eugene simonov. rivers without boundaries coalition dauria...

Eugene Simonov. Rivers without Boundaries CoalitionDauria International Protected Area –DIPA‐ Daursky Biosphere Reserve

Yury Darman, WWF Russia Amur  Branch

Are There (International) Solutions For The Amur River basin?

Freshwater biodiversity ‐ 7 ecoregions

15 Ramsar 15 Ramsar wetlandswetlandswetlandswetlands

Major water bird habitatMajor water bird habitat

Карта водно‐болотных угодий Амурского бассейна. Wetlands of Amur River Basin

130130 fish speciesfish speciesMajor water bird habitatMajor water bird habitat

Amur (Heilong, Khara‐muren) –divided by 12 provinces of 3 countries with population of almost 100divided by 12 provinces of 3 countries, with population of almost 100 million people. • Amur Basin Area –

2100 000 square qkilometers

• Annual discharge approx 360 cubic kilkilometers

• Amur River length -4444 kilometersW tl d• Wetlands occupy approximately 361 820 square kilometers 17% of those are insideof those are inside protected areas

• Forests occupy 1110194square kilometers or q53% of watershed

• 3500 kilometers of rivers serve as national b dborders

“Human Footprint” in Amur BasinPRESSURES

Human Footprint  in Amur Basin

Russia: Great impacts from Zeya and Bureya dams

Drastic hydro ecological alteration on Zeya Bureya and even the mainDrastic hydro‐ecological alteration on Zeya, Bureya and even the main channel of Amur. In addition 14000 dams fragment China part of the Amur Basing p

CHINA:Songhua River – the best known problematic tributary of the Amur River.

• Annual discharge 80 000 000• Annual discharge –80 000 000 000 cubic meters, with additional 40 000 000 000 cubic meters of groundwater resources.

• Recorded annual water use 40 000 000 000 cubic meters, with half of that not returning tohalf of that not returning to streams.

• Agriculture –70% of wateri i h l 20% fconsumption, with only 20% of

agricultural fields irrigated

• On-going water crisis and• On-going water crisis and desertification in south-western part of the basin

• 2005 spill of 100 tonnes of benzene triggered new anti-polution policies and greater cooperation with RussiaMajiagou River mouth in Harbin pMajiagou River mouth in Harbin

Mining – growing source of impacts

More than 400 mining operations just in Mongolia part ofThe Amur River Basin

Si i i l

COOPERATIONSino‐Russian Dialogue on Water Issues• clarification of the border line and its changes with 

meandering of river channelmeandering of river channel

• regulation of fisheries and protection of fish reserves

l d i• wetland conservation, 

• hydrological monitoring and flood control 

• impacts of dams built on tributaries on common watercourse 

i b i f• inter‐basin water‐transfers;

• prevention and monitoring of transboundary pollution 

• adaptation of water use to climate fluctuations

• harmonization of water quality standards

Sino‐Russian Joint Scheme for Amur 

6 hydropower plants according to “Russia-China Joint Comprehensive Scheme for Water Resource Management in Transboundary Stretches of the Argun and Amur Rivers”the Argun and Amur Rivers”.

Relevant Agreements1994 ‐Trilateral Agreement on Dauria International Protected Area 

(DIPA)(DIPA)

1994 ‐ Sino‐Russian Agreement on c aquatic bioresources of Amur

1994‐‐Mongolia‐China – Agreement on Use and Protection of Transboundary Waters 

1995 Russia Mongolia Agreement on Use and Protection of1995‐‐Russia‐Mongolia ‐ Agreement on Use and Protection of Transboundary Waters

2006 ‐Environmental Sub‐commission under Mechanism for Sino‐Russian Meetings of Heads of State has a working groups on protection and monitoring of transboundary waters andon protection and monitoring of transboundary waters and biodiversity

2006 Provincial agreement on protection of Argun Riverg p g

2008 Sino‐Russian Agreement on Transboundary Waters

Рамсарские угодья Ramsar regional

RAMSAR CONVENTIONAmur Basin has 15 regional

initiatives –new

Amur Basin has 15 designated Ramsar Wetlands

new cooperation tooltool

Amur-Heilong Regional Initiative –wasInitiative –was promoted by WWF, but never got government support.

NATIONAL PLANSRECENT RELEVANT NATIONAL MEASURES:

CHINA DEVELOPED STRONG NATIONALWETLANDS PROTECTION POLICY AND ACTION PLAN

RUSSIA ADOPTED WATER CODE PRESCRIBING

Mongolia adopted a new law “On prohibition of mining in water protection zones”(2009)

DEVELOPMENT OF “Standards of acceptable impact” (SAI) for environmental flows, as well as water protection zones (2009). 

Implementation is slowchemical, thermal, radioactive and microbial pollution)

IF ONLY 3 COUNTRIES COULD WORK TOGETHER…

ВСЕ ТРИ СТРАНЫ ТЕПЕРЬ ОЗАБОЧЕНЫ АДАПТАЦИЕЙ К ИЗМЕНЯЮЩЕМУСЯ КЛИМАТУALL THREE COUNTRIES BY 2010 FINALLY GOT CONCERNED WITH CLIMATE ADATIATION ISSUES

Priorities set for China’s “Revitalization of Old i d t i l B ” t i 2003

-Pollution prevention, including regulation by water i f t t

Old industrial Bases” set in 2003:

infrastructure.

-Halting wetland conversion to agriculture with sharp-Halting wetland conversion to agriculture, with sharp increase in irrigated areas in place of non-irrigated agriculture.g

-Ensuring “ecologically sufficient” water supply to tl d ft ith h l f i ti d twetlands, often with help of existing and new water

infrastructure.

-More efficient water consumption

“Revitalization of Old industrial Bases”

“Additional measures” Since in projected water balance for 2030 

l d t t d d it isupply does not meet demand it is recommended to proceed with:

Increasing agricultural water supply fromIncreasing agricultural water supply from transboundary watercourses (Ussuri‐Wusuli, Amur‐Heilong, Argun‐Eerguna).

Developing water transfer schemes within the Amur‐Heilong River Basin and to the Liao River Basin, where already achievedLiao River Basin, where already achieved water deficit is much worse.

Construction of dams on the main channel of Amur‐Heilong River

RUSSIAN HYDROPOWER  PLANS RUSSIA PLANS TO EXPORT 60 BILLION KW*H/YEAR TO CHINARUSSIA PLANS TO EXPORT 60 BILLION KW H/YEAR TO CHINA

HPP TriburaryPOWER-MWT

B l h

12 dams planned just in Amur River Basin:

DalnerechenskyBolshaya Ussurka 660

Bureisky Bureya 2000

Amur River Basin:

Nizhnebureisky Bureya 321

Ust-nimanskaya Bureya 400

Giluysky Giluy 380Giluysky Giluy 380

Khorskoye Khor 133

Nizhne-Nimansky Niman 450

Rusinovskoye Selemdzha 550

Ikindinskaya Selemdzha 140

Shilkinsky Shilka 1300Shilkinsky Shilka 1300

Zeyskoye Zeya 1330

Gramatukhinskoye Zeya 300

MONGOLIA ‐ headwaters of the Amur River BasinChanging pattern of development – growing water demand for industry and “ i d ifi i ”“preventing desertification”.

• Demand from mining• Demand from mining industries in Gobi Desert and “Green Belt of Mongolia” antiGOBI Mongolia” anti-desertification plan

• Proposed water transfers from Selenge, Onon, Kherlen, Uldz, Baldj RiversKherlen, Uldz, Baldj Rivers into Gobi Desert.

i f• National Water Program of 2010 calls for 60 hydropower plants and many irrigation schemes

M f h i li f O kh d.Map of the pipelines from Orkhon and Kherlen Rivers’ into South Gobi for new mining towns.

Controversy as a ti t lconservation tool….

River has been effectively protected by military boundary zone closed for visitors which occupied riverbanks for 4000 kilometers

CASE STUDYArgun River Trial

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Rivers of Argun Basin  have dramatic change of water resource availability during

Amur River basinavailability during 30‐year climate cycle. (See graph Argun River basin y ( g pbelow )Argun River basin

Argun River Basin isArgun River Basin is the principal river of Dauria Steppe A l

500р. Аргунь - с.ОлочиDauria Steppe. Annual

discharge 12 cubic km. Area -300,977 km2: 300

400

с

Олочи измеренныеХайлар - Цаган

,in China150,900 km² (50%) in Russia 49,100 km² (16%)

100

200

м3 /с

in Mongolia 101,000 km2 (34%)01940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Network of important transboundary l d i D iwetlands in Dauria

Uldz River basin:Uldz River basin:• Torey Lakes Ramsar site (Russia) • Mongol Daguur (Mongolian

Dauria) Ramsar site (Mongolia)Dauria) Ramsar site (Mongolia)Argun River basin:• Dalai Lake National Nature

Reserve Inner Mongolia RamsarReserve, Inner Mongolia Ramsar site (China)

• Lake Buir and its surrounding wetlands Ramsar site, (Mongolia)wetlands Ramsar site, (Mongolia)

• Upper Argun River floodplain(Sino-Russian border –not listed and not protected yet) p y

While all major lakes are Ramsar sites, floodplains receive little protection

Cyclical change in annual rainfall (green)

Изменения атмосферных осадков и температуры воздуха

1 0

1,2

1,4циенты

2 0

-1,5

-1,0влажный период

влажный период

сухой период

сухой период

0,6

0,8

1,0

ые коэф

фиц

3 0

-2,5

-2,0

тура

, оС

0,2

0,4

и, модульны

4 0

-3,5

-3,0

температ

-0 4

-0,2

0,0

осадки

-5 0

-4,5

-4,0

0,41950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

5,0

интегральная разностная кривая годовых сумм осадков30‐year drought cycles and flooding dynamics are one of factors shaping regional температура воздуха, осредненная по периодам увлажненностиbiodiversity. 

Average temperature (RED) for the last 55 years has risen up for 1.5‐2.0˚Сg p ( ) y pthat led to an increase of the period with positive temperatures in northern part of Daurian Steppe from 165‐167 to 173‐179 days.

Torey Lakes (Uldz river basin) dynamics:y ( ) y

Change of the shore gline and water volume.

Coastal plant communities changep g

Changes in numbers and species composition of waterbirds.p p

In 1999 Torey lakes yielded thousand tons of fish annually,thousand tons of fish annually,and in 2009 meadow at Barun-Torey lake bottomis a favorite pasture for Mongolian Gazelle….

The Argun river at high flow

Th A i t l flThe Argun river at low flowFlooding is the most important ecosystem process sustaining riverine wetlandssustaining riverine wetlands

Cyclical re-distribution of bird populations.

Torey Lakes

Upper Argun Valley-Uldz River

Dalai and

Valley-

Dalai and Buir lakes

It k littl t t t i l tl d l t i th D i E iIt makes little sense to protect one single wetland cluster in the Daurian Ecoregion, most of the area’s wildlife migrates among the steppe’s scattered wetlands accordin30-year drought cycle patterns.RED i l t t d b D i I t ti l P t t d ARED circles are protected by Dauria International Protected Area, BLUE circle of Argun Valley is not yet protected internationally.

Intensity and structure of human activity depends onIntensity and structure of human activity depends on phases of the climate cycle

If only the modern society could adapt to the local

Nomadic lifestyle of Mongolian tribes Nomadic lifestyle of Mongolian tribes is the key cultural value of Dauria is the key cultural value of Dauria ––which has been the most effectivewhich has been the most effective climate cycle,

there would be no problem adapting to any changes in

which has been the most effective which has been the most effective sociosocio--economic adaptation to climate economic adaptation to climate fluctuationsfluctuations.

adapting to any changes in climate…

THREATS to river ecosystems in Argun River basin:Hailaer (Argun) River ‐Dalai Lake water transfer – 1.05 cubic kilometers annually ( in 

ti i 2009)operation since 2009)

Water consumption from  new reservoirs upstream in Hailaer basin ‐1.0 cub. km. annually (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

China Gold Co copper mine – water pipeline from Dalai Lake ( stopped due to Ramsar convention requirements in 2008)

Kherlen‐Gobi water transfer schemeKherlen Gobi water transfer scheme

Hulunbeier Oil fields (in operation)

Coalmines and thermal power stations‐ thermal pollution and change in hydrologyp p g y gy

Polluting industry along Hailaer river‐ (in operation and under construction)

Municipal sewage from Hailaer and Manzhouli 

Irrigation schemes along Hailaer and Khalkh rivers

Halaha‐ Xilingol water transfer (EIA in 2010)

)Mongolian oil fields

WATER CONSUMPTION: CRISIS PLANNED IN ADVANCE

Planned increase of water ti i A

:

consumption in Argun‐Eerguna River basin by 1000%.1000%.Hailaer‐Dalai water transfer – 1.05 

cubic kilometers annually

Water consumption from  new reservoirs upstream ‐1.0 cub. km. annually

Halaha‐ Xilingol water transfer

Mean annual flow of Argun‐Hailaer river – only 3 5 cub kmriver – only 3.5 cub. km.

Hailaer(Argun) River‐Dalai Lake water transfer 2009

Alteration of flooding regime with 1 05 cubic kilometer withdrawal

Hailaer River‐Dalai Lake water transfer

Alteration of flooding regime with 1.05 cubic kilometer withdrawal. Upper Argun river Kuti Village. Modelling ordered by Amur Water Authority 2009

350

250

300

Выход воды на пойму1.Without water withdrawal

200

м3 /с

1Level of floodplain

100

1502

2.After water withdrawal

0

50

17.апр 07.май 27.май 16.июн 06.июл 26.июл 15.авг 04.сен 24.сен 14.окт 03.ноя

1.Water level dynamics in 2004 (P=50%)‐ 50 days of flooding –2. Water level after withdrawal – no flooding –Год 50% обеспеченности ‐при проектном отборе воды пойма не заполнится водой

Water withdrawal will further

Water pollution  in Argun River Water withdrawal will further 

severe already acute pollution levels in transboundary Agrun riverand water transfer will bring pollution to Dalai Lakepollution to Dalai Lake. 

Impacts on Dalai Lake Ramsar siteHailaer(Argun) River‐Dalai Lake water transfer

Impacts on Dalai Lake Ramsar site

increased pollution from Hailaer/Argun River concentrated in the lake threatens public health and security, fisheries, and tourism. 

disrupted natural wet‐dry cycle degrades lake p y y gbiodiversity and productivity, converting it into a brackish reservoir.

excuse to start industrial water supply to mines from this Ramsar wetland

Another threat to Argun River‐boundary river embankments‐for protection of the Motherlandfor protection of the Motherland.

This may disrupt and arrest meandering processes 

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Necessary measures planned by WWF‐DIPA “Dauria Rivers” pilot project :1) Strategic assessment of river management options in the light of climate adaptation 

in the Dauria region, based on the UNECE “Guidance on water and adaptation to climate change". 

2) Develop environmental flow norms for the Argun and Uldz Rivers  to determine environmental requirements during different phases of the climate cycle.. This will provide the technical foundation for harmonizing bilateral water management 

l h l d hpolicies with Mongolia and China.  

3) Wetland monitoring system  in both Argun and Uldz basins will be enhanced by developing combined remote‐sensing and field‐transect monitoring methods in p g g gtransboundary wetlands to measure the effects of climate change and human impacts. 

4) Wetland protected area network enhancement as one of key adaptation measures is4) Wetland protected area network enhancement as one of key adaptation measures is that provides for migration and  breeding of species and preserves key hydrological features and important refugia during drought.

5) Awareness raising program program on climate adaptation in transboundary Dauria5) Awareness raising program program on climate adaptation in transboundary Dauria is needed to make climate cycling/climate change and limitations/advantages it brings better understood by local people and considered by governments in key planning/decision‐making. 

Proposed expansion of Dauria International Protected Area

Establishment of Chinese‐Russian‐Mongolian 

AN IMPORTANT WISH…..

gintergovernmental commission on economic and ecological adaptation of management policies in g p g pDauria to changing climate conditions with the aim to ensure favorable environmental and political psituation.

Questions:1. Would three countries benefit from impartial outside experts p p

facilitating introduction of advanced integrated basin management policy concepts to the region?

2. How do to insist on considering  environmental flow requirements when clear international competition over water resources has already  occurred in the basin?

3. How do you promote the value of Amur as FREE‐FLOWING RIVER vs use of its enormous hydropower potential?

4. What international mechanisms (institutions) may provide ( ) y pincentive\venue for joint trilateral program in adaptation to climate change and climate fluctuations? What are appropriate d t ti t t i i h i bl li t ?adaptation strategies in such variable climate?

Inappropriate development triggers improper water management

Thank you for listening!

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