IPY MODIL NAO Project Released

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Written by Philip Burgess

Wednesday, 03 February 2010 15:36

The IPY MODIL NAO project has concluded and released its final report and GIS database. Entitled Monitoring of development of traditional indigenous land use areas in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Northwestern Russia (MODIL-NAO), this was an interdisciplinary, collaborative project carried out by the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Association of Nenets People Yasavey, financed by the Research Council of Norway in the framework of the International Polar Year 2007-08 and the Norwegian Polar Institute.

The project deliverables include a 180 page report, an Executive summary and an extensive GIS database that can be viewed with Google Earth
Visit the project website and download the GIS database here.

Key findings of the MODIL-NAO project include.

Difficulties that affect reindeer herding units, apart from deterioration and reduction of the pasture areas, include such social factors like poor management, the loss of prestige in reindeer husbandry as a livelihood, loss of traditional knowledge, a significant change of values in the Nenets society, social apathy, unemployment, and, in connection with the latter, the abuse of alcohol.
There are frequent complaints by local populations regarding oil companies and their responsibility towards pollution of pastures, illegal waste disposal, pollution of water resources, decrease of fish stocks, poaching by oil workers and others, and attacks by stray dogs on domestic reindeer.
In areas where future oil development is expected, people are afraid of its negative influence on traditional land use. In areas where oil development has been a reality for some time, people noticed this negative influence but simultaneously saw an improvement of the economic situation due to investments by oil companies into the system of social security.
Traditional land users have little to no influence over the most of the development of oil and gas installations, apart from providing minor technical recommendations.
The high consumption of traditional food among traditional land users indicates a high degree of indigenous people’s vulnerability in the event of reduced or eliminated traditional sources of subsistence. The permanent replacement of traditional food by market food will seriously affect the health and the general wellbeing of the indigenous population.
Environmental regulations are not satisfactory, as there are no effective mechanisms of control. A severe deficiency is the lack of control over the use and misuse of the environment; companies unlawfully use tracked vehicles on summer pastures, pollute lakes and rivers, etc.
Only a few companies fulfill their legal obligations towards indigenous peoples; in recent years’ the trend shows that such liabilities are no longer included in the license agreements.