In an historic day for reindeer herders in the Taiga region of southern Sakha (Yakutia) and beyond, a branch organisation of the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry was established last week (Feb 25) during the second EALAT Information workshop held in the Evenki village of Khatystyr in the Aldan region of (southern Sakha Yakutia). According to the Agreement, signed by Sergei Kuznetsov (Head of the Aldan region), Dmitry Marfusalov (Mayor of Khatystyr), Anders Oskal (ICR Director) and Johan Mathis Turi (WRH General Secretary), the purpose of the Centre is to.....    
 

                                    

The newly established Centre for Taiga Reindeer Husbandry will be based in Khatystyr, a village of approx 1500 people, and will work on the local (Khatystyr and surrounding villages in Aldan) and regional levels (Amur region and Khabarovsk), where reindeer herding and hunting are the primary livelihoods. With Taiga reindeer husbandry also practiced in nearby China and Mongolia, there are future prospects for international cooperation.  

The Centre is to be financed by the Khatystyr and Aldan administrations for the next 5 years and is in part fulfilment of the Yakutsk Declaration of 2005 whereby the Association of World Reindeer Herders requested that special attention be paid to Taiga reindeer husbandry and that the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) move to suport the establishment of such a centre. A great deal of work has been undertaken since that time by World Reindeer Herders Association, Vice President, Maria Pogodaeva.
 

Anders Oskal, Director of the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry stated:
 

The positive aspects of this event was echoed by Johan Mathis Turi of the World Reindeer Herders Association,

"I got the impression that the Republic really intends to protect reindeer husbandry and I was also very impressed with the level of local engagement"

Taiga reindeer husbandry faces special challenges when compared to that practiced in the tundra regions. Herds are smaller, meat production is not the primary source of revenue, herders are also hunters, and intense development such as mining, logging and infrastructure have led to pasture fragmentation and reduced recruitment of young people into the livelihood. The Aldan region is particularly known for its gold mining activities. These challenges were recognised by Aldan region leader Sergei Kuznetsov when he stated that he was very pleased to cooperate with herders from a region like Norway that has experienced a lot of development as they will be able to share their experiences with the Aldan region. 

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 The agreement was signed at the close of the 2nd EALAT workshop in Sakha (Yakutia) which was attended by over 70 reindeer herders, hunters, administrators, researchers, teachers, students and villagers and was held in the impressive new school in Khatystyr. While most participants were from Khatystyr, Aldan and Yakutsk, there was also a delegation from the Amur region (Amurskaya oblast). The workshop was held over three days and involved a lively exchange of views and opinions on the future of Taiga reindeer husbandry. Johan Mathis Turi informed participants about reindeer husbandry in Scandinavia, Anders Oskal about the work of ICR and student Risten Eira related her work in snow terminology in the EALAT CEAVVI project. Philip Burgess documented the workshop. There were also visits to a herd included in the programme, and several cultural events.
 

The centre is to be initially staffed by Maxim Arsimov, a student of economics in the Yakutsk Technical Institute who lives in Khatystyr and a Director is being sought.