On September 30, 2024, the International Center for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR) convened a pivotal round table in Ulaanbaatar titled “Understanding Resilience of the Reindeer Herding Peoples”. This event is a part of the Reindeer Herding and Resilience project, a global initiative dedicated to building a comprehensive knowledge base on the traditional practices of reindeer herders, with a specific focus on land and pasture management.
The round table, an introductory event for the 10545 GEF Initiative Managing Peatlands in Mongolia and Enhancing the Resilience of the Pastoral Ecosystems and Livelihoods of Nomadic Herders Inception Meeting in Ulaanbaatar, was attended by Mr Johan Robinson, Senior Programme Officer responsible for the UNEP GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation portfolios.
Marina Tonkopeeva, Reindeer Herding and Resilience project coordinator, moderated the event. The round table brought together diverse participants, including Anders Oskal, ICR Executive Director, ICR staff based in Norway and Mongolia, and Dukha youth from reindeer herding families in East and West Taiga. Online participants included ICR and UArctic EALÁT Institute staff, Dr Prof. Svein D. Mathiesen, project leader, and Alena Gerasimova, Evenki reindeer herder. Issat Turi, North Sámi reindeer herder, Juhán Nikolaus Wuolab Wollberg, North Sámi reindeer herder, and Maajja-Krihke Bransfjell, South Sámi reindeer herder, and Aksel Falkanger, architect, added a global perspective to the discussion.
As part of the round table, case studies in the reindeer herding areas were reported, such as a training workshop on traditional knowledge of milking reindeer and a working visit to Tsagaannuur to develop a report on Indigenous Reindeer Herders’ Dukha Communication Centre. Participants emphasised that milking plays a significant role in traditional reindeer herding as a means of land management and revitalisation practice. Dukha and Sámi reindeer herding youth agreed that it should be revived in the areas where it had been lost. As for the Dukha Communication Centre, it is highly expected by local communities in both East and West Taiga. Reindeer herding families in Tsagaannuur believe the Centre will become a unique place where reindeer herders could meet, share information, and have joint activities. Some engineering solutions must be applied in the construction, addressing permafrost and weather conditions.
Moreover, Khongorzul Mungunshagai, a young Dukha reindeer herder, shared her experience participating in international training programs and courses organised by the project. Ravdna BM Eira Sara, a PhD Candidate and Sámi reindeer herder, participated online at the round table from the reindeer herding camp and articulated her research focused on the reindeer herders’ food and knowledge systems.
The youth, a vibrant and integral part of the panel, took centre stage in the discussion. They passionately addressed the challenges in reindeer herding, including pasture degradation, limited grazing areas, freedom of movement, access to high-quality medical care and education, and mental health issues. Dukha youth raised concerns about their future in East and West taiga: they were proud to live there and expressed a strong desire to keep taiga clean. Youth talked a lot about community responsibilities, the influence of urbanisation, and the loss of traditional knowledge caused by the loss of pastures. They described their challenges in communication and travelling. Dukha and Sámi youth also consented that one of the solutions to keep the reindeer herding youth in taiga is the construction of the reindeer herding centre in Tsagaannuur. Their active participation and desire to contribute to the project were truly inspiring.
At the end of the round table, Anders Oskal made closing remarks, and Johan Robinson thanked all the participants and wished for a successful project implementation.
All pictures of the Round Table can be found here.