Reindeer News Roundup from Russia
Today is reindeer day for the Nenets people of the Yamal Nenets Autonomous Okrug, where the reindeer is celebrated, along with festivities and cultural events, which are being held in Naryan Mar. Further East, a new nature reserve has been approved for Vaigach Island in the western Russian Arctic by the Nenets Autonomous District administration, which besides being of importance ecologically, is also a sacred site for the indigenous Nenets people.
A Murmansk businessman has proposed to the Kremlin that reindeer husbandry be made a priority industry on the Kola Peninsula according to RosbaltNord. Also, on the Kola Peninsula, environmentalists are supporting the development of wind power - an issue that has given rise to controversy within reindeer husbandry in Norway (see our Shared News Items links on the right).
The Arctic Ungulates conference gets underway this week in Yakutia and will be attended by ICR Director Anders Oskal.
As if anyone needed a reminder, pipelines can be subject to accidents and this is a serious cause for concern for reindeer husbandry wherever there is oil and gas activity.