Reindeer Husbandry - The project

The Arctic Council Projects 2000-2004

Part I - Sustainable Reindeer Husbandry

At the first ministerial meeting in Arctic Council, in Iqaluit Canada, the former Norwegian foreign minister Knut Vollebęk, focused on different Arctic industries (oil & gas, fisheries, and reindeer herding) and how these industries are related to sustainable development. Vollebęk stated that Norway would initiate international workshops in these themes. The workshop which discussed reindeer husbandry, was held in Kautokeino, Norway, in March 2000 under the heading "Sustainable reindeer herding and husbandry". The chairmen`s summary from the workshop states:

"The Arctic Council should initiate a project to survey the situation in the reindeer husbandry industry. Such a project would have to consider the different aspects of reindeer husbandry and be carried out in collaboration with the Association of World Reindeer Herders."
The project "Sustainable Reindeer Husbandry" was approved by the Arctic Council as a project under the Sustainable Development Programme at the Ministerial meeting in Barrow, Alaska 2000.

The aim of the project was to assess circumpolar reindeer herding and husbandry in relation to economic and social/cultural sustainability.

To read more about the project, visit the webpage at:Sustainable Reindeer Husbandry.

It is also possible to order the "Sustainable Reindeer Husbandry" report.

Part II - Family-Based Reindeer Economy, and the Status and Management of Caribou Populations

This project is a follow-up, and instead of focusing exclusively on the herders, as the previous project did, it will examine the role of the whole family in reindeer husbandry. It will also study geographic population distributions, the growth and development of wild reindeer/caribou herds, as well as the indigenous societies that hunt them. This will include issues related to the traditional economies and ways of life of indigenous reindeer herders and hunters.

The project’s formal start-up date was in January 2003 and it will conclude in December 2004.

The project will focus on two main challenges which were recognised in the recommendations of the International Steering Committee in the Sustainable Reindeer Husbandry project. These challenges are:

co-existence between caribou/wild reindeer and domesticated reindeer around the circumpolar North, and
development of a family-based reindeer/caribou economy.

Anticipated outcome

A review and documentation of circumpolar reindeer husbandry and the wild reindeer/Caribou as an economic and social foundation for Arctic indigenous people.

The project will make for better understanding of the industry’s needs and of how to meet future challenges, and identify areas for action and the need for international cooperation.

The project will involve families in the reindeer industry and families in hunting societies, who will represent different groups of indigenous people. This will thus facilitate the exchange of knowledge necessary for further work in this field.

The results will be made public and available/distributed to members, permanent participants and observers of the Arctic Council, as well as reindeer herders and hunters, educational institutions etc.

The project will help to:

Improve the database and scientific knowledge in circumpolar reindeer industry and hunting societies,
Identify problems and shortcomings in reindeer hunting and husbandry, taking into account the cultural variety and modernisation processes, and
Identify areas of action and the need for following up.

It is possible to order the "Family-Based Reindeer Economy, and the Status and Management of Caribou Populations" report.