Wetland in the lower Tumen River area is a biodiversity hotspot in North-East Asia, representing significant ecosystem and socio-economic values. To date there has been no systematic cooperation among the range countries (i.e. China, DPRK and the Russian Federation) on wetland conservation.

International Forum on Tiger and Leopard Transboundary Conservation was held in the Northeast Forestry University in Harbin, China from 28 to 29 of July 2019. Attended by more than 300 representatives and experts from 19 countries and 12 international organizations, the Forum was jointly organized by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) of China, Northeast Forestry University, North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC), international NGOs and local administrations in China.

The NEASPEC Consultation Meeting on Transboundary Nature Conservation will be held on 26 February 2018 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, to advance a NEASPEC project on the conservation of Amur tigers and leopards in transboundary protected areas in North-East Asia.

NEASPEC and Beijing Forestry University jointly held the 2016 Workshop on Nature Conservation and Transboundary Cooperation to review outcomes of two NEASPEC nature conservation projects on migratory birds and Amur tiger and leopards, as well as to discuss subregional needs and follow-up actions for NEASPEC. Over forty participants from all six NEASPEC member States, including government officials, experts, international organizations, NGOs attended the Workshop.

Since 2014, NEASPEC has implemented the project, “Study on Transborder Movement of Amur Tigers and Leopards using Camera Trapping and Molecular Genetic Analysis”, as a follow-up to the project on “Establishing Coordination Mechanisms for Nature Conservation in Transboundary Areas in North-East Asia” (2010-2012).

North-East Asian Young Conservation Leadership Programme (NEA-YCLP) 2015

The NEASPEC Nature Conservation Project on habitat rehabilitation and conservation for key migratory birds in North-East Asia aims to generate information of key habitats and improve multilateral and multilevel cooperation in North-East Asia. This Project involves carrying out surveys in five North-East Asian countries on key habitats of Black-faced Spoonbills, Hooded Cranes and White-naped Cranes.

The NEASPEC Secretariat organized the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) of the Project, “Study on transborder movement of Amur tigers and leopards using camera trapping and molecular genetic analysis” on 15-16 April 2014 in Incheon, Republic of Korea (ROK).

The Rason Special Economic Zone in DPRK abuts China and the Russian Federation in the Lower Tumen River Delta. Research and monitoring on migratory birds on the Chinese and Russian sides of the Delta indicates that globally vulnerable migratory bird species can be found in the Rason area. Research also indicated that it could also be a habitat for thousands of migratory birds.