Climate Change, Vulnerability and Adaptation Among Nenets Reindeer Herders

Abstract

The case study presented here concerns two geographical areas: the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Tyumen Oblast) and Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Archangelsk Oblast). The question that prompted this study was how the Nenets reindeer herders perceived the effect of climate change on reindeer husbandry. This chapter presents local understanding of reindeer husbandry related exposure-sensitivities, climatic influences on reindeer herding and local reactions to recent climate change. Herders consider that not only climate warming, but also weather instability and abruptness, resulting in the formation of ice crusts inhibiting reindeer forage access and phenological shifts and in turn contributing to both pasture overgrazing and the loss of new-born calves, are the most frequent and severe hazards occurring in recent years. The traditional reindeer herding economy has proved flexible and adaptive to the changeable environment; however the combination of current stresses may prove too severe a test. Nenets reindeer herders, despite developing means to adapt to climate change, are on the whole pessimistic about the future of a reindeer herding economy.