WINHEC AGM, Kautokeino 2010

Sustainable development and Climate Change

Ellen Inga Turi

The Social Organisation of Reindeer Pastoralism as a Framework for Resilience

Building

Social-Ecological systems

Reindeer pastoralism is a closely coupled social ecological system where humanity and nature are inseparable, i.e. it is neither purely a social system nor an ecological system, and viewing them as either type in isolation will at best be produce limited conclusions, and at worst produce entirely wrong conclusions (Turi 2008, Folke 2006)

Resilience is the key to long-term sustainability

“A resilient social-ecological system has a greater capacity to avoid unwelcome surprises, i.e. systemic regime shifts, and so has a greater capacity to continue to produce good and services that support our quality of life”

(Walker et. al 2006)

Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Traditional Ecological Knowledge is important in maintaining and developing resilience as it represents a “library of information” on how to cope with change.

(Gunderson et al 1997)

Reindeer herder with herd, YamalReindeer herder with herd, YamalPhoto: EI Turi, July 2009Photo: EI Turi, July 2009

Results: Building resilience through

flexibility

Flexibility in internal Flexibility in internal decision-making and decision-making and response structures response structures

Flexibility in siida/brigade Flexibility in siida/brigade constellations constellations

Reindeer herders on duty observing the herd,Reindeer herders on duty observing the herd, Finnmark FinnmarkPhoto: SD MathiesenPhoto: SD Mathiesen

Results:Building resilience through

diversification

-Diversity in social capital -Diversity in social capital

-Diversity in economic and -Diversity in economic and subsistence activitiessubsistence activities

-Ecological diversity -Ecological diversity Young reindeer girl harnessing castrated bull, Yamal Young reindeer girl harnessing castrated bull, Yamal Photo: EI Turi, April 2007 Photo: EI Turi, April 2007

Results:Building resilience through

mobility

The nomadic strategy = The nomadic strategy = adaptation to the biology of adaptation to the biology of reindeer and climate reindeer and climate conditions of pasture areasconditions of pasture areas

Mobility is a source of Mobility is a source of temporal and spatial flexibilitytemporal and spatial flexibility

Mobility is a way to secure Mobility is a way to secure pasture diversitypasture diversity

Women harnessing bulls for daily migration, Women harnessing bulls for daily migration, Yamal, April 2007 Yamal, April 2007

Social organisation and resilience

The social organisation of reindeer pastoralism enables herders to apply strategies for building and maintaining resilience by incorporating flexibility, preserving diversity, and applying mobility.

The social organisation is thus an important framework for maintaining and building resilience in reindeer pastoralism

Limitations on resilience building

”Although the Norwegian social contract currently focuses on autonomy and rights, it fails to recognize the factors and knowledge that underlie the livelihoods of Saami reindeer herders, such as the importance of maintaining diversity in reindeer herds. The state-assumed responsibility for regulating reindeer production undermines the resilience of reindeer pastoralists by insisting on the use of equilibrium-based management tools such as carrying capacity”

O'Brien, K., B. Hayward, and F. Berkes (2009:8)

Giitu!Giitu!

Ellen Inga Turi

Sámi University College/Umeå University

Phone: +47 92220117

Email: eituri@gmail.com