On April 09,2003 the Phoenix Fund, with support from Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation), organized a round table called " Threats to survival of Asiatic black bear population in Primorye". The representatives of Primorsky administration, Far Eastern Customs, non-governmental organizations and scientific institutes discussed the current state of Asiatic black bears in Primorye and determined the main threats to their survival, such as: lack of monitoring system, increasing poaching, destruction of natural habitats of Asiatic black bear (destruction of hollow trees).

Moreover, a number of appeals were made to the governmental and scientific organizations, authorities, which can take decisions crucial for the fate of Asiatic black bears. In particular, the participants of the round table appealed to Primorsky administration, Main Directorate for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Primorsky krai, Hunting Management Department with suggestion to reconsider Section 5 of the new Hunting Regulations in Primorye (to close bear hunting in the den, license bear hunting only with hunting lease workers or state hunting rangers.

The participants of the round table made an appeal to the local people of Primorsky krai to inform the Hunting Management Department about any cases of illegal bear keeping and hunting.