Reindeer husbandry moves between different pastures has been going on for centuries and long irrespective of the nation’s borders. In connection with the border drawing between Norway and Sweden in 1751, there was a need to clarify the relationship to the reindeer herders. This resulted in the so-called Lapcodicil, which was an addition to the border treaty between the two countries, and which provided the basis for the reindeer husbandry – that it still should be able to make seasonal moves. The cross-border reindeer husbandry has since that been regulated by various conventions, the latest convention of 9 February 1972 for grazing between Norway and Sweden. The 1972-Convention ceased to apply in 2005.

The proposal to the Convention has at the present a total of 34 articles with the main provisions of the cross-border reindeer husbandry. Convention’s purpose is to promote and develop cooperation between the countries so that reindeer grazing is exploited in a way that provides a long-term basis for an ecologically, economically and culturally sustainable reindeer herding in both countries.

For implementation of the Convention established two permanent bodies, a body and a review body. One of the Annexes to the Convention is a range protocol, that specifies the locations to be included in the cross-border reindeer husbandry.

Before a new Convention can be implemented, there must be a further follow-up through the signature, internal processes in both countries and ratification. A new convention will probably take effect in 2010.

Oskal also said that on his recent visits to the region (Yamal Nenets Autonomous Okrug) it was quite visible how oil and gas installations impacted the landscape and in particular, how pipelines cut reindeer pastures in two.

You can read a summary and listen to the interview here.

In another story on ‘Russia Today’ there is a short video clip on how oil and gas development is bringing economic opportunities to reindeer herders in the Nenets region. You can watch the video clip here. 

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.