Wild Reindeer: Ethnic Traditions and the Current Situation in Taymyr
For the indigenous population of Taymyr (the Dolgans, the Nenets, the Enets, the Nganasan, and the Evenks), hunting wild reindeer remains an ethno-conservation industry and the basis of their livelihood. A limit set by the government for indigenous people is eight reindeer per person per year. However, during the last two decades, the size of the Taymyr wild reindeer herds has been rapidly declining, which threatens the existence of native settlements that literally live on the wild reindeer. Global climate change, industrial pollution associated with the new round of oil and gas production in the Taymyr, poaching, and shooting above license quotas have devastating effects on the reindeer population. The advancement of Taimyr and Tazovsky reindeer herders to traditional wild reindeer migration areas aggravates the situation. Scientists advocate for the revival of a unified system of management and control over the largest population of wild reindeer in Eurasia, aimed at the protection and rational use of the unique natural resource on the territory of Taymyr, the north of Evenkia, Yakutia, and Yamal. Indigenous people play a special role in restructuring the hunting industry on the territories of traditional nature use. However, coordinated decision-making and action by small-numbered people associations and unions get thwarted by profound contradictions both between and within these public organizations.