Scientists of Yamal together with reindeer herders went on “the roadmap” of pasturelands use

Scientists of the scientific center for study of the Arctic Valery Kibenko and Sergey Zuyev together with representatives of the regional specialized agencies and deputies of the Legislative Assembly of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug participated in the working trip to Nadymskiy district, where they visited reindeer herders’ nomadic camps and trading stations. The researchers visited private farms and brigades of reindeer-herding enterprises “Yarsalinskoye” and “Panayevskoye”, summer routes of which are located in Yamalskiy district, and winter routes – on inter-settlement areas of Nadymskiy district. They told the reindeer herders about the results of scientific work being fulfilled within “the roadmaps” on rational use of reindeer pastures and ensuring of safe epizootic environment, as the scientific center for study of the Arctic reports.

The junior researcher of the center for study of the Arctic Sergey Zuyev presented the results of geobotanical assessment of pastures, acquainted to the methodology of conducting of this research and the results of calculation of reindeer capacity of pastures. In 2017 researches were conducted in Yamalskiy and Tazovskiy districts. Representatives of five academic institutions and two research centers participated in them. In 2018 the work was continued on the territory of Priuralskiy district. The results confirmed oppression of reindeer pasturelands, shortage of economic stock of feed lichens. In addition, reindeer herders received information on the results of research of experience in corral (fenced) reindeer husbandry in Purovsky and Krasnoselkoup districts. Sergey Zuyev explained difficulties of development of taiga reindeer husbandry and year-round grazing of tundra reindeer in the forest zone. Also the specialists and the reindeer herders discussed restoration of feed stocks on the Yamal Peninsula, what measures should be taken to minimize influence on reindeer pastures.

Valery Kibenko, the researcher at the center for study of the Arctic, conducted the preliminary stage of the research work on the topic “Socioeconomic factors of life activity and social well-being of indigenous peoples of the North living in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and leading traditional way of life”. He collected sociological data on assessments of the state of reindeer pastures, influence of climate change and industrial development on traditional way of life, information on life strategies of reindeer herders and their children, material and technical, food supply and other socioeconomic aspects.

As we should add, in 2017 scientists of Yamal conducted similar studies among reindeer herders of Yamalskiy district. In 2018 there were two expeditions to Tazovskiy district. In 2019 this scientific work will be continued in Priuralskiy district. In 2020 it is planned to conduct a survey among reindeer herders of Nadymskiy, Purovsky and Krasnoselkoup districts. According to the research results, analytical notes on socioeconomic aspects of life of reindeer herders are submitted to the authorities.