EALÁT-RESEARCH: Reindeer Herders Vulnerability Network Study: Reindeer pastoralism in a changing climate.

IPY EALÁT-RESEARCH focuses through research on understanding adaptive capacity of reindeer pastoralism to climate variability and change in Russia and Norway. IPY EALÁT Reindeer herding and climate change has received full endorsement from IPY Joint commi tty (number 399) and is a core project for World Reindeer husbandry in IPY. EALÁT Network study is a follow up from the Arctic Council ACIA report 2005 (Climatee Impact Assessment ) and is in aggreement of the Yakutsk declaration from Association of World Reindeer Herders World Congress in Sahka (Yakutia) 2005. ACIA concluded that the Arctic is warming faster than previously thought and that indigenous peoples will expericence substantial challenges to their econmoies and their cultures as a result. The reindeer herding pastures are probably the placees were warming is going to be most sigificant for the next 30-50 years. During the First Polar Year 1882-1883 a polar stations was established in Kautokeino. IPY 2007/2008 must include competence building in local societies of Arctic indigenous peoples. The reindeer herding practices of the Arctic represents models in the sustainable exploitation in the northern terrestrial ecosystems that have developed and adapted in situ to climate and administrative s ystems of these regions. There is an urgent need to document the changes reindeer herders are subjected and the herders traditional knowledge related to adaptation to changing condition. Partnership between Russian and Sami reindeer herders in knowledge production is an important towards this. EALÁT-RESEARCH adopts a novel methodological approach in which herders experience and understanding are documented , analysed and intergrated with scientific data. This recoginses the ability to adapt to change is based on knowledge embodied in the language, institutions of herding and the action of individual herders. Saami University College aggree that all EALAT-RESEARCH participants will follow IPY data policy.