Cooperation on understanding adaptation to climate change in indigenous societies in the Russian north.

Climate variability, climate change and the social/cultural transformations associated with globalisation have been, and continue to be, responsible for major changes in physical environment, the biota and the cultures of indigenous. This is due in part t o the variability of the Arctic climate and the characteristic way of life of indigenous Arctic peoples. Determination of the potential impact of climate change on coupled human-ecological systems in the north is, therefore, a major priority. Arctic indig enous communities have shown great resilience and adaptability to climatic variations in the past. This project is has a multidisiplinary approach including the Nenets reindeer herders view on Oil and Gas development on the Yamal Pennisula used for reinde er grazing Adaptive capacity and resilience in the past does not necessarily imply adaptive capacity and resilience to changes in the future. Due to globalisation local systems may be governed to a large extend by international processes, meaning that t he local level may be reliant on governance or decision-making processes at levels which may not be accessible to local actors. The study of impacts of climate change on reindeer pastoralism must therefore also include the dimensions of governance and ins titutional setting.We aim to arrange a workshop in Yamal Nenets AO, Russia in June 2009 to gather Norwegian and Russians researchers, students, Saami and Nenets reindeer herders to develope a stronger research and information cooperation in future. We ha ve almost 20 years experience in working with Indigenous societies in the Russian North. The workshop is a IPY legacy connected to the project EALAT Climate Change and Reindeer Husbandry and the workshop will discuss the development of a future joint Norw egian-Russian International Research Institute in the framework of University of the Arctic: UARCTIC EALAT INSTITUTE. Scientist from Salekhard, Yamal Nenets AO, St.Peterburg, Kautokeino and Tromsø will participate