Preparation of A Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) for the Tumen River Area, Its Coastal Regions and Related Northeast Asian Environs

INDICATOR #1: Preparation of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis. [Target: A TDA accepted by all project participants.] Four zonal TDAs were prepared (Tumen River, Daurian Steppe, Mongolian Steppe, and Supra-Regional), as well as a final overall TDA. The final TDA workshop was held in Vladivostok on 3 April 2002. The workshop approved the TDA and agreed that it would be the basis for developing the SAP.

INDICATOR #2: Strengthen national capacities to prepare a regional Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the protection of international waters and biodiversity. [Target: SAP signed by participating countries.] The Strategic Action Programme was the ultimate outcome of the project, though it was not formally endorsed by the countries. Using the completed TDA as its scientific foundation, the SAP was prepared by countries in early 2002, translated into local languages and scrutinized by local stakeholders in each of the project areas. National SAP task forces were established in each country to lead the national SAP process and several bilateral Memorandas of Understanding were signed between participating countries as well as between provincial governors during its preparation. These were the first international environmental agreements between the participating countries and are annexed in the final SAP dated October 2002. National SAP Task Forces included political decision makers at many national and provincial levels: environment, foreign affairs, finance, and economic development portfolios, technical experts from the TDA phase, and NGO and business representatives. They also included the National TRADP Coordinators to ensure mainstreaming of SAP recommendations with parallel TRADP driven efforts. INDICATOR #4: Strengthen national and regional capacities to jointly implement a Strategic Action Programme once endorsed. [Target: National teams (particularly the line ministries) implement activities included in the SAP after project completion.] A political support platform for implementation of the SAP subsequent to endorsement was established. Regional awareness was being created and regional policy networks were established and functioning. Provincial as well as national government became heavily involved. Work was proceeding towards formulating a regional convention/treaty. The TumenNET Governors Memorandum of Understanding committed seven provincial governors to protect transboundary biodiversity and international water resources. A similar agreement was also reached with the private sector in the Republic of Korea. The project expanded into Siberia (at the northern border of Eastern Mongolia) and into the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (at the southern border of Eastern Mongolia), addressing more transboundary issues. The DPRK participated in selected project activities, including the one at the Musan iron ore mine - a major environmental hotspot along the Tumen River. Countries agreed to work towards a regional convention/treaty that will be based on the 1995 TRADP Memorandum of Understanding. After completion of the project, TRADP was absorbed in 2005 into the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI), an intergovernmental cooperation mechanism engaged in policy dialogue and implementing collaborative projects that focus on transport; trade; investment; tourism; and energy, with environment as a cross-cutting sector.