Year: <span>2016</span>

Habitat Loss – The Driving Force of 80% Decline in Aquatic Fauna

Thousands of river dolphins thrived in the Yangtze River only 50 years ago. By 1994, fewer than 100 individuals remained, and by 2006, the Yangtze dolphin had become extinct. Pollution, dam building and reckless navigation destroyed a proud branch on the tree of life in the blink of an eye. …

Letter to Dr. Kim: the World Bank fails to fulfill its promise on consultations in the Lake Baikal Basin

To: World Bank President Re: On MINIS Project in Mongolia Dear Dr. Kim: Recently we learned that bidding for Regional environmental assessment (REA) and Environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) of two sub-projects (flow regulation of the Orkhon River and construction of reservoir complex project and Shuren Hydro on Selenge …

NGOs voice major concerns regarding the conduct of the World Bank MINIS Project in Mongolia

  The Rivers without Boundaries Coalition issued the following list of urgent concerns on the way the MINIS Project is being carried out by the World Bank and Mongolian Government. For example, written comments submitted by the RwB-Mongolia -after consultations in Bulgan Province in April 2016 were not considered when …

OBOR: One Bridge – One River ? Sino-Russian Cooperation in Infrastructure Failed the First Test

  We always wonder how to measure progress of cooperation under China’s One Belt-One Road Initiative. Many different matrices and indices are being suggested by various authors. But some straightforward questions also help: Does project\program develop people-oriented economy in countries-partners? Do two sides have capacity to communicate and cooperate on …

"Green" means not causing harm! Appeal to the Green Climate Fund

NGOs appeal to the Board of the Green Climate Fund to abstain from large dams and do better risk assessment   Friends of Earth initiated an appeal to the Green Climate Fund that may become another pocket to enrich large corporations and international banks instead of becoming a vehicle for …

We and Amur River Floods -Lesson (Un)learned?

The topic for the book with such teasing title  was selected due to outstanding flood that took place on transboundary Amur River in summer and autumn of 2013 and need to explore feasible options for integrated flood management jointly implemented by Russia and China. Now, as in September 2016 the …