The assessment of the socio-economic damage of the indigenous peoples due to industrial development of Russian Arctic

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violetta Gassiy ◽  
Ivan Potravny

The paper discusses the problem of the damage assessing to indigenous peoples in modern Russia in the context of industrial development in Arctic. Today the important question is the correlation of the indigenous inhabitants’ interests of the Arctic territories (the preservation of culture, traditional nature, etc.) with the objectives of companies-subsoil users. Therefore, the business’ and the indigenous peoples’ of the North cooperation mechanisms are currently researched and implemented in the industrial development of the territory, both at the primary stage of discussion, coordination of projects, and during investment project realization. The results of the social survey of the indigenous peoples made by the authors in Arctic areas are performed and analyzed in the paper. The research aims to improve the damage assessment methodology used in Russia.

POPULATION ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-84
Author(s):  
Evgenia V. Potravnaya

The article deals with gender aspects of the perception of environmental problems by the population in the industrial development of the Arctic. There is substantiated the need to develop an ethno-social approach to the study of environmental problems in the framework of interaction between mining companies and the indigenous peoples of the North. It is proposed to conduct sociological surveys of the population when assessing the impact on the ethnological environment (ethnological expertise of the project). The experience of conducting such research to identify and assess gender-specific perceptions of environmental problems in the implementation of investment projects in the Arctic is shown. Based on the results of the empirical research in 2017–2019 on alluvial gold and diamond mining projects in the Northern regions of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the main environmental problems that concern the local population are identified. These include: pollution of the environment in the territories of traditional nature use, decrease in the number of deer, reduction in the number of objects of traditional crafts, lack of a system for garbage removal and processing, climate change, and others. The article shows specifics of the environmental problems perception by the indigenous inhabitants of the North (Evenks, Dolgans, Yukagirs, Sakha) on a gender basis. It proposes a mechanism for taking into account the gender characteristics of the population’s behavior in the impact of economic activities on the environment in order to ensure gender equality by signing an agreement between mining companies and the local population on the socio-economic development of the territory. The concept of a gender approach to the account of ethnosocial and environmental aspects of territory development with the account the life cycle of the project is substantiated. Implementation of this approach will allow a more full account of the interests and needs of the indigenous population in the industrial development of the territory in the Arctic.


Author(s):  
E.V. Potravnaya ◽  

The article deals with the implementation of Russia’s national development goals for the period up to 2030, including population conservation, improving the demographic situation, fighting poverty, and creating new jobs in relation to the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Based on the results of a sociological study carried out in 2019 in the Momsky and Oymyakonsky districts of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the views and economic behavior of the young generation of indigenous peoples of the North on the industrial development of the Arctic are analyzed. The purpose of the study was to study the behavioral and social attitudes of local residents of these areas on issues related to the implementation of projects for the extraction of placer gold and the formation of recommendations for building effective communication between local residents and representatives of the mining company. As a result of sociological surveys to identify the attitude of local residents towards the socio-economic, environmental problems and problems related to the preservation of the traditional culture of the inhabitants of these areas to develop recommendations to improve the quality level of life, identified the most promising areas of development that can be supported by the mining company identified the correlation between age and other socio–demographic indicators of the population, in particular young people with the perception of socio-economic and environmental problems of the area, as well as economic activity for the extraction of placer gold on the river Artyk, as well as identified needs and setup of local residents, you need to consider the controls and the mining company at the organization of economic activity during project implementation for the extraction of placer gold.


Resources ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Evdokia Burtseva ◽  
Anatolii Sleptsov ◽  
Anna Bysyina ◽  
Alla Fedorova ◽  
Gavril Dyachkovskii

The main industry in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is the mining industry, which will continue to expand in the future. Already today there are quite a lot of investment projects for the development of minerals in the Arctic, North-West and South Yakutia, which will be implemented in the territories of indigenous minorities of the North. Indigenous Evens, Evenks, Yukaghirs make up 4.2% of the total population of the republic and are characterized by low genetic diversity, which can lead to negative consequences in relation to their health status when exposed to technogenic pollution. Purpose of the study: assessment of the state of life of indigenous minorities of the North in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) under the conditions of a new stage of industrial development of territories of traditional nature management. The planned increasing industrial development of territories of traditional nature management can cause large-scale disturbances of the earth’s surface, depletion of biological resources, environmental pollution, which will ultimately lead to deterioration in the quality of life of the population. In order to take measures to prevent and reduce the negative impacts of industrial development of the territories of residence and traditional activities of indigenous minorities of the North, when implementing new projects, the expert commission recommends concluding a trilateral agreement on cooperation and financing of specific programs between industrial companies, government bodies of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and authorized representatives of indigenous minorities of the North. Research area—the position of indigenous minorities of the North in the conditions of industrial development of the North, Siberia and the Far East. This study looks at the impact of industrial development on the natural environment and the traditional way of life of indigenous population. Compensation for damage to the nomadic tribal communities of reindeer herders has taken place. Only about 250 thousand representatives of 40 indigenous peoples live in these regions, who are included in the official list of indigenous minorities of the North, Siberia and the Far East.


Resources ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violetta Gassiy ◽  
Ivan Potravny

This article discusses the results of research on the benefit sharing system in Russia focusing on compensation of losses to indigenous peoples due to industrial development in the Arctic. The authors analyzed a Russian case-study on the economic mechanisms of coordination and harmonization of multi-vector and conflicting interests in the process of industrial development of traditional lands. The developed recommendations will allow, on the one hand, compensating the losses of the indigenous communities, and, on the other hand, to engage indigenous peoples in the process of environmental management and socio-economic development of their territories. The object of the research was the Republic of Sakha and the indigenous communities of the remote Anabar region. The calculation of losses was considered. The authors suggest using this tool for the traditional lands development, because it helps to define fair compensation due to project impacts and to form a fund for sustainable community development. The considered project was exploring and extracting placer diamonds in Polovinnaya River in Yakutia. This paper also presents the social poll results organized in the indigenous communities in 2017. The results helped to formulate the recommendations for the business on benefit sharing agreements with Anabar communities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Геннадий Чеботарев ◽  
Gyennadiy CHyebotaryev ◽  
Елена Гладун ◽  
Elena Gladun

The authors explain the significance of the presented subject by the current intensive industrial development of the Arctic territories of the Russian Federation and other Northern countries, which apart from positive economic and social benefits, also brings climate change, environmental problems and destroys traditional lifestyle and economy management of indigenous minorities of the North. The article proves that in many countries indigenous minorities of the North are interested not only in enforcement and guarantees of their rights on the part of the state, but also in making managerial decisions on the use and protection of territories which is the traditional place of their inhabitance and economic activity, together with government authorities and resource-users. The authors view co-management as an efficient model of interrelations between the state, local self-government and indigenous minorities of the North. The authors analyze international rules, foreign laws and regulations, and legislation of the Russian Federation that create legal framework for the implementation of the co-management model in the Arctic territories of Russia. In their article the authors indicate gaps in federal legislation in the area of protection of the Northern indigenous peoples’ rights to govern the territories of their traditional inhabitance and economic activity. In the end the authors state the possibilities to fill the gaps in the federal and regional legislation on the indigenous minorities’ rights, in particular, they suggest approving and ratifying international documents on indigenous peoples, including co-management norms, into the RF legislation, and also expanding possibilities of government and local authorities on indigenous minorities’ involvement into management over the Northern territories.


Author(s):  
Е.В. РОМАНОВА ◽  
Н.В. ХАРАЙДАНОВ

В статье представлены результаты корреляционного анализа взаимосвязи показателей численности населения Арктической зоны республики и результатов традиционного хозяйствования, которые для населения являются жизнеобеспечивающими. Стратегическое развитие Арктической зоны России и в том числе Республики Саха (Якутия) нацелено на создание опорных зон развития, формирование которых должно носить комплексный характер, учитывающий и промышленное освоение территорий, и защиту уклада жизни малочисленных коренных народов Севера. При этом статистика народонаселения свидетельствует о сокращении численности населения. Поэтому в статье была принята гипотеза о взаимосвязи показателей численности населения и показателей традиционного хозяйствования, среди которых были выбраны показатели поголовья северных оленей, крупного рогатого скота и лошадей. Для анализа взаимосвязей была использована эмпирическая база статистических данных за период 2017-2019 гг. по 13-ти арктическим районам (улусам) Арктической зоны Республики Саха (Якутия). Для проведения корреляционного анализа предварительно была изучена вариация по значениям показателей. Высокий уровень вариации показателей может быть объяснен тем фактом, что территория Арктической зоны республики достаточно обширна, включает 13 муниципальных районов, для каждого из которых характерен тот или иной вид хозяйствования. Корреляционный анализ включал расчет линейных парных коэффициентов корреляции за каждый год исследуемого периода. Значения коэффициентов корреляции показали, что взаимосвязь существует и имеет умеренно-сильный характер только по показателям поголовья КРС и лошадей, а по показателю поголовья северных оленей взаимосвязь не подтвердилась. В дополнение к показателям корреляции были рассчитаны коэффициенты эластичности, которые подтвердили данные выводы. Результаты исследования могут быть использованы для повышения степени информированности органов государственной и местной власти в части разработки и реализации государственных мероприятий по освоению Севера России. The article presents the results of a correlation analysis of the relationship between the indices of the number of indigenous peoples of northern Yakutia and the results of traditional management, which are life-supporting for the population of the Arctic zone of the republic. The strategic development of the Russian Arctic zone, including the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), is aimed at creating supporting development zones, the formation of which should be of an integrated nature, taking into account both the industrial development of territories and the protection of the way of life of the indigenous peoples of the North. At the same time, the population statistics indicate a decline in the population. Therefore, the article adopted a hypothesis about the relationship between population indicators and indicators of traditional farming (the number of reindeer, cattle, and horses). To analyze the relationships, we used an empirical database of statistical data for the period 2017-2019 for 13 Arctic districts (uluses) of the Arctic zone of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). To carry out the correlation analysis, the variation in the values ​​of the indicators was preliminarily studied. The high level of variation in indicators can be explained by the fact that the territory of the Arctic zone of the republic is quite extensive, including 13 municipal districts, each of which is characterized by one or another type of management. The correlation analysis included the calculation of linear paired correlation coefficients for each year of the study period. The values ​​of the correlation coefficients showed that the relationship exists and has a moderately strong character only in terms of the number of cattle and horses; in terms of the number of reindeer, the relationship was not confirmed. In addition to the correlation measures, elasticity coefficients were calculated, which confirmed these conclusions. The results of the study can be used to increase the awareness of state and local authorities in terms of the development and implementation of state measures for the development of the North of Russia.


Resources ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burtseva Evdokia ◽  
Bysyina Anna

In the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic, hereinafter SR, the Arctic zones are the original habitat of indigenous peoples, who can conduct economic activities only in undisturbed or lightly disturbed lands. From this point of view, the problem of compensation for losses of indigenous peoples as a result of industrial development of territories is of particular relevance. At the same time, it is necessary to identify the main problems of indemnification of losses of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North (ISNPN) during the industrial development of the traditional natural resource management territories (TNRMT). The study was conducted using historical, geographical, analytical, synthetic, and statistical methods. In the Arctic zone, the diamond mining, gold mining, and coal mining industrial facilities are located inside TNRM areas. In the near future, it is planned to revive the tin industry, develop oil and gas fields on the continental Arctic shelf, and develop the Tomtor Complex Rare-Earth Deposit. In 2010, a law of the SR was passed: “On Ethnological Expertise in the Places of Traditional Residence and Traditional Economic Activities of the Peoples of the SR”. To date, in the ethnological examination of SR, we have investigated 13 investment business projects. In the course of the investigation, it turned out that most of the comments from both experts and tribal communities concern the section of compensation for damages. The official methodology developed on materials from the polar regions of the western part of Russia cannot be extrapolated to the entire territory of the North, Siberia, and the Far East. It is necessary to develop regional methods for calculating losses of indigenous peoples, which regulate the interaction of subsoil users with the authorities and representatives of the clan communities engaged in traditional crafts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 568-581
Author(s):  
A.N. Sleptsov ◽  

The article considers the role and place of nomadic tribal communities of indigenous peoples of the North in administration of traditional nature management. It is shown that the emergence of such communities is due to a profound transformation of economic relations in the Arctic in the context of the transition to new economic conditions in the 90s of the XX century. The author gives the characteristic of such tribal communities in the municipal areas of the Arctic zone of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Using the example of the nomadic tribal community “Omoloy” in the Ust-Yansky district of the republic, he shows its role in the development of traditional nature management, ensuring employment and income of the local population. The author presents the scheme of interaction of the tribal community as a primary production unit with government authorities and other economic entities to ensure the socio-economic development of the Arctic territories and substantiates the measures for the harmonization of relations between tribal communities and mining companies in the context of the Arctic industrial development.


2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 933
Author(s):  
Andrey Novoselov ◽  
Ivan Potravny ◽  
Irina Novoselova ◽  
Violetta Gassiy

The method of the social investing of the Arctic subsoil users is considered in this article. As the portfolio of social investments is formed based on the interests of indigenous peoples, the authors used expert assessment and sociological research for social investing modeling. A two-stage procedure for forming a portfolio of such projects is proposed. An approach has also been developed for assessing and selecting investment projects for the Arctic sustainable development according to different criteria of optimality. The authors substantiate the need for a new approach to sustainable development of the Arctic, based not on compensation for the negative consequences of industrial development used in many countries, but on social investment. In this article the proposed approach is tested on the case of the Arctic indigenous community in Taimyr and the optimal social investing portfolio is justified.


Polar Record ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Lokken ◽  
Gregory L. Finstad ◽  
Kriya L. Dunlap ◽  
Lawrence K. Duffy

ABSTRACTReindeer and caribou are terrestrial herbivores, that feed on lichens and are used for commercial and subsistence food products. Caribou are a key component of the arctic food web and the bioaccumulation of toxic contaminants, such as mercury (Hg), needs to be monitored to establish a baseline as the arctic environment is impacted by both climate change and future industrial development. A changing climate in Alaska is influencing plant species composition, fire regime, melting and flooding events, and thus, impacting Hg bioavailability in the food chain. Industrial development in Asia is also projected to increase the atmospheric global pool of Hg from increased coal combustion. Reindeer, a domesticated representative of caribou, can be used as a terrestrial biomonitor for metal exposure. In this study total mercury concentrations were measured in lichens and in hair of grazing reindeer on defined ranges across Alaska to establish a baseline for future hypothesis development and testing regarding Hg deposition. The Hg mean level for Seward Peninsula lichens on the Davis Range was 37.4 ng g−1, on the Gray Range 47.1 ng g−1, on the Kakaruk Range 42.2 ng g−1, and 41.7 ng g−1 on the Noyakuk Range. Lichen Hg levels on St. Lawrence Island was 46.6 ng g−1. Methyl mercury levels in lichens were found to be below detection levels. Reindeer grazing on these ranges had mean Hg hair levels of 14.6 ng g−1 (Davis herd), 83.4 ng g−1 (Gray herd), and 40.3 ng g−1 (Noyakuk herd). Two reindeer on St. Lawrence Island had an average of Hg of 43.0 ng g−1. Sample sizes ranged from n = 2 to n = 11. Hg mean levels in lichen on Seward Peninsula were higher than Hg means of two ranges in northern Mongolia. The Hg levels observed in this study indicate that Hg levels in Alaska are low at this time and pose no risk to the health of reindeer or human subsistence harvesters. A significant relationship between Hg in lichens on the ranges and the Hg in reindeer on those ranges has not been established. There are insufficient data on Hg levels in many areas of the north and more information is needed on location specific and time trends in Hg concentrations. Lichens and reindeer hair provide a good, non-invasive method of monitoring metal exposure changes in Alaskan ecosystems.


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