Amur and Chita

Red-crowned cranes

The rivers Amur, Zeya, and Bureya form important wetland ecosystems for migratory birds and four endangered crane species, including the red-crowned crane. The region’s diverse landscapes vary from mountainous tundra to mixed forest and prairies. Traditionally, indigenous Evenk peoples traveled across this region as nomadic reindeer herders. The Amur region's long border with China and the Trans-Siberian Railroad make timber exports and illegal logging a primary concern. Construction of the Siberia-Pacific pipeline through wilderness areas and widespread placer gold mining also threaten the region.