ИСТИНА

The Altai-Sayan Ecoregion Sub-Global Assessment Project was approved as a full component of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in August 2003. The initial stage of the full Project proposal preparation took place in course of 2003 based on seed funding provided by the MA Secretariat. The final design of the Project was completed during experts and stakeholders workshop in March 2003 (Krasnoyarsk, Russia). By November 2003 the organizational structure of the Project was established. Since the beginning of the project the preliminary review and assessment of key selected ecosystems namely i) forest and ii) grazing ecosystems was completed. The basin of the Katun River, which drains the central part of the Altai Mountains (as a freshwater ecosystems), and ecologically oriented behavior of rural householders in the ecoregion were also assessed. The full sub-global assessment is planned to be completed in 2005. To fulfill this task the funds should be raised to compliment the budget allocated through WWF ecoregional project.