We, representatives of Mongolia, the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, and Russian Federation, participating in the TumenNET Strategic Action Program (SAP) Supra-regional Zone (SRZ) meeting, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 1-2 July 2002,

Welcoming the initiatives that Northeast Asian countries have taken and the progress made in protecting transboundary biodiversity and international water resources,

Further recognizing the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) as a basic document on which concrete measures should be taken to address the root causes of environmental degradation,

Stressing the importance of protecting transboundary biodiversity and water resources in border areas and the TumenNET region and promoting the rational use of these resources,

Considering the protection of natural environment and its restoration in the region is an important issue in sustainable economic and social development for the benefits of the future generations,

Have made the following recommendations with the TumenNET Project Coordination Unit as a witness.

The meeting participants agreed to pursue cooperation on collaborative efforts for protecting and conserving globally important ecosystems in the following regional priorities:

• establish/expand monitoring network (e.g., occurrence, transport and deposition)
• promote sustainable land management system particularly in pasture land in order to prevent desertification and deforestation
• establish grass and tree planting demonstration sites in Mongolia and the People’s Republic of China
• build capacity among experts in the TumenNET region
• improve water resources management based on the scientific research outcomes
• strengthen joint research on the root causes and mitigation methods

• continue efforts to conduct regional surveys on migratory birds
• conserve wetlands in the Tumen river estuary, inland and coastal wetlands in the Russian Federation, People’s Republic of China, Mongolia, and Korean peninsula and restore where it is necessary
• prepare regional convention and build conservation networks of wetland ecosystems and migratory birds including Crane, Duck and Geese and Wader

• maintain and update regional portal site which could provide the integrated information within the TumenNET region
• integrate the regional EIS (e.g., enhance collaboration among existing environmental information networks, such as TumenNET, NEA SOM, EANET, ARDN, NEACEDT, etc.)
• improve information sharing among the countries (e.g., national and local policies and regulations, state of the environment and perspectives)

• establish Northeast Asian Environmental Cooperation Body as recommended by TumenNET TDA and the cooperation body should be represented by the participating countries
• assist in implementation of the SAP and explore the possibilities of regional legal mechanisms

• continue existing TumenNET regional website after the completion of the TumenNET project by ROK MOE with support of participating countries

• coordinate and expand (where necessary) the existing monitoring network of surface, underground and coastal waters
• strengthen capacity for water quality monitoring and assessment of Tumen River riparian countries
• enhance sewage and industrial wastewater treatment capacities in the region
• explore the possibilities of exchanging water quality data among the riparian countries

• develop regional EIA guidelines as recommended at the Ulaanbaatar Workshop (Oct. 2001) and the Beijing Workshop (Apr. 2002)
• promote harmonization and standardization of Environmental Impact Statement/Assessment for development projects in the transboundary areas and/or the projects that may have adverse impacts on the transboundary areas
• strengthen national and local capacity to assess transboundary projects
• establish mechanisms for joint monitoring of the implementation of EIA for above mentioned projects

• promote introduction of cleaner production techniques
• advocate partnership with industry and private business sector
• promote stakeholders involvement in clean environment campaigns
• promote adoption of the best practice environmental management principles in industry
• improve a livelihood options of people living in the buffer/experimental zone area by attracting green investments

• promote public awareness programs at local, national and regional level including SGPs (Small Grant Program)
• improve the cooperation mechanism for development and implementation of transboundary environmental awareness projects
• enhance strategies to promote support from private sector for ensuring the continuation of SGPs in TumenNET area

• advance local public awareness campaigns on transboundary issues, specifically in buffer zone of protected areas
• strengthen the participation of local NGOs in conjunction with local governments in transboundary biodiversity conservation

• continue annual TumenNET clean up day
• enhance formal and informal environmental education and improve the educational materials for the diverse stakeholders including children and students
• promote and sustain TumenNET green school initiatives among the participating countries through local governments and NGO's support

• design, publish and distribute transboundary newspaper/bulletin in local languages to generate the continuous public support
• promote all stakeholder groups participation in the awareness raising program

• reflect the eco-tourism development in the national policy, plan and program
• establish eco-tour networks of NGOs or relevant local organisations for capacity building in TumenNET area
• develop action program to initiate NGO eco-tour network with the participation of local/national governments and other organisations in the region

The meeting participants agreed on this Recommendations and its due signing by each national SAP Task Force.