationofriverSelenga.“TheContractingPartiesshallstrictlycooperateinthesphereofrationalmanagementandprotectionofriverSelengaagainstpollution,cloggingupandexhaustionforthepreventionofnegativeimpactthereof(art.1).Theformsofcooperationshallbe:(a)datacollection,reportingandexchangeofinformationonwaterbasinofriverSelenga;(b)seasonalinspectionforthedeterminationofwaterqualityandwaterquantity;(c)elaborationofgeneralwaterprotectionscheme;(d)useofwaterworks;(e)preventionofsoilerosioncausedbywater(art.2).ThePartiesshallcarryoutarrangementsfortheprotectionoffishbyinstallingfishprotectionworks(art.7).”1992–LakeKhovsgolNationalParkiscreated.43Longregardedasthe“BluePearlofMongolia,”thelakeislocatedinnorthernMongoliawheretheCentralAsianSteppemeetstheSiberianTaiga.LakeKhovsgolisconsideredtobeoneoftheoldestandmostbeautifullakesintheworld;itis136kmlong,20-40kmwide,andupto260mdeep;itcontainsnearly70%ofallfreshwaterinMongolia.TheEgRiverflowsoutofthelakeandintotheSelengeRiver,whichconnectsLakeBaikalwithLakeKhovsgol.LakeKhovsgolNationalParkisa“sisterpark”withYosemiteNationalParkintheUnitedStates.441994–TheLawonSpecialProtectedAreasispassedbyParliamentandprovidesthelegalauthoritytoestablishandmanageprotectedareas.Itincludesrulesandpenaltiesthatapplynationwideandestablishesfourdistincttypesofprotectedareasandlevelsofprotection:(1)strictlyprotectedareas;(2)nationalparks;(3)nationalreserves;and(4)nationalheritageandculturalmonuments.

1995–MongoliaandRussiareviseandupdatethe1974agreementfortransboundarycooperation.TheamendedagreementexpandsthescopeofcooperationtoothertransboundarybasinsinadditiontotheSelenge.“ThePartieshaveagreedtocooperateinthefollowingfields:(a)rationalmanagementandprotectionoftransboundarywater 43http://bic.iwlearn.org/en/atlas/atlas/124-specially-protected-natural-areas-map44https://mn.usembassy.gov/united-states-mongolia-establish-sister-national-parks/

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resourcesagainstexhaustionandpollution;(b)studyofhydrochemical,hydrobiologicalandchanneloperationofwaterbodies,waterresourcesandqualitythereof;(c)exchangeofhydrologicalinformationandforecastingwithaviewofpreventionoffloodsandnegativeconsequencesthereof;and(d)ensuringnaturalmigrationoffishesandotheraquaticanimalsintransboundarywater.Cooperationshallbecarriedoutinthefollowingforms:(a)jointwatermonitoringprogrammes;(b)distributionofwaterresourcesbetweentheParties;(c)exchangeofinformation;(d)research;(e)exchangeofexperts;and(f)complianceofwaterqualityindiceswithinternationalstandards.”

Atransboundarycommission,includingabout20representativesfrombothRussiaandMongolia(includingtheMongolianMinistryofEnergy),meetseveryotheryear,whilescientificandtechnicalexpertsthatsupportthiscommissionmeeteveryyear.Themeetingsareclosedtothepublicandtheminutesofthemeetingsarenotavailable.Accordingtosomeobservers,thecommissionismonitoringanddiscussingtheproposedHPPprojects,butitisnotclearwhatauthoritytheyhaveintermsofprovidinginputandadviceand/ordecision-making.

Inthiscontext,itisusefultonotethestatusofbothcountriesrelativetoestablishedinternationallawgoverningtransboundarywater,indigenouspeople,andpublicparticipation.

v 1989ConventionconcerningIndigenousandTribalPeoplesinIndependentCountries–MongoliaandRussiaarenotparties.45

v 1991ConventiononEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentinaTransboundaryContext–

RussiasignedbutdidnotratifytheConvention;Mongoliaisnotaparty.

v 1992ConventionontheProtectionandUseofTransboundaryWatercoursesandInternationalLakes–Russiaisaparty;Mongoliaisnot.

v 1993UNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange–MongoliaandRussiaarebothparties.

v 1997UNConventiononWetlands(RamsarConvention)–MongoliaandRussiaareparties.

v 1997ConventionontheLawoftheNon-navigationalUsesofInternationalWatercourses–MongoliaandRussiaarenotparties.

45AccordingtoaUnitedNation’sfactsheeton“UnderstandingInternationalLaw,”“Tobecomepartytoatreaty,aStatemustexpress,throughaconcreteact,itswillingnesstoundertakethelegalrightsandobligationscontainedinthetreaty–itmust‘consenttobebound’bythetreaty.”Itcandothisinvariousways,definedbythetermsoftherelevanttreaty.https://treaties.un.org/doc/source/events/2008/Press_kit/fact_sheet_5_english.pdf

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v 1998AarhusConventiononAccesstoInformation,PublicParticipationandAccesstoJustice–MongoliaandRussiaarenotparties.

Theseinternationalnorms,protocols,andbestpracticesmightbeinstructiveasvariousinitiativesinthetransboundarybasinmoveforward.

1995–Mongolia’slegislatureenactstheLawonWatertoregulatetheprotection,effectiveuse,andrestorationofwater.Italsofocusesoncapacity-buildinginthewatersectorandthedecentralizationofwatermanagement.

2008–IntegratedWaterManagementModelontheSelengeRiverBasin:StatusSurveyandInvestigation.46Aninternationalteamofexperts,ledbytheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgrammeandincludingrepresentativesfromMongoliaandRussia,completedathree-yearstudyoftheSelengeRiverBasin.“Theoverallobjectiveofthisproject[was]toprovidepolicymakersandstakeholderswithanintegratedwatermanagementsystemfortheSelengeRiverBasin.About60scientistsandeconomistswithwidelyvaryingbackgroundsparticipatedinthisprojectforaperiodof3.5years(2006-2010).It[consisted]ofthreephases:1.StatusSurvey,2.BasinAssessmentandIntegratedAnalysis,and3.ModelDevelopmentandApplication.Thepreliminarystudywasperformedtocollectdataandinformationofexistingstudies,beforethefirstphasewaslaunchedcontainingsocio-economicstudy,waterresourcesstudy,andwaterqualitystudy.Thisreportincludesthepreliminarystudyandthefirstphase.”

2009–Theso-called“LawwithLongName”wasdesigned“toprohibitmineralexplorationandminingoperationsatheadwatersofrivers,waterprotectionzonesandforestedareas.”Itwas[apparently]draftedandpromotedbyrepresentativesoflocalcommunitiesaffectedbygoldminingtoprotectheadwatersandreduceconflictsbetweenminersandindigenouscommunitiesofherders.47Oncethelawwaspassed,theUnitedMovementsforMongolianRiversandLakes(UMMRL)cooperatedwiththegovernmentandhelpedtodelineateactualprotectionzonesandnegotiatethemwithlocalpopulations.Apparently,afteroppositionbyinternationalminingcompanies,thelawwasamendedtoreducetheheadwatersprotectionzoneto50metersforstrictlyprotectedareasand200metersforgeneralprotection.Thisreductionlimitsthecapacitytoprotectheadwaters.Severalotherattemptsweremadetoamendthelegislationanditremainsonthebooks.2011–CommunityBasedConservationofBiologicalDiversityintheMountainLandscapesofMongolia’sAltai-SayanEco-Region.Theintentofthisreport,publishedbytheMongolianMinistryofNatureandEnvironment,istopromoteconservationandsustainablelivelihoodsintheMongolianpartoftheAltaiandSayaneco-region.Amongotherthings,thefinalreportrecommendscommunity-basedinitiativesandatransboundaryconservationplanfortheregion.

46YuriMun,etal.,IntegratedWaterManagementModelontheSelengeRiverBasin:StatusSurveyandInvestigation:Phase1(KoreaEnvironmentInstitute2008).47EugeneSimonov,“ProtectMongolianRiversfromMining,”InternationalRivers(November20,2013)https://www.internationalrivers.org/blogs/227/protect-mongolian-rivers-from-mining

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2011–UlaanTaigaSpecialProtectedAreaestablishedattheheadwatersoftheSelengeRiver.TheUlaanTaigaSpecialProtectedAreaisa“sisterpark”withYosemiteNationalParkintheUnitedStates.482014–SustainableWaterManagementinSelenga-BaikalBasin.ResearchersatMoscowStateUniversityandHelmholtzCentreforEnvironmentalResearch,Magdeburg,Germany,producedthisshortpublicationadvocatingforintegratedwaterresourcesdevelopmentinthebasin.2015–From2011through2015,theGlobalEnvironmentFacilityfundedIntegratedNaturalResourceManagementintheBaikalBasinTransboundaryEcosystem.49Theobjectiveofthisprojectwas“TospearheadintegratednaturalresourcemanagementofBaikalLakeBasinandHövsgölLakeensuringecosystemresilience,reducedwaterqualitythreatsinthecontextofsustainableeconomicdevelopment.”Thestrategywastoapplyanintegratedwaterresourcesmanagement(IWRM)approachtoaddresstherangeofthreatsandbarrierstotheBaikalBasinwatershedandtoproducethreeprimaryoutcomes:(1)astrategicpolicyandplanningframeworkdevelopedandadoptedbystakeholders;(2)institutionalsupporttostrengthenIWRM;and(3)demonstratemethodsandapproachestoprotectwaterqualityandbiodiversity.Theachievementsoftheprojectduring2012,2013,and2014arepresentedinGEF,IntegratedNaturalResourceManagementintheBaikalBasinTransboundaryEcosystem:TheRussianFederationandMongolia2012/2015Results&Events(undatedpublication). 2016–TheNatureConservancy–MongoliaconvenedaworkshopintheDelgermoronwatershedwithherders,businessleaders,tourismoperators,andgovernmentofficialstodiscussthebenefitsandchallengesofprotectingtaimenandthewatershedwhilehelpingherdersgainfinancialbenefitfromvisitorsthatcometotheDelgertofish.50AccordingtoTNC,localherdersareeagerforinformation,andcommunitiesagreedthatlearningaboutwatershedmanagement,endangeredspeciesprotection,andeconomiclivelihoodsisveryuseful.TheparticipantsagreedthatprotectingtaimenandtheirhabitatgeneratessocialandeconomicbenefitsforthecommunitiesalongtheDelgerRiverandareeagertoworktogethertoachievethesemultipleobjectives.

TNCexplainsthatthisisoneofthreepilotprojectstheyaresponsoringandisbasedatleastinpartontheMongoliaEnvironmentalProtectionlaw,whichencouragesco-management

48https://mn.usembassy.gov/united-states-mongolia-establish-sister-national-parks/49GEFAgency:UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,IntegratedNaturalResourceManagementintheBaikalBasinTransboundaryEcosystem(GEFProjectID:4029,UNDPPIMS:4347;UNDPAtlasProjectID:00076781,Mid-termEvaluationReport,April5,2014).ThisprojectwascompletedinpartnershipwiththeFederalMinistryofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment,RussianFederationandMinistryofEnvironmentandGreenDevelopment,Mongolia.SeealsoTheBaikalProjectPCU,LakeBaikalBasinStrategicActionProgramme(DraftJune2014).50TuguldurEnkhtsetseg,“PartnersJointoProtectMongolia’sRiverWolves,”ConservancyTalk(October3,2016).

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ofnaturalresourcesbycommunity-basedorganizations(CBOs).51ItisalsobasedonElinorOstrom’sframeworkforsustainingsocio-ecologicalsystems.52TheWildlifeConservationSocietybelievesthatinterestinCBOsandcommunity-basedapproachestonaturalresourcesmanagementwasgivenaboostbyamendmentsin2004totheMongoliaEnvironmentalProtectionlaw,aswellasOrder#114fromtheMinisterofEnvironment(April2006).Takentogether,thesepoliciesdelegateresponsibilitytocommunitiesto“protect”wildlifeandothernaturalresources;providealegalrighttomanagewildlifeandothernaturalresources;andallowscommunitiestoownwildlifeandothernaturalresourcesinsomecases.2018–BaikalHeadwatersExpedition–Duringthesummerandfallof2018,ateamofMongolian,Russian,andAmericanscientiststraveledfromtheheadwatersoftheDelgermoronRivertoLakeBaikal.Theprimarypurposeoftheexpeditionwasto:(1)gatherbaselinedataonaquaticfauna,includinginvertebratesandfish;(2)continuethecollectionofwater-qualitydatabegunbyotherresearchers;and(3)raiseawarenessoftheriver’sintrinsicvalueatboththelocalandgloballevels.IUCNred-listspeciesknowntooccurintheupperdrainageincludeArcticwhitefish(Coregonuspidschian)andtaimen(Huchotaimen).Formoreinformation,seehttps://www.baikalheadwaters.org/

51ForanexcellentreviewofspecificprovisionsofMongolianenvironmentallawrelatedtorightsandobligationsofcommunitiesandlocalgovernmentsandresidents,seeWildlifeConservationSociety,WorkshopProceedings,CommunityBasinWildlifeConservationinMongolia:Successes&LessonsLearned(April2008).52ElinorOstrom,“AGeneralFrameworkforAnalyzingSustainabilityofSocial-EcologicalSystems,”Science325(2009):419-422.

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5. KeyIssues&ConcernsBasedontheinterviewscompletedtodate,aswellasareviewofrelevantdocumentsandliterature,severalkeyissuesandconcernsemergewithrespecttotheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin.a) MongoliaandRussiadonotagreeonhowtoeffectivelybalancedevelopment

andconservationinterestsinthetransboundarybasin.

MongoliaandRussiaseemtoshareacommoncommitmenttodevelopnaturalresourcesinanenvironmentallyresponsibleway.However,thetwocountriesdisagreeoverhowtoeffectivelyproceedwithresponsibledevelopmentofwaterresourcesintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin.TheMongoliangovernmentbelievesthatthesituationsurroundingtheproposedhydropowerplantsisfundamentallyaninternalissue.AccordingtoPrimeMinisterU.KhurelsukhandhisCabinet,Mongoliadesirestobecomemoreself-sufficientandself-reliantwhenitcomestosecuringitsownfood,energy,andfuel.53MongoliaiscurrentlycompletelydependentonRussiaforfuelandpartiallydependentforenergy.TheEgiinGolproject,ifcompleted,wouldhelpMongoliareducepaymentstothefederalgovernmentofRussia,whichannuallyearnsabout$24millionbyexportingenergytoMongolia.Mongolia’sannual700MWofpowergenerationfallsshortofdemandbyabout200MWduringwinter.54TheproposedEgiinGolprojectwouldhelpoffsetthispeakwinterdemand.Theproposedhydropowerprojectswouldnotonlyprovidemuchneededenergy,butalsowaterforhumanconsumption,agriculture,andmining.55IncontrasttoMongolia’sinterestsandviewpoint,RussiahasrepeatedlyexpressedconcernaboutthepotentialenvironmentalimpactoftheproposedhydropowerplantsonriversthatfeedintoLakeBaikal.56Moreover,RussiaalsowantstocontinuesellingelectricitytoMongolia.AccordingtotheUBPost(February12,2018),theRussianEnergyMinistryhasofferedtheMongolianGovernmentalternativeenergysuppliestomeettheamountofelectricitygeneratedbythethreeproposeddamsintheSelengeRiverbasin.Theproposedagreementisalong-termcontractforgreatervolumesofenergyatacost3.5timeslowerthantheexpectedpriceofpowerfromtheproposedhydropowerplants.AtleastafewpeoplesuggestthatthisisRussia’sattempttocompensateMongoliaforthelostbenefitsasatrade-offtoprotectingLakeBaikal. 53“RussiaFinalizesDraftAgreementtoAvoidConstructionofMongolianHydropowerPlants,”UBPost(February12,2018).54https://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2016/06/us-1-billion-proposed-315-mw-egiin-hydroelectric-project-in-mongolia-on-hold.html55Duetoalackoftime,wehavenotyetclarifiedwheretheelectricalpowergeneratedbythesefacilitieswillbeused.SomepeoplehavesuggestedthattheelectricitywillbeusedtooffsettheuseofcoalinUlaanbaatar,andtherebydecreaseairpollution.OtherpeoplehaveexplainedthatthesedamswillsupplywaterandelectricitytotheminingactivitiesintheGobiDesert.56“ShurenandOrkhonHydroelectricPowerPlantInvestmentSuspended,”UBPost(May18,2016).

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WhilemostpeopleinMongoliasupporttheproposeddamsandrelatedinfrastructureprojects,otherpeoplearguethatRussiacanprovideelectricitymorecheaplyandwithoutimpactingthequalityofLakeBaikal.GivenMongolia’sexpressedinterestindevelopingmoreindependent,secure,andsustainablesourcesofenergy,somepeopleraisethequestionofwhethertheMongolianGovernmenthasarticulatedacomprehensiverenewableenergypolicythatwouldincludewindandsolarenergyalongwithhydropower.57Thegoalhere,accordingtosomepeople,shouldbetodeveloparobustvisionandanefficientmeanstosatisfyenergyandwaterdemandswhileprotectingandrestoringecosystemservicesandbiodiversityvalues.Inthefinalanalysis,severalpeoplepointoutthatanyattempttoengageMongoliaandRussiainsometypeoftransboundarycollaborativeprocesstoreachagreementonconservationanddevelopmentgoalsiscomplicatedbythehistoryandgeopoliticsbetweenthetwocountries.Thatsaid,manypeoplealsosuggestthattheexistingtransboundarycommissionbetweenMongoliaandRussiamaybeaforumtodiscussandresolvesomeoralloftheseissues–andinanycasedemonstratesthetwocountries’commitmenttoworkingtogetherwhenitcomestosharednaturalresources.However,itisunclearwhatrolethecommissionisplayinginthedecision-makingprocess.AtleastonepersonexplainedthattheremaybeasmanyasfourorfiveparalleldiplomaticforumsbetweenMongoliaandRussiafocusedonenergy,environment,water,andsocio-economicissues.AfewpeoplesuggestedthatitwouldbeusefultoreviewtherolesandresponsibilitiesofsimilartransboundarycommissionsaroundtheworldandusethatinformationtosharpenandrefinetheroleofthetransboundarycommissionbetweenMongoliaandRussia.

b) Thecommitmenttodevelopabasin-wide/transboundaryapproachtothejoint

useofwaterresourcesbyMongoliaandRussiaisatbestnascentandemerging.

Asexplainedearlierinthisreport,representativesfromcommunitiesinMongoliaandRussiaaskedtheWorldBankin2015tocriticallyexaminetheplanningprocessfortheMINISstudies.Afternearlytwoyearsofconsultationsandevaluations,theWorldBank’sInspectionPanelconcludedin2017thattheMINISprojectwasontherighttracktoaddresstransboundaryissues,meaningfullyengagestakeholdersinMongoliaandRussia,consideralternativestotheproposedprojects,andconductregionalandcumulativeimpactassessments.

Aboutthesametimein2017,Mongolia’sForeignMinisterTs.Munkh-OrgilissuedastatementthatMongoliadiscussedwithRussiatheproposeddamsontheEgandSelengeRiversandagreedtoconductajointstudytodetermineiftheprojectswilladverselyimpacttheLakeBaikalecosystem.Sincethen,boththeEgRiverHPPandMINISprojectteamshavepublished“termsofreference”or“requestsforproposals”tocomplete(1)atransboundaryassessmentofthepotentialimpactstobiodiversityfromtheEgRiverHPP

57SeeAnmarFrangoul,“MillionsinFundingAnnouncedforRenewableEnergyProjectinMongolia,”CNBC(Nov.2,2018).https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/02/millions-in-funding-announced-for-renewable-energy-in-mongolia.html

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project;and(2)aregional,transboundaryenvironmentalimpactassessmentassociatedwiththeproposedShurenDamontheSelengeRiver.

Accordingtomanyobservers,theseactionsdemonstrateMongolia’sgrowinginterestandcommitmentto“thinkandactlikeatransboundarybasin.”Itappearstobeastepintherightdirection,butitisnotyetclearhowthetwoprocesseswillengagediversestakeholdersinthescientificandtechnicalprocess,and/orhowtheprojectteamswilladdressthevalue-questionsrelatedtohowthebasinshouldbemanaged.Itisalsonotclearwhethertheremightbesomevalueinthetwoprojectteamscomingtogethertoconducta“jointfactfinding”processgiventhattheyarefocusedonthesamegeography.

Itisalsounclearatthetimeofthiswritingwhetherthecommitmentbythetwoprojectteamstocompletebasin-widescientificandtechnicalassessmentswilltranslateintoajointwatermanagementplanforthetransboundarybasin.Finally,itisunclearwhatRussia’sinterestandinvolvementisineitheroneoftheongoingbasin-wideassessments,aswellastheircommitmenttopreparingandimplementingajointwatermanagementplanfortheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin.Apparently,Russiahasalreadycompletedan“integratedwaterresourcesmanagement”(IWRM)planfortheportionoftheSelengeRiverbasininRussia,buttheseplansdonotincorporatetheportionofthebasininMongolia.58Assumingthisiscorrect,thismaybeausefulbuildingblocktowardajointIWRMplanforthetransboundarybasin.c) Decision-makers,experts,andstakeholdersdisagreeonthelikelysocialand

ecologicalimpactstotheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasinfromtheproposedwaterdevelopmentprojects.

Likemanynaturalresourceandenvironmentalissues,theproposedwaterdevelopmentprojectsintheSelengeRiverbasinarefraughtwithdisputesoverscientificandtechnicalinformation.Asexplainedmorefullybelow,thesedisputesrevolvearoundalackofinformation,misinformation,differentviewsonwhatinformationisimportant,differentproceduresforassessingdata,anddifferentinterpretationsofexistingdata.Asageneralobservation,thereseemstobemoreagreementonthelikelyhydrologicalimpactsfromtheproposedprojects,andlessagreementonthelikelysocialandecologicalimpacts.Therealsoseemstobefundamentaldisagreementonhowbesttomitigatethelikelysocialandecologicalimpactsduringtheprocessofbuildingdams,fillingreservoirs,andoperatingthesystem.SomepeoplecommentedthatthereismoreagreementamongthescientificcommunityonthepotentialimpactsoftheproposedHPPprojects,andthatthisdisagreementrevolvesaroundvalue-basedjudgmentsabouttheimportanceoftheimpactsrelativetothebenefitsoftheprojects.59 58LeadersoftheBaikalHeadwatersExpeditionmetwithRussianscientistsinOctober2018.Thescientistsexplainedthatacomprehensivemulti-yearecologicalassessmentoftheSelengeRiverinRussiahadbeencompletedandwasunderreviewbythenationalgovernment.59Althoughwehavenothadtimetolearnmoreabouttheirwork,atleastonepersonexplainedthattheMongoliaandRussianacademiesofscienceconductannualfieldworkinthetransboundarybasinandhavepublishedseveralmonographsonthebasinsince2009.

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Basedontheinterviews,thescientificandtechnicaldisputesrevolvearoundfourorganizingthemes–impactstoLakeBaikal,impactstotaimen,impactstocommunitiesandlocalpeople,andlackofcoordinationamongexperts.

• ImpactonLakeBaikal

Severalconservationorganizations,aswellasIUCNandtheWorldBank,haveraisedquestionsaboutthepotentialimpactoftheproposedprojectsonthehydrologicalflowandwaterlevelsintheSelengeDeltaandLakeBaikal–andthustheimpactontheecologicalhealthoftheseecosystems(specificallyonsturgeonandomulpopulations).

Accordingtoseverallocalandinternationalreportsin2015,buildingtheprojectontheEgRivercouldadverselyaffectLakeBaikal.60Reportsindicatedthatthelakewasatitslowestlevelin100yearsin2017andanyhydropowerprojectbuiltupstreamcouldfurtherreducethewaterlevel.Ayearlater,thatlevelrosebymorethanameter.61Bycontrast,theEgRiverHPPProjectTeamconcludedthat,whilethereservoirbehindthedamisfilling,itwillreducethevolumeofwaterflowingintoLakeBaikalbylessthanonepercent,andthatoncethereservoirisfull(mostlikely2-3yearsdependingonhydrologicconditions),thedamwouldbeoperatedtomimicnaturalflowsintheSelengeRiver.ThustherewouldbenoimpactonthestreamflowintoLakeBaikalasaresultoftheHPP.62

Inadditiontotheimpactsoftheproposedwaterdevelopmentprojects,RussiaandothersareconcernedabouttheimpactsoflivestockgrazingintheSelengeRiverbasinonthewaterqualityofLakeBaikal.Ironically,accordingtosomepeople,thereismorepollutioncomingfromtheRussiansideoftheSelengeRiverduetopaperproducingfactoriesandthelike;ontheMongoliaside,theprimaryimpactisfromdomesticatedanimalsandmining(whichreallytookoffinthe1990s).

• ImpactonTaimenandFreshwaterEcosystemsSeveralindividualsandorganizationsareconcernedaboutthelikelyimpactoftheproposedwaterdevelopmentprojectsontaimenandfreshwaterecosystemsintheSelengeRiverbasin.Accordingtooneobserver,“thedisappearanceofthelargestspecies(infreshwaterecosystems)isoneofthefirstwarningsignsofover-harvestandbiodiversitydecline…conversely,areboundinpopulationsofthelargestspeciesmayindicateanimprovementoftheoverallhealthoftheecosystem.”63

60InternationalUnionfortheConservationofNature(IUCN),ReactiveMonitoringMissiontoMongoliaConcerningtheWorldHeritagePropertyofLakeBaikal(RussianFederation)13-17April2015.61https://1baikal.ru/en/soxranim-bajkal/bajkal-pod-oxranoj/the-level-of-water-in-baikal-from-one-extreme-to-the-other62Personalcommunication,August2018.SeealsoTractebelEngineering,EgiinGoliinHydroPowerPlantProject:Introduction(undatedpublication):12.63JamesOwen,“CanAnglingSaveWorld’sLargestSalmon?”NationalGeographicNews(August19,2004).

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AccordingtoTheNatureConservancy–Mongolia,taimenpopulationsinMongoliahavedeclinedbyatleast50%since1985.64Thespecieswillbeincreasinglyvulnerableasmining,overgrazing,andfishingbecomemorecommonthroughouttheirrange,pollutingwateranddepletingfishstocks.Taimenneedlargestretchesofpristinewatertosurvive.Theymaytravelmorethan100kilometers(60-plusmiles)inacalendaryear.Thatsaid,severalpeoplecommentedthatthereisagenerallackofinformationonthehistoricrangeoftaimen;asrecentlyasthenineteenthcentury,taimenwereknowntooccurthroughouttheSelengeRiverbasin.Overthepastfewdecades,theyappeartohavevanishedfromsometributariesaswellastheSelengeDeltaregion.Atleastonepersoncommentedthatthisimpressioncontradictsreadilyavailablescientificinformationonthedistributionoftaimen.Expertsalsodisagreeonhowbesttomitigatethelikelyimpactstotaimen.InthecaseoftheEgRiverHPP,thecurrentproposalistousealiftingstructuretocapturetaimen,thenputthemintrucksandtransportthemaroundthedam.Somescientistsquestiontheefficacyofthisapproach,includingwhethertaimenwillevenenterliftingstructures.Somealsoquestionwhetherinterruptingstretchesoffree-flowingriverswithslackwaterwillnegativelyimpactthemigrationpatternsoftaimen,whichneedclean,cool,flowingwater.Theslackwaterinreservoirsmayalsoprovidehabitatforspeciesthatcompetewithtaimen.Althoughtheimpactsoftheproposedwaterdevelopmentprojectsontaimenmaynotsignificantlyinfluencethefinalanalysisanddecisions,severalpeoplesuggestthatitmaystillbepossibletoinfluencethedesignandoperationoftheproposedhydropowerprojectstominimizeandmitigateimpacts.Thesepeopleadvocateinstallingthebestpossiblefishpassagesystemsandtothenmonitor,evaluate,andadapttheoperationofthehydropowerfacilitiesaccordingly.

• ImpactonLocalCommunities

SeveralpeopleexpressedconcernaboutthepotentialimpactofthewaterdevelopmentprojectsoncommunitieslivingintheSelengeRiverbasinandadjacenttothedeltaandLakeBaikal.RiverswithoutBoundariesclaimsthattheEgandShurenhydropowerplanswillcollectivelydisplaceandresettle800householdsand3000people,destroymuchoftheremainingforestinMongolia,andfloodcroplandandwheatfields.Thelivelihoodsandheritageofotherpeoplewillbelostbythelossofpastureandcropland.Severalpeopleintheconservationcommunityhavealsoexpressedconcernaboutthepotentialimpactofthewaterdevelopmentprojectsontheemergingrecreationeconomyrevolvingaroundflyfishingfortaimen.Althoughimpactassessmentshaveapparentlyassignednoeconomicvaluationtoflyfishingandotheroutdoorrecreationactivities,thisemergingeconomicsectorprovidesjobsforlocalpeopleandrevenueforlocal 64TuguldurEnkhtsetseg,“PartnersJointoProtectMongolia’sRiverWolves,”ConservancyTalk(October3,2016).

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communities.Itisunclearwhatthepotentialimpactofthewaterdevelopmentprojectswouldbeontheseeconomicopportunities.

• LackofCoordinationAmongExperts

SeveralpeoplecommentedthatthereisahugeneedtobettercoordinatescientificandtechnicalstudiesintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikalbasin.Theysuggestthatthisstepcouldgoalongwaytowardclarifyingwhatweknow,whatwedon'tknow,andwhatweneedtoknowtomakeinformeddecisionsaboutwatermanagementinthebasin.

Accordingtosomeinterviewees,therewereseveraleffectivebinationalscientificexpeditionsbetweenMongoliaandRussiainthe1960sand1970s.Apparently,duelargelytoalackoffunding,therehavebeenveryfew(ifany)government-ledscientificexpeditionssincethen.Today,thereareseveralongoingscientificandtechnicaleffortsthatappeartobeoperatingparalleltoeachother:

v MINISregionalenvironmentalassessmentv EgRiverbiodiversityassessmentv 2018BaikalHeadwatersExpeditionv TheTaimenFundandTaimenConservationFundv Severaluniversity-basedresearchefforts,includingfacultyinMongolia,USA,and

GermanySomepeoplequestionthemotivesofsomeoftheseefforts,assertingthattheyaredrivenbypredeterminedoutcomesratherthanamoreobjectivesearchforscientificandtechnicalfacts.Inanycase,thereseemstobeanumberofongoingstudiesoccurringindependentofeachotherwithnocomprehensiveforumforexpertstoshareinformationandlearnfromoneanother.65Asexplainedmorefullyinthenextsectionofthisreport,manypeoplesuggestedthatitmightbeusefultoconveneaprofessionallyfacilitatedjointfact-findingconferencetoexchangeinformation,clarifywhatweknowanddon'tknow,identifywhatweneedtoknowinordertomakeinformeddecisions,andtootherwisedeveloparesearchagendagoingforward–andthentomonitor,evaluate,andadaptmanagementstrategiesaccordingly.Inthefinalanalysis,manypeopleconcludedthatitisimportanttoclarifythescientificandtechnicalimplicationsoftheproposedwaterdevelopmentprojects.However,theywentontoexplainthatabetterunderstandingofthefactsisnotasubstituteforwhatisinessencea 65However,seethecallforpresentationsforBringingTogetherSelenga-BaikalResearchInternationalConferenceandWorkshop,31August–2September2018,convenedinNalaikh,justoutsideUlaanbaatar,Mongolia.Anannouncementabouttheconferenceandworkshopexplainsthat“Since2012,scientistsworkingonwater-relatedissuesonLakeBaikalandintheSelengaRiverBasinhavebeenmeetingregularlyinordertoexchangetheirfindings,networkwithcolleaguesfromaroundtheworld,andjointlydiscussnewresearchideasandpartnerships.”https://www.atm.helsinki.fi/peex/images/BTSBR_2018_First_circular_lowres.pdf

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valuequestion–whatistheappropriatebalanceofconservationanddevelopmentintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin?d) AlthoughtheMINISandEgRiverHPPprojectteamsregularlyprovidepublic

informationandconsultthepublic,severalpeoplebelievethatthepublicparticipationprocesscouldbemorerobustandmeaningful.

Manypeoplehighlightedtheneedformoreandbetterpublicengagementinthedecision-makingprocessesrelatedtotheproposedwaterdevelopmentprojects.Atleastoneprominentnon-governmentorganizationexplainedthat“meaningful,inclusivepublicparticipationisthekeyissueinthisprocess.”Morespecifically,severalpeople–includingtheprojectteams–commentedonthechallengeofinformingandeducatingruralpeopleinMongolia,aswellasseekingtheirinputandadvice.66Theprojectteamsaresearchingforcreativewaystoinformandengageruralpeoplethroughoutthesocialandenvironmentalreviewprocesses.AstheMINISregionalenvironmentalassessmentmovesforward,theprojectteamiscommittedtofollowingtheWorldBank’sguidelinesonpublicparticipationasoneoftheconditionsofthebank’sfundingfortheREA.67Somepeoplealsoexpressedaconcernthatinadequateandinaccurateinformationisoftendistributedtouninformedcitizens.

e) Manyconservationanddevelopmentactivitieswithinthetransboundarybasin

seemtobefragmentedanddisconnectedfromoneanother.Asdemonstratedbythebrief(andpotentiallyincomplete)reviewofotherconservationanddevelopmentinitiativesinthetransboundarybasin,thereisawide-ranginginterestandcommitmenttoaddressamixofconservationanddevelopmentgoals,aspirations,andchallengesinthebasin.However,severalpeoplecommentedthatthesevariousinitiativesarefragmentedanddisconnectedfromoneanother.Peopleworkingonland,water,and/orcommunityissuesmaybeunawareofwhatotherpeoplearedoingtoaddressrelatedissues.Likewise,peopleworkingatonegeographicscale(e.g.,locally)maynotfullyunderstandandappreciatewhatotherpeoplearedoingatregionaland/ortransboundaryscales–andviceversa.Severalpeoplecommentedthattheremaybevalueinbuildingacommonunderstandingofwhoisdoingwhat,identifyinggaps,andexploringopportunitiestoworktogether.

66TheBaikalHeadwatersExpeditionalsostruggledwiththiswhileadministeringasurveyfortheTaimenFundinsummerandfall2018.Theprojectleaderexplainedthatitwasrelativelysimpletoovercometheobstacleofilliteracybyreadingthesurveyquestionsaloudandrecordingtheresponses.Itwasmoredifficult,however,toexplaintheideaofasurvey,andhowpeople’sresponseswouldbeused.67SeetheMINISPublicConsultationprocessathttp://minis.mn/en/p/consultation.SeealsotheMINISGrievanceResolutionMechanismathttp://minis.mn/en/p/grievance-resolution-mechanism.

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f) InternationalandOtherExternalForcesInadditiontospecificissuesandconcernsabouttheproposedwaterdevelopmentprojects,severalpeopleofferedcommentsandobservationsabouttheroleofinternationalandotherexternalforcesinfluencingconservationanddevelopmentinthetransboundarybasin.

v Changeinpoliticalleadership.Anumberofpeopleexplainedthat,whiletheinevitabilityofelectionsandfrequentchangeinpoliticalleadershipsmaysignalahealthy,emergingdemocracy,ittakestimeforprojectstaffandotherstoinformandeducatenewleadersaboutthepurpose,cost,impacts,andothervariablesassociatedwiththeproposedprojects.Inadditiontodelayingfeasibilityandimpactassessmentstudies,achangeinpoliticalleadershipmayalsoinfluencethepriorityoftheproposedprojectsrelativetootherprioritiesofthenewadministration.68

v TheSecondEnergySectorProject,approvedbytheWorldBankin2017,willcontribute$54.4millioninfinancingsupporttoMongolia’seffortstoimprovethereliabilityandsustainabilityofelectricityservices.Itwilladdresskeybottlenecksinselectelectricitydistributioncompaniesbyupgradingagingassetsandexpandingdistributioncapacity.Theprojectwillalsosupportthedevelopmentofsolarpower.69

v TheStrategyforNortheastAsiaPowerSystemInterconnectionProject,fundedby

theAsianDevelopmentBank,isdesignedtocompleteacomprehensiveanalysisofthefeasibilityofharnessingMongolia’svastenergyresourcestomeetthepowerdemandsofitsmoreprosperousneighborsthroughpowerexports.Intheabsenceofaninterconnectedpowersystem,Mongolialacksaccesstolargeneighboringmarkets(hometosomeoftheworld'slargestandmostprosperouseconomies),andthustoinvestmentinitsenergyresourcesandpowersystemdevelopment.70

68Accordingtohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Mongolia,anewPresidentwaselectedinMongoliain2017afterPresidentTsakhiagiinElbegdorjservedtwofour-yeartermsbeginningin2009.69TheWorldBank,“Mongolia:NewProjecttoDeliverReliableElectricityandScale-upRenewables,”(June15,2017).http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/06/15/mongolia-new-project-to-deliver-reliable-electricity-and-scale-up-renewables70AsianDevelopmentBank,Mongolia:StrategyforNortheastAsiaPowerSystemInterconnectionProjectNumber:48030-001,PolicyandAdvisoryTechnicalAssistance(PATA)November2015.https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-document/177256/48030-001-tar.pdf

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6. OptionsMovingForwardThefollowingoptionsaredesignedtoaddressoneormoreoftheissuesandconcernspresentedabove.Theseoptionsemergedfrominterviewsandarereinforcedbybestpracticesfortransboundarycollaborationfromaroundtheworld.71Theoptionsarenumberedforeaseofreference.Thenumbersdonotindicateanyorderofpriority,noraretheoptionsmutuallyexclusive.Itmaymakesensetopursuetwoormoreoptionssimultaneously.Asapracticalmatter,mostifnotalloftheseoptionswouldbemosteffectiveifcatalyzedandconvenedbyorganizationsbasedinMongoliaand/orRussia,inpartnershipwithrecognizedexperts.72

a) Option#1–Enhancethecapacityofexistinginstitutionstodesignandfacilitateeffectivetransboundarycollaborativeprocesses.

Theprimarygovernmentinstitutionsresponsibleforcompletingfeasibilitystudiesandimpactassessmentsfortheproposeddamsandrelatedprojects–i.e.,theMINISandEgRiverHPPprojectteams,andthetransboundarycommission–appeartohavesufficientscientific,technical,andprojectmanagementexpertise.Moreover,theyseemcommittedtomanagingwaterandrelatedresourcesasefficientlyandeffectivelyaspossible.However,likemanyinstitutionsaddressingtransboundarynaturalresourceissuesaroundtheworld,theinstitutionsresponsiblefortheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasincouldmovetheirrespectiveprojectsforwardandbalancetheinterestsofstakeholdersbyenhancingtheircapacitytointegratediverseneeds,interests,visions,andcultures73.Throughouttheworld,thereisagrowingrecognitionthatthemosteffectivewaytoachievethisobjectiveandtopromotelivablecommunities,vibranteconomies,andhealthy

71Forinformationonbestpracticesfortransboundarywatermanagement,seeASacredResponsibility:GoverningtheUseofWaterandRelatedResourcesintheInternationalColumbiaRiverBasinthroughthePrismofTribesandFirstNations(UniversitiesConsortiumonColumbiaRiverGovernance2015)http://naturalresourcespolicy.org/projects/columbia-river-basin.php;forinformationonbestpracticesfortransboundaryconservation,seeTransboundaryConservation:ASystematicandIntegratedApproach(InternationalUnionfortheConservationofNature2015)andHandsAcrossBorders:AnInternationalWorkshoponTransboundaryConservation(2016)http://naturalresourcespolicy.org/projects/transboundary-conservation.php.72Theauthorsmaintainanextensivenetworkofindividualsandorganizationsworkingontransboundarywaterandconservation,includingtheWorldWaterCouncil,GlobalWaterPartnership,andtheIUCNTransboundaryConservationSpecialistGroup.73TheMongolianLawonConsultationPolls,whichwasadoptedbyParliamentin2017,encouragesgovernmentministriestoinformandeducatecitizensonthemostpressingissuesfacingMongolia,toseektheirinputandadviceonhowtoaddresssuchissues,andtoinvolvecitizensindecision-making.SeeB.Ooluun,“Newlawonconsultativepolltoempowercitizens,”Montsame(Feb.9,2017).

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landscapesistodesignandfacilitatepublicprocessesthatareinclusive,informed,anddeliberative.74

• Inclusiveparticipationmeansthataneffortismadetomeaningfullyengageallviewpointsandinterests,includingcitizens,organizedinterestgroups,andlocalandnationalstakeholders.Italsosuggeststhatparticipantsareempoweredbythepresumptionthattheirinputandadvicewillbeconsideredbythedecisionmakersandwillinfluencetheoutcome.

• Aninformedprocessisonewherethereisanequalopportunitytoshareviewsandinformation.Theprocessfostersmutuallearning,commonunderstanding,andconsiderationofavarietyofoptions.Itenablesparticipantstojointlydevelopandrelyonthebestavailableinformation,regardlessofthesource.

• Deliberativedialogueoccurswhenpeoplelistentoeachother,considertherationaleorreasonforcompetingviewpoints(theintereststhatunderliethepositions),andseeksolutionsthatintegrateasmanyinterestsaspossible.

Experiencearoundtheworlddemonstratesthatthisprincipledapproachtoenvironmentaldecision-makingresultsindecisionsthatreceivebroadpublicsupport;savestimeandmoneywhencomparedtolobbying,litigation,andotherwaysofshapingpublicpolicyorresolvingpublicdisputes;providesthemostdirectandmeaningfulformofpublicparticipation;effectivelyintegratessocialandpoliticalvalueswithscientificandtechnicalconsiderations;andmakesimplementationeasierbecausethestakeholdershavehelpedshapetheproposeddecision.ThereareseveralwaysfortheMINISandEgRiverHPPprojectteams,aswellasthetransboundarycommission,toenhancetheircapacitytodesignandfacilitatetransboundarycollaborativeprocesses.First,anindividualororganizationwithexperienceintransboundarycollaborationanddecision-makingcouldprovideanon-siteworkshop.Amongotherthings,suchacapacitybuildingworkshopcouldreviewanddiscussinternationalbestpracticesfortransboundarycollaborativeproblem-solvingandnaturalresourcesdiplomacy.75 74Theremayalsobevalueinidentifying,documenting,andsharingcasestudiesinMongoliawherethishashappened.ThesecasestudiesmaycomplementtheemergingliteratureondemocracyandpublicparticipationinMongolia.Forstarters,seePhilippeLong,“Mongolia:IncreasingCitizenParticipationinLocalDecision-Making(TheAsiaFoundation,November7,2018);ErdenetsetsegDivaaandMariaOnestini,StrengtheningEnvironmentalGovernanceinMongolia:PhaseII(UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme2014);O.Khatanbold,“TheCurrentStateofDemocracyandDemocraticGovernanceinMongolia,”TheMongolianJournalofInternationalAfffairs(2013);andUyangaSambuu,etal.,“e-GovernanceInitiativesinMongolia,”Proceedingsofthe2ndInternationalConferenceonTheoryandPracticeofElectronicGovernance(Cairo,Egypt,December1-4,2008).75Theframeworkforwaterandnaturalresourcesdiplomacyincludes(1)politicaldimensions,suchasvoice(i.e.,whospeakforwhichinterests?),back-tablepressure,timeframe,uncertainty,andcoalitions;and(2)culturaldimensions,suchasprevailingassumptionsaboutthe(legalandmoral)rightsofindividualstoacleanandhealthyenvironment;thesignificanceofwaterinsacredpracticesandeverydayrituals;generalattitudestowardtheprospectofscienceandtechnologyproducingsolutionstosocialandenvironmental

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Second,aspartofacapacitybuildingworkshoporseparately,anexperiencedindividualororganizationcouldworkwiththeprojectmanagersinahands-onclinictodesignatransboundarycollaborativeprocesstosatisfytheirparticularmissionsandmandates,aswellasintegraterelevantlegal,institutional,financial,andotherconstraints.Threereal-timeopportunitiesmightbeconsideredalongtheselines:

1. InthecaseoftheMINISproject,explorethefeasibilityofprovidinginputandadviceinthedesignandimplementoftheRegionalEnvironmentalAssessment.Morespecifically,considerthepossibilityofdesigningandfacilitatingsometypeofcollaborativeprocessthatwouldengagestakeholdersintheprocessofcompletingtheREA.

2. InthecaseoftheEgRiverHPPproject,exploretheinterestandfeasibilityofdesigningandfacilitatingajointfact-findingprocesstocompletethebiodiversityassessmenttheprojectmanagersareplanningtocomplete.76Alongtheselines,itmightbevaluabletoexplorethepossibilityofbuildingonworkbegunbythe2018BaikalHeadwatersExpedition,whichconsistedofaninternationalgroupofscientistscollectingbaselinedataonanumberofbiologicalandphysicalassets.Onegoalofthistypeofeffortwouldbetoclarifywhatweknow,don'tknow,andneedtoknowinordertomakeinformeddecisionsonbalancingconservationanddevelopmentinthebasin.

3. TheremaybeinterestinexploringthefeasibilityofconveningajointcollaborativeprocessbetweentheMINISandEgRiverHPPprojectteamsgiventhattheyappeartobedoingcomplementaryworkinthesamegeography.Itmaybepossible,inanexploratoryworkshoporclinic,toexchangeinformation,clarifyobjectivesandmethods,andexploreopportunitiestoworktogether.ThisoptioncouldintentionallylinktheREAandbiodiversityassessment;createamoreintegratedcollaborativeprocesstofulfillmultiple,complementaryobjectives;andenhancescientificandtechnicalunderstandingofthetransboundarybasin.ItmightalsocatalyzethecreationofajointwatermanagementplanbetweenMongoliaandRussia.

Athirdwaytobuildthecapacityofexistinggovernmentinstitutionsfocusesonthetransboundarycommission(andperhapsotherdiplomaticforumsbetweenMongoliaand

problems;theintersectionofindigenousortraditionalknowledgeandwesternscienceandtechnology;andphilosophicalassumptionsaboutfairness,efficiency,andtheresponsibilitiesofgovernment.Formoreinformationonthistopic,seeLawrenceE.Susskind,“ThePoliticalandCulturalDimensionsofWaterDiplomacyintheMiddleEast,”ed.byJeanAxelradCahan,WaterSecurityintheMiddleEast(AnthemPress2017).76SeeRequestforExpressionofInterest,AdditionalImpactStudyoftheEgiinGolHydroPowerPlantProjectonBiodiversityoftheSelengeRiverandLakeBaikal(Ref.No.EGHPP-CS-2018-01).

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Russia.)77BuildingonofficialstatementsfromtheMongoliangovernmentin2017and2018topromoteandsupporttransboundarycollaboration(seeearlierobservationsonpage22),perhapsthereisanopportunitytoinvitethemembersofthecommissiontoacapacity-buildingworkshopfortheMINISandEgRiverHPPprojectteams.Asanalternative,itmayalsomakesensetoprovideashorterexecutiveseminarforthecommission.Whilemanyofthesametopicscouldbecovered,albeitatahigherlevel,thiscommissionmayalsobeinterestedinexploringthemeritsofpromotingandsupportingsomethinglikeaTrackIIprocesstosupplementthemoreformalprocessoftransboundarycollaboration.Tocomplementandsupplementthediplomacythatoccursinsideofficialgovernmentchannels(oftenreferredtoasTrackIdiplomacy),TrackIIdiplomacyconsistsofnon-governmental,informal,andunofficialcontactsandactivitiesamongprivatecitizensorgroupsofindividuals,sometimescalled“non-stateactors.”TrackIIdiplomacyisnotasubstituteforTrackIdiplomacy.Rather,TrackIIdiplomacycanassistofficialactorstomanageandresolveconflictsbydevelopingoptionsandexploringpossiblesolutionswithouttheexpectationsandrequirementsofformalnegotiationviaTrackIdiplomacy.Perhapsthereisanopportunitytobuildontheexistingvision,passion,andcapacityofRiverswithoutBoundaries(RwB),“acollaborativeinternationalnetworkoforganizationsandexpertsdedicatedtopreservingthehealthoftransboundaryriverbasinsinnortheastEurasiathroughjointadvocacyandpromotingbestpracticesinrivermanagement.”78RwBhasanestablishedtrackrecordofprovidingassistanceandsharinginformationamonglocalinitiatives,nationalandinternationalorganizations,anddecision-makingbodies.Amongotherthings,RwBregularlyreviewsandrecommendsamendmentstoregional,national,andinternationalwaterdevelopmentplanswiththeintentofbalancingconservationanddevelopmentinterests.PerhapsthereisanopportunityforRwBandotherindividualsandorganizationsinterestedinaTrackIIprocessintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikalbasintolearnaboutsimilareffortsinothertransboundarybasinsthroughouttheworldandtothenexploreoptionstobuildthecapacityforinclusive,balanced,andinformedTrackIIdiplomacyinthisparticularbasin.

b) Option#2–Buildthecapacityofcommunity-basedinitiativesandconnectthemviaanappropriatenetwork.

AsexplainedintheprevioussectiononKeyIssuesandConcerns,community-basedapproachestonaturalresourcesmanagementinMongoliaweregivenaboostbyamendmentsin2004totheMongoliaEnvironmentalProtectionlaw,aswellasOrder#114fromtheMinisterofEnvironment(April2006).79Takentogether,thesepoliciesdelegate 77TheMongolianGovernment’s88thResolutioncreatedtheIntergovernmentalCommissiononTrade,Economic,ScientificandTechnicalCooperationwithRussianGovernment,alongwithasub-commissiononRegionalandCrossBorderCooperation.https://www.legalinfo.mn/annex/details/7439?lawid=12183.78https://www.transrivers.org/about/79ForanexcellentreviewofspecificprovisionsofMongolianenvironmentallawrelatedtorightsandobligationsofcommunitiesandlocalgovernmentsandresidents,seeWildlifeConservationSociety,WorkshopProceedings,CommunityBasinWildlifeConservationinMongolia:Successes&LessonsLearned(April2008).

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responsibilitytocommunitiesto“protect”wildlifeandothernaturalresources;providealegalrighttomanagewildlifeandothernaturalresources;andallowcommunitiestoownwildlifeandothernaturalresourcesinsomecases.Thislegalauthorityisconsistentwiththetraditionalpracticeofdelegatingdecision-makinganddisputeresolutiontolocalauthoritiesduringthereignofChinggisKhan(seeJackWeatherford,GenghisKhanandtheMakingoftheModernWorld,chapter8).Since2004,therehavebeennumerousinitiativestocatalyze,enable,andbuildthecapacityofCBOs.80IntheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikalbasin,TheNatureConservancyiscurrentlyworkingintheDelgermoronwatershedwithherders,businessleaders,tourismoperators,andgovernmentofficialstodiscussthebenefitsandchallengesofprotectingtaimenandthewatershedwhilehelpingherdersgainfinancialbenefitfromvisitorsthatcometotheDelgertofish.81DuringourfieldtripalongtheDelgerRiverinAugust2018,wemetwithabout10peopleworkingwithTNCthroughoutMongoliatocoordinateandimproveCBOs.Alongtheselines,perhapsthereisanopportunitytoprovideresourcesand/ortrainingonwhatcatalyzes,enables,andsustainscommunity-basedapproachestoconservationanddevelopment,buildingonthecapacity-buildingworkshopsandCBOexperimentsthathavemanifestedsince2004.TheremayalsobevalueinexploringtheideaoflinkingCBOsthroughaninformalnetworkand/oranannualgathering,whereleadersandparticipantscanexchangeinformation,buildrelationships,learnfromeachother,andimprovetheircapacitytooperateCBOs.82Providingsometypeofcapacity-buildingresourcesonhowtocatalyze,enable,andsustainCBOsisalsoconsistentwiththefindingsofthe2003initiativebytheGlobalEnvironmentalFund,InternationalFinanceCorporation,andMinistryofNatureandEnvironmenttoestablishwatershedcouncilsintheEg-UurWatershed.Thesecouncilsprovedunsustainable,however,duelargelytoalackoflocalleadership,capacity,andfunding.Withrespecttotheproposedhydropowerandwaterinfrastructureprojects,perhapsthereisalsoanopportunitytouseestablishedCBOsinthetransboundaryregiontofacilitatepublicreviewandcommentontheMINISandEgHPPprojects.Bothprojectteamsexpressedadesiretomoreeffectivelyengagewithlocalcitizensandleaders,andthismaybeanefficientandeffectivewaytoaddressthatobjective.

80Forstarters,seeJamesWingard,etal.,ImprovingtheLegalFrameworkforParticipatoryForestry:IssuesandOptionsforMongolia(FAOLegalPapers,April2005);WildlifeConservationSociety,Community-basedWildlifeConservationinMongolia:SuccessesandLessonsLearned(WorkshopProceedings,April16-17,2008);CraigLeisher,etal.,“MeasuringtheImpactsofCommunity-basedGrasslandsManagementinMongolia’sGobi,”PLoSOne(February2012);and2030WaterResourcesGroup,CapacityBuildingTrainingforRiverBasinCouncilsintheWesternRegionofMongolia:ImplementationReport(September2018).81TuguldurEnkhtsetseg,“PartnersJointoProtectMongolia’sRiverWolves,”ConservancyTalk(October3,2016).82Althoughwehavenothadtimetolearnmoreaboutthisinitiative,therewasapparentlyaneffortin2014-2016tocreatea“friendsofthebasin”transboundarynetwork.

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c) Option#3–Buildthecapacityoffutureleaderstocatalyzeandengageincollaborativeproblem-solving.

OneofthemostcommonthemesthatemergedfromconversationswithpeopleacrossMongoliaistheneedtoinspireandequipthenextgenerationofleadersinMongolia.ManypeoplecommentedthatMongoliaisfundamentallycommittedtobothconservinganddevelopingitsnaturalresources,andthattensionsbetweenthesegoalsareinevitable.Therefore,manypeopleconcludedthatitisimperativetoequipfutureleaderswiththeknowledge,skills,andabilitiestoprevent,manage,andresolvenaturalresourceconflicts.Severaloptionsmaybepursuedtoachievethisgoal.First,theNationalUniversityofMongoliaoranotherappropriateacademicinstitutionmaywanttoconsiderthemeritsofcreatingaNaturalResourcesConflictResolution(NRCR)Program.ThisprogramcouldfollowandadaptthemodeloftheverysuccessfulNRCRProgramattheUniversityofMontana,83agraduate-levelcertificateprogramdesignedtobeembeddedwithinastudent’sexistinggraduateprogram.AnothersimilarprogramistheWaterConflictManagementandTransformationgraduatecertificateprogramatOregonStateUniversity.84Asecondoption,whichmaycomplementagraduateprograminNRCR,isforuniversitiesinMongoliaandRussiatoconsiderthemeritsandfeasibilityofcreatingsometypeoftransboundaryconsortiumto(1)provideindependentresearchandknowledge;and(2)conveneandfacilitateimpartial,non-partisanforumstoexchangeinformation,buildrelationships,andsolveproblems.TheUniversitiesConsortiumonColumbiaRiverGovernance85andtheColoradoRiverResearchGroup86providetwopotentiallyrelevantmodelsfromtransboundaryriverbasinsinNorthAmerica.OneopportunitytolaunchthistypeofuniversityconsortiumandaddvaluetotheongoingeffortsintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasinistoconveneatransboundarydialoguedesignedtobringtogetherallthedisparateinitiativesinthebasintoclarifywhoisdoingwhat,identifygaps,andexploreopportunitiestoworktogether.

AthirdoptiontobuildthecapacityoffutureleadersistoencourageandsupportRotaryClubsandsimilarorganizationsinMongoliaandRussiatoprovideanindependentforumtoconnectpeopleandsearchforwaystobalanceconservationanddevelopmentinterestsinthetransboundarybasin.Inthe1930s,RotaryClubsinAlberta(Canada)andMontana(UnitedStates)cametogethertocreatetheworld’sfirstinternationalpeacepark.87PerhapstheRotaryClubofUlaanbaatarPeaceAvenuecouldhelpcatalyzeaconversation

83Formoreinformationonthisprogram,pleasegotohttp://naturalresourcespolicy.org/education/conflict-resolution-program.php84Formoreinformationonthisprogram,pleasegotohttps://gradschool.oregonstate.edu/programs/cg06/water-conflict-management-and-transformation-cert85Thewebsiteforthisconsortiumiscurrentlyunavailable.Forsomepreliminaryinformationonthisconsortium,pleasegotohttp://naturalresourcespolicy.org/projects/columbia-river-basin.php86Formoreinformationonthisgroup,pleasegotohttps://www.coloradoriverresearchgroup.org87Tolearnaboutthehistory,rationale,androleofRotaryClubsincatalyzingthisuniqueconservationinitiative,pleasegotohttp://www.watertonglacierpeacepark.org

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withtheother12RotaryClubsinMongolia(atotalof11ofthe13clubsinMongoliaarelocatedinUlaanbaatar)andRotaryClubsinRussiaaboutthepossibilityofsometypeoftransboundaryinitiativefocusedontheSelengeRiver-LakeBaikalbasin.88ThePeaceAvenueRotaryClubwascreatedin2013andisfocusedonyoung,emergingleaders.Itsmissionisto“carry-outsignificantandmeaningfulserviceprojectstowardsyouthinwater,health,literacyandcommunitydevelopmentamongotherareas,whilemembersenjoyeachother’s’fellowship.”89

d) Option#4–Enhanceopportunitiesandincentivesforconservationofthreatenedspeciesinthebasin,particularlytaimen.

Afourthoptiontoaddresssomeofthespecificissuesthatemergedduringtheassessmentandtootherwiseseekadynamicbalancebetweenconservationanddevelopmentgoalsinthetransboundarybasinistoenhanceopportunitiesandincentivestoconservetaimenandenhancefreshwaterecosystemmanagement.Atleasttwosub-optionsmaybepursuedtoachievethisgoal.Thefirstsub-optionistopursueaspecialdesignationfortaimenconservationunderanappropriateinternationaltreatyand/orconvention.90Thereareatleasttwostrategiestoadvancethissub-option.ThefirstistheUNConventiononMigratorySpecies.AccordingtoZebHogan(UniversityofNevada,Reno),theUNConventiononMigratorySpecies(CMS)maybeinterestedinlistingtaimenunderthisconvention,whichexiststofacilitatecooperationamongcountriesinterestedinimprovedmanagementandconservationofanimalsthatmigrateacrossinternationalborders.CMScompletedareviewoftheconservationstatusofmigratoryfreshwaterfishandinthatreportHuchotaimenisidentifiedasaspeciesthatwouldbenefitfromcooperativemanagementactionthroughCMS.91TheBaikalsturgeon,Acipenserbaeriibaicalensis,isalreadylistedunderAppendixIIofCMS.

TolisttaimenunderCMS,threethingsneedtohappenbeforeSeptember2019.First,aproponentthatisasignatorytoCMSneedstobeidentified;thisproponentmustthensubmitthelistingproposaltoCMS.Inthiscase,theproponentwouldmostlikelybeMongoliawhichactivelyparticipatesinCMSmeetingsandprocesses.Second,theproposalneedstobedraftedandsubmittedthroughofficialchannels.Mostoften,thisrequiresachampionfromtheNGOcommunitythatworkscloselywithgovernmentofficialstodraftthelistingproposalandhelppushitthroughthelistingprocess.Thirdandfinally,asetofpreliminaryactionsneedstobeidentifiedtokickstartimprovedcooperativeaction.Thisassessmentcouldhelpcatalyzethateffort,whichinturncouldelevatethestatusoftaimenandpotentiallyprovideaplatformforfurtherdiscussionsandconservationaction.

88TheRotaryClubsinMongoliaareaffiliatedwithRotaryDistrict3450.https://rotary3450.org/front-page/89http://rotaryclub.mn/club-introduction/90Itshouldbenotedthatnoteveryoneconsultedagreesthatthisoptionwillbeeffectiveinachievingtaimenconservationandenhancingfreshwaterecosystemmanagement.91https://www.cms.int/en/document/review-freshwater-fish

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However,thelistingoftaimenundertheCMSwouldbemoreeffectiveifRussiaandChinaweresignatoriestoCMS.AnotherstrategytopursueaspecialdesignationfortaimenconservationistotesttheideaofanInternationalPeaceParkand/orRiverBasin(oranotherappropriatetransboundarydesignation92)withRotaryClubsinMongoliaandRussia(seeoption#3above).Thisoptioncouldbuildonthesuccessoftheworld’sfirstinternationalpeacepark–Waterton-GlacierInternationalPeacePark,whichwasestablishedin1932.Thesecondsub-optiontoenhanceopportunitiesandincentivesfortaimenconservationistoreviewandreformexistingenvironmentallaws.Theideahereistoexaminecriticallyallofthelawsthatinfluencetaimenconservationandidentifyopportunitiestoimprovethelegalandinstitutionalframework.Forexample,theregulationofhuntingandfishinginMongoliaisdelegatedanddecentralizedtolocaldistrictsreferredtoassoums(seeMongolianLawonHunting,May5,2000,Article3.3).PartoftheupperSelengeRiverbasinislargelysituatedinKhovsgolprovince(oraimag),whichinturnconsistsof23soumsandtheprovincialcapitalofMurun.93Thisadministrativepatchworkcreatesthepossibilityofmultiple,perhapsconflicting,regulatoryregimesforhuntingandfishing.Giventhattaimentravelacrossmultiplesoums,theremaybeaneedtopromoteandsupportmorewatershed-basedapproachestotaimenconservation.Suchapproachescouldcreateincentivesand/orperhapsrequiremultiplesoumstocometogethertodevelop,implement,andmonitorjointregulationsandmanagementplanstosustaintaimen.Amulti-jurisdictional,watershedapproachmayalsobecompellinggiventhattaimenareaspeciesofnationalandinternationalconcern,asillustratedbytheirinclusionontheIUCNRedList.Thisoptionmightbelinkedtooneormoreoftheoptionspresentedabove,suchastheideaofasummerprogramforgraduatestudents/futureleaderstolearnhowtocollaborateacrossboundariesandtheideaofenhancingthecapacityofcommunity-basedorganizations.Severalotherlawsthatinfluencetaimenconservation,eitherdirectlyorindirectly,couldbesimilarlyevaluated.TheMINISTermsofReferenceforaRegionalEnvironmentalAssessment(June2018)providesacomprehensivelistofMongolialawsandpoliciesthatinfluencewaterdevelopmentandmanagement,andthismightbeagoodstartingpointtoidentifythelegalandinstitutionalframeworkfortaimenconservation(seepages21-23).ItisinterestingtonotethattheREAwillincludeanassessmentofthelegalandinstitutionalframeworkforwaterdevelopmentinthetransboundarycontext,includingthecapacityofexistingprojectmanagementandoversightbodies.Inotherwords,completingaparallelassessmentfocusedontaimenconservationmightcomplementandsupplementthe

92Forareviewofalternativetransboundaryconservationdesignations,seethewealthofmaterialsandcasestudiesathttp://naturalresourcespolicy.org/projects/transboundary-conservation.php93DanielH.Bailey,CollaborativeConservationofTaimen(Huchotaimen)ThroughEducationandAwarenessKhovsgolAimagMongolia(UniversityofMontanaMaster’sThesis,2012).

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analysisfocusedonwaterdevelopment,andmayleadtonewlawsandopportunitiestobalanceconservationanddevelopment,suchasaMongoliaWildandScenicRiversAct.94

e) OtherOptionsSeveralotheroptionsmaybeconsideredtobalanceconservationanddevelopmentintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundarybasin,includingbutnotlimitedto:

• Maintainingthestatusquo;

• Creatingapublicinformationandeducationcampaign;

• Invokingtheprinciplesofinternationalwaterlaw;and/or

• Somecombinationoftheseandotheroptions.

94OnemodelmaybetheWildandScenicRiversActintheUnitedStates.Seehttps://rivers.gov

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7. Conclusions&NextStepsTheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikaltransboundaryriverbasinisaspeciallandscapewithauniquehistory.Likemanytransboundaryriverbasinsthroughouttheworld,itisgovernedbyacomplexsystemofformalandinformallaws,customs,andnorms.Asyouconsiderthefindings,conclusions,andoptionspresentedinthisassessment,severaloverarchingprinciplesshouldbekeptinmind:

• Letformfollowfunction.Clarifywhatneedsandinterestsarenotbeingaddressedbyexistingformalandinformalinstitutionalarrangements,andthenexploreopportunitiestodesignanappropriateforumtomeetthoseuniqueobjectivesorfunctions.Peopleneedacompellingreasontoparticipateinsomethingbeyondtheirexistingmission,mandate,andsetofactivities.Anynewinitiativemustaddvalueandhelpthemachievetheirinterestsandaspirationsinawaythatnotparticipatingdoesnotprovide.

• Seekahomegrownsolution.Basedonexperienceandknowledgefromaroundtheworld,thereisawiderangeofinstitutionaldesignstogoverntheuseoftransboundarywaters.Giventheuniqueneedsandinterestsofeachbasin,thereisnosinglemodelforsuccess.Themostappropriate,effective,andsustainableinstitutionalarchitecturefortheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikalbasinwillbehomegrown,designedbyandforthepeoplethatlive,work,andrecreateinthebasin.

• Integrateformalandinformalmechanismsforgovernance.Asonegovernancemodeldoesnotfitallsituations,neithercangoverningtheuseofwaterandrelatedresourcesintheSelengeRiver–LakeBaikalbasinbeachievedbyasinglegoverningarrangement.Differentgovernancearrangementsaredesignedtoachievedifferentends.Somearemoreformal(e.g.,thetransboundarycommission)whileothersaremoreinformal(e.g.,CBOs).Eacharrangementhasauniqueplaceintheoverallfabricofgoverningatransboundaryriverbasin.Thechallengeandopportunityistoconnect,coordinate,andleverageassetsbyworkingtogetheronissuesofcommoninterest.

Adraftofthisreportwaswidelydistributedinspring2019forreviewandcomment.Theprimarypurposeofthereviewwastocheckthevalidityofthefindingsandconclusionstomakesurethatweaccuratelyandfairlycapturedandpresentedtheneedsandinterestsofpeoplethatweinterviewed.Severalpeopleprovidedfeedbackandwehavedoneourbesttointegratetheircommentsandsuggestions.Asexplainedabove,mostifnotalloftheoptionsregardingnextstepswouldbemosteffectiveifcatalyzedandconvenedbyoneormoreorganizationsinMongoliaand/orRussia,preferablybothgiventhetransboundarynatureofthebasin.Otherorganizationswithrelevantexpertisecouldjoinaspartners.

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Pleaseletusknowifyouhaveanycomments,questions,orsuggestions.Wearewillingtoexploreopportunitiestoconvenesometypeofworkshoptodiscusstheoptionsandnextsteps.

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Appendix1:Individuals&OrganizationsConsultedMINISProjectTeam• TsetsgeeTulgaa,Environmental

safeguard&watermanagementspecialist

• L.Baterdene,Contractmanagementandmonitoringspecialist

• O.Altai,Stakeholderengagementandcommunicationspecialist

EgiinGolinHPPProjectTeam

• Mr.Otgonsukh,ProjectDirector• 7staff

MinistryofEnergyMr.Bavuudorj,DirectorRenewableEnergyDivisionMinistryofEnvironmentandTourismMr.Myagmar,DirectorWaterManagementDivisionInformation&ResearchInstituteofMeteorology,HydrologyandEnvironmentDr.G.Davaa,HydrologySectionUlaanbaatarPeaceAvenueRotaryClub• ChimednyamPurev-Ochir,President• 20people

NationalUniversityofMongoliaDr.Boldgiv,Vice-PresidentforResearchandInternationalRelationsRiverswithoutBoundaries• EugeneSimonov,International

Coordinator• SukhgerelDugersuren,Mongolia

Coordinator

TheNatureConservancy,Mongolia• GalaDavaa,DirectorofConservation• BayarjargalYunden,Directorof

Science• Staff,Community-basedInitiatives

MongolEcologyCenter• GaryCook,BoardMember(also

withEarthIslandInstitute/BaikalWatch)

• BobMcIntosh,BoardMember• Othercontacts(TomMedema,US

NationalParkService)WildSalmonCenterGuidoRahr,PresidentandCEOTaimenFundCharlieConn,ExecutiveDirector

TaimenConservationFundErdenbatEldevochir,SeniorAdvisorMongoliaRiverOutfittersDanBailey,ManagingDirector

BioRegionsInternationalCliffMontagne,FounderandDirector

WorldWildlifeFundChimed-OchirBazarsad,formerDirector

GreenFocusErdeneDorjsuren,DirectorMarkJohnstad,InternationalConsultantDr.OlafP.JensenDepartmentofMarineandCoastalSciences,RutgersUniversity,USA

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Appendix2:MapofSelengeRiverBasinandLocationofProposedProjects

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