The protected-area system in the Russian Far East must be upgraded. The present system insufficiently protects gene pools of plants and animals and completely neglects many representative ecosystems. The region's ecology is threatened by industrial activity, which is at present highly unsustainable. Industrial logging continues to destroy the ecological balance of the forests. Gold, silver, coal, and diamond mining continue to pollute rivers and transform landscapes.
Agricultural land continues to replace valuable steppe, wetland, and forest ecosystems.
Ecosystems are threatened or presently being destroyed by planned or existing large-scale energy projects such as hydroelectric dams, nuclear power stations, and oil development. We believe that they are the territories most critically in need of immediate protection. Forbid commercial activities that threaten the ecological health of these Hotspots. Where appropriate, we encourage these bodies to develop ecologically sustainable tourism and nontimber forest-product industries. We urge international corporations to refrain from logging, mining, agricultural development, oil development, and other large-scale energy projects in these regions and foreign governments to withhold all financial or institutional support that would function as incentives for such activities.