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Lake Baikal is the object of World Natural Heritage of UNESCO. It is the property of the humankind and has to obtain special regard, protection and attention of the society. In respect that Selenga river is the main tributary of Baikal lake, whose watershed is situated and controlled by two countries, there should be an effective system of monitoring to optimize environmental management of the territory. According to the fact that ecological conflicts has a global scale in international watersheds, transboundary location of Selenga river complicates the problem of scientific resolution of the conflicts between water consumers.
Selenga-Baikal research is focuses on regional the identification of pollution sources and assessment of their downstream environmental and socio-economic impacts$ obtaining recent data from hydrological and hydrochemical monitoring in river basins located in continental and transboundary regions (e.g., Central Asia, Africa, Central Europe) with special emphasis on water resources assessments under changing climatic and social conditions, pollution loads and its spreading from source to recipient; environmental and socio-economic impacts of water-related problems and management responses.

Research goals
1. Developing short-term forecasting system of water levels and discharges.
2. Levels of pollution assessment based on the sediment concentration and intensive grab water sampling in rivers.
3. Chemical composition of the water at river network and data interpolation.
4. River response to human impact or natural event (flood, ice clogging, water withdrawal, disposal of polluted water etc.) modelling
5. Water management optimization of Selenga river watershed.

The work at Baikal lake basin is implemented under support of following programs and grants:
1. UNDP Project “Complex management of natural resources transboundary ecosystem of Baikal lake”
2. Russian Ministry of Science and Education project “Development of scientific basics of monitoring and forecasting of Selenga rivers basin for transboundary transport of pollutants control and their intake to Baikal lake”
3. Russian geographical society grant “Selenga-Baikal expedition”