Applications of space-based technologies to examine LCLUC on the Yamal Peninsula, Russia: Combining satellite imagery with traditional knowledge to study the effects of petroleum development on reindeer herding
Bruce
C.
Forbes, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Box 122, FIN-96101 Rovanienmi, Finland, bforbes@ulapland.fi
Florian
Stammler, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Box 122, FIN-96101 Rovanienmi, Finland, fms36@cam.ac.uk
Anu
Pajunen, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Box 122, FIN-96101 Rovanienmi, Finland, anu.pajunen@oulu.fi
Elina
Kaarlejärvi, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Box 122, FIN-96101 Rovanienmi, Finland, elina.kaarlejarvi@gmail.com
Timo
Kumpula, Department of Geography, University of Joensuu, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland, timo.kumpula@joensuu.fi
Nina
Meschtyb, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology RAS,, Leninsky pr. 32-A, Moscow, 119334 Russia, , ,, meschtyb@mail.ru
Donald
A. (Skip)
Walker, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA,, ,, ffdaw@uaf.edu
(Presenting)
Anatoli
Gubarkov, Tyumen State Oil and Gas University, 38, Volodarski str, Tyumen, Russia, agubarkov@mail.ru
Marina
Leibman, Earth Cryosphere Institute SB RAS, Moscow, Russia, moleibman@gmail.com
Artem
Khomutov, Earth Cryosphere Institute SB RAS, Tyumen, Russia, akhomutov@gmail.com
Oil and gas activities over the past 30+ years have had profound impacts on the social-ecological systems of northwestern Russia. The region has also been undergoing rapid climatic warming, with important ramifications for tundra vegetation and permafrost soils. We are investigating the extent of visible and perceived changes by using a case study approach in two areas of intensive oil and gas development. Migratory Nenets reindeer herders, whose ‘brigades’ (herding units) interact directly with oil and gas infrastructure and workers, are active participants in the project. Our aim is the co-production of knowledge relevant to assessing the overall impacts – both positive and negative – from past exploration and current production phases. This approach combines state-of-the-art quantitative methods, such as very high-resolution satellite image analysis, with the qualitative ‘traditional’ knowledge that comes from the collective experience of herding, hunting,fishing, and gathering throughout the same territories for centuries. Gross changes in land cover, such as desertification and expanding infrastructure, are relatively easy to detect via remote sensing. However, understanding how contemporary livelihoods actually are affected by and respond to these processes requires extensive participant observation and interviews with Nenets herders both in the tundra and in the villages.Important findings to date include: (1) Large areas of terrain have switched from shrub-dominated to graminoid-dominated. (2) Mechanical disturbance can lead either to erosion, on sandy substrates, or to highly productive swards on more organic soils. (3) Herders recognize weather patterns interpreted by scientists as clear signals of a warming climate, e.g. later freeze-up, earlier thaw, increasing shrubs, mid-winter icing events. (4) They feel that changes associated with petroleum development present more serious short- and long-term threats due to losses of pastureland and a lack of meaningful input into development-related decision-making.
NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Active Awards Represented by this Poster: