Reindeer Husbandry and Barents 2030

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT ON REINDEER HUSBANDRY

Petroleum development scenarios for the Barents Region assume a higher development pressure in the region than what earlier scenarios have project- ed (UNEP/EEA, 2004). Extensive petroleum activity in addition to continued piecemeal development will likely seriously impact the ability of reindeer herding to adapt to climate change and will further limit the ac- cess to spring, calving and summer ranges (Vistnes et al . 2008a). As these ranges are vital to reindeer herd- ing, a lack of policy to protect these ranges may have serious consequences for the ability of herding to per- sist at the extent and in the form known today. While protected areas mainly are located in inland areas, the coastal zone, which is the area under the highest his- toric and projected development rate, remains gener- ally unprotected. The piecemeal development will: Reduce the amount of available grazing land Reduce herd production (e.g. slaughter weights, calf production), thereby reducing the income and possi- bility for herders to continue with reindeer husbandry Increase internal competition among herders and external competition with mainstream society Reduce the quality of life for herders, their families and indigenous societies as a whole as the impacts of uneven development impact on community resil- ience and gender roles in a negative manner Decrease the ability of reindeer to cope with extreme winter conditions due to loss of summer ranges and thus less growth and weight gain in summer 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

These worst-case scenarios represent mainly the re- sult of projected climate change, projected develop- ment, and beyond all, a continuation of the current lack of policies on securing the traditional grazing ranges (UNEP/EEA, 2004). More sustainable alter- natives may be developed identifying opportunities of mitigation, conflict resolution and regional poli- cies. However, such pathways would have to be de- veloped as part of an integrated program involving both herders, their communities, the indigenous sci- entific community, resource managers, policymak- ers and industry. Considerable effort needs to be directed towards reducing the vulnerability of reindeer husbandry to the effects of climate change. Only in this way can reindeer husbandry continue to develop confidently as an ecologically and economically robust form of land use. Research needs to be directed towards enhancing the ability of the reindeer husbandry to adapt to the challenges ahead. These challenges include not only the putative effects of climate change but also loss of pastures (both physically and as a result of reduced use), the effects of pre- dation and the management of product develop- ment and marketing. The limits of the adaptive capacity of reindeer hus- bandry must be defined, documented and explored together with the potential role of herders’ traditional

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