Reindeer Husbandry and Barents 2030

Anders Oskal

Anders Oskal

Predation continues to be a problem for reindeer hus- bandry, partly because of a failure by reindeer hus- bandry to effectively communicate this as a problem issue to the broader population. Ironically, with re- duced pastures, predation actually increases as pred- ators have easier access to herds. Reindeer husbandry on the Kola Peninsula is in further disarray, as repeated efforts to restructure the liveli- hood fail, generally due to the as yet unresolved ten- sions between private reindeer ownership and collec- tive structures. The industry continues to suffer from a lack of investment and is not seen as a priority by the regional administration in Murmansk. Small projects are initiated aimed at developing an export market, and supplying the large Murmansk market with rein- deer meat, but these initiatives are under-capitalised and not clearly planned. Sámi are falling out of reindeer husbandry and young herders are not being recruited. Industry plays a disengaged role, preferring to work through established governmental channels and avoiding the more difficult route of engaging with in- digenous communities. As a result, capacity building in Sámi communities is stalled. Industry responds that

it is not the role of the oil and gas industry to give hand- outs and that they do not wish to be wreaking “ethnic divisions” in the north. Reindeer Husbandry and Sámi politicians accuse oil and gas majors of abdicating their responsibilities and complain of a lack of lead- ership in regional and national politics. Management systems have not undergone any major revisions and the recognition of traditional knowledge systems are not taken seriously except in small academic circles. The modest steps taken in structural adjustments, the lack of engagement from the petroleum sector, and the lack of revenue sharing agreements all have a slow and imperceptible degradation of the ability of herders to adapt to the predicted climate fluctuation. Several hard winters have covered winter pastures in deep snow and hard ice layers. The inherent flexibility of reindeer husbandry has further been constrained by loss of pastures and by a rigid management struc- ture and the resulting impacts on herd numbers are severe. Ironically this is interpreted by mainstream so- ciety as a proof that herders no longer have the tools or the knowledge to adapt to the challenges of cli- mate change in the 21st century, and calls are made for even more intervention into the industry.

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