WINHEC AGM, Kautokeino 2010 Sustainable development and Climate Change Ellen Inga Turi The Social...
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Transcript of WINHEC AGM, Kautokeino 2010 Sustainable development and Climate Change Ellen Inga Turi The Social...
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: [email protected]