Reindeer Husbandry and Barents 2030

INTRODUCTION

Reindeer husbandry is a traditional livelihood in Eur­ asia, carried out by more than 20 different ethnic in- digenous Arctic peoples in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Mongolia and China, (e.g. the Sámi, Nenets, Komi, Khanti, Dolgan, Nganasan, Yukagir, Even, Evenk, Sakha (Yakut), Chukchi, Koryak, and Chuvan), involving up to 100,000 herders, 2.5 million semi-do- mesticated reindeer, and four million square kilom- eters (Figure 1). Reindeer pastoralism is a traditional livelihood that represents a model of sustainable ex- ploitation and management of northern terrestrial eco- systems based upon generations of experience ac- cumulated, conserved, developed and adapted to the climatic and political/economic systems of the north. Reindeer husbandry represents a complex coupled system of interchange between humans and animals in the Arctic. Therefore, any vision of sustainability that is related to the Arctic cannot but take account of the knowledge and lessons learned by those who practice reindeer husbandry and related subsistence activities in the region. Reindeer Husbandry and Barents 2030 discusses potential consequences of oil and gas development in the Barents Region (northern Fennoscandia and north-east Russia), assuming potential future devel- opment of several LNG plants, crude oil terminals, and pipeline systems in the area. The basis for these assumptions is the Barlindhaug 2030 scenarios (Bar-

Ellen Inga Turi

lindhaug 2005) and how they add to existing scenarios of development in the region. Upgraded UNEP Globio maps for reindeer pastures in the Barents region are presented, including potential loss of grazing land towards 2030 if coupled with extensive petroleum development. Three scenarios are described, giving possible outcomes of varying levels of oil and gas de- velopment and how they will impact the region gen- erally, and reindeer husbandry more specifically. The report concludes by recommending a number of spe- cific actions and mitigation measures of significance for reindeer husbandry regionally.

REINDEER HUSBANDRY AND BARENTS 2030