Arctic development scenario, human impact in 2050


I


Human impact High


High - medium Medium - low


II 2002


2.5 million semi-domesticated reindeer are herded in Eurasia over 4 million square kilometres4 of the population located in Russia13


. From 1970 to 1990


the population of semi-domesticated reindeer decreased by 50% across Russia. Herd numbers in Norway, Sweden, and Finland are increasing again, following two decades of growth between 1970 and 1990 and a period of decline between 1990 and 20004


approximately 700,0004 2050 development within the ranges of large herds6 , with two-thirds


Source: Modified from analysis published in GEO3 Global Environment Outlook (2002)


. The actual


physical loss of pasture land to development is not the main issue; it is abandonment by caribou and reindeer of areas surrounding developments that is of serious concern14-17


. .


Developments and human activity create “avoidance” zones for the animals, reducing the amount of land available for grazing and increasing competition for forage4


. The total Scandinavian population stands at .


Threats Caribou and reindeer require extensive grazing lands to forage. The loss of pastures and habitat fragmentation by industrial and recreational development is a serious and on-going threat, especially given the increasing interest in


52 PROTECTING ARCTIC BIODIVERSITY


Other activities can have additional impacts for caribou and wild/semi-domestic reindeer. Habitat fragmentation due to intensive forestry and mineral and hydrocarbon development provides easier access for hunters and predators. This contributes to declines in wild populations, as documented for wild reindeer in Finland and for the woodland caribou population in Ontario, Canada8,18


.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100