Abstract
Kolguev Island in the Russian Arctic has a unique tundra ecosystem and an indigenous Nenets population whose livelihood is traditionally based on reindeer herding. The Nenets faced a major crisis in 2013–2014 when the reindeer population collapsed. Widely different explanations for this collapse were put forward. This lack of a shared perspective points at the failure of genuine joint knowledge production (JKP) in the island’s UNEP–GEF’s ECORA project (2004–2009). The ECORA project aimed to achieve integrated ecosystem management by stimulating dialog and mutual learning among indigenous people, state agencies, and scientists. This paper analyses the failure of ECORA’s JKP, using a recently developed framework of conditions for successful JKP. The results suggest that ECORA met none of these conditions. It failed at bringing the scientific and indigenous knowledge systems together, and the produced knowledge did not resonate with indigenous people’s perception of living in Kolguev.
Highlights
Kolguev is an island in the Russian Barents Sea, famous for its unique wetlands-rich tundra ecosystems, waterfowl and indigenous Nenets people (Mooij et al 2011; Rouillard 2013)
The fluctuations in reindeer population had been attributed to periodic freeze–thaw events (Krupnik 1993, 140) that result in the formation of ice crusts on vegetation, which severely affect forage availability for Arctic land animals (Forbes et al 2016)
This case study of the ECOlogy of the Russian Arctic (ECORA) project on Kolguev Island is based on qualitative research methods, consisting of open-ended, semi-structured interviews and document analysis (Bickman and Rog 2009; Kvale 2008)
Summary
Kolguev is an island in the Russian Barents Sea (see Figure 1), famous for its unique wetlands-rich tundra ecosystems, waterfowl and indigenous Nenets people (Mooij et al 2011; Rouillard 2013). In 2013 and 2014 the island experienced a dramatic collapse of the reindeer population, which left the Nenets without their main source of income and put the future of Kolguev’s indigenous people and culture in peril. Even though the collapse was unprecedented, large fluctuations in reindeer population size had frequently occurred before. Over time, these fluctuations had been attributed to a wide variety of factors. Despite the multitude of explanations, or perhaps because of them, insufficient action was undertaken to reduce fluctuations and avert collapse
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