Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders Shared Knowledge for Decision-Making on Environment and Health Issues in the Arctic Nancy G. Maynard, Ph.D. Associate Director, Environment & Health NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Boris S. Yurchak, Ph.D. Senior Research Scientist, Goddard Earth Sciences & Technology Center Johan Mathis Turi President, Association of World Reindeer Herders (WRH) October 28, 2003 RADARSAT Global View of the Arctic Ocean Credit : NASA JPL, University of Alaska - Fairbanks

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 2 “…to promote a new kind of science where traditional knowledge is integrated into the management of the natural environment in the Arctic.” Johan Mathis Turi President, Association of World Reindeer Herders 2002

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 3 Outline of Talk Integrating Traditional Knowledge into the Management of the Natural Environment in the Arctic The Issue Primary Factors Impacting Health of Indigenous Peoples of the North What is “Reindeer Mapper” (RM) Why NASA The RM System for Shared Knowledge for Decision- making Reindeer Mapper Project – Status

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 4 The Issue Drastic changes in the economy, climate and environment creating critical situations in reindeer husbandry The health and well-being of indigenous peoples (reindeer herders) of the Russian North are directly dependent upon the state of reindeer husbandry –Social: Economic & Cultural Impacts – Reindeer Herders Health Care Problems: Lack of access to healthcare and other services (country economics) –Climate/Environment Impact – Reindeer and Herders Changes in snow/ice cover/permafrost/freeze-thaw and availability/quality of pastures and forage; interrupted migration routes; increased insect harassment Loss of pasture land due to industrial developments (e.g. oil and gas pipelines) Contamination of pastures, snow, ground, lakes, river waters (mining, pollution) Increasing number of predators –Education Issues Lack of access to education/schools/materials for reindeer herders’ children so that they can remain with family/herders but still obtain education (policies, resources)

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 5 Remote Sensing (RS) Indicators of Human Health Related Problems Family Employment Habitation Food Healthcare Spare time Rest Human Health Environmental Factor(s) Indicator Phenomena RS Detection PhysicalBiological Conditions of Life Social Factor(s) RS detection Human Health Caused by Environmental FactorsCaused by Social Factors Indicator Phenomena

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 6 Main Factors Impacting the Health of Indigenous Peoples of the Russian North Health of Indigenous Peoples of Russian North Access to Healthcare Diet Style and Social- Culture Behavior Reindeer Husbandry state Social-Economic State of People Forms of Ownership and Management Climate Change Anthropogenic Factors Life Style Area of NASA’s possible contribution Ecological Factors Veterinary Services

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 7 What Is ReindeerMapper? Management Support System for Sustainable Reindeer Husbandry Purpose of ReindeerMapper This system is to bring indigenous traditional and local knowledge together with scientific and engineering knowledge, remote sensing and information technologies to address environment, weather, climate, pollution and land use change issues for improved decision making for sustainable reindeer husbandry and as a bottom line - to improve the quality of life of reindeer herders.

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 8 Management Support System ” ReindeerMapper ” Remote Sensing Information Traditional Ecological Knowledge Decision Maker Other related information GIS Decision Support Making Subsystem (DMSS)

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 9 Management Support System “ReindeerMapper“ (Remote Sensing Components) RS Measurement Information- analytical Reindeer Husbandry Management Educational Land observing satellites Platforms: circular, sun- synchronous orbit Sensors: multispectral radiometers with middle/high spatial resolution; passive microwave radiometer; synthetic aperture radar Satellite Telemetry System - GIS - DMSS - Communication system LEVELS OF REINDEER HUSBANDRY MANAGEMENT - LOCAL - REGIONAL - FEDERAL

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 10 Management Data Gaps for Domesticated Reindeers of Northern Russia Condition of pastures –Forage stock –Overgrazing –Contamination –Fire scars Snow cover parameters Permafrost State of annual migration pathways –Ice conditions, lakes, rivers, etc. –Anthropogenic disturbances (e.g. oil and gas infrastructure- pipelines, drill sites; oil/contaminants spills; fire scars etc.) –Meteorological conditions Wild reindeer herds locations

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 11 Why NASA? – Technology Possibilities NASA could provide user-friendly, regularly-updated, remotely sensed, information on a number of critical parameters and changes (to be combined with TK and local information) for more informed herd management: –Depth and characteristics of snow cover in traditional and new migration routes of herds –Condition of ice on rivers and other water bodies in migratory routes –Ecological characterization of traditional summer and winter pastures and annual migration routes – and assessment of their ecological suitability as pasture –Assessment of anthropogenic impacts on migration routes and pasture lands of interest, including environmental contamination and infrastructure development –Detection, monitoring, and status of annual forest fires and associated burned areas in pasture and migration areas of interest –Development of techniques for monitoring favorable conditions for growth of mosquitoes (and other blood-sucking insects) relevant to potential for reindeer harassment and spread of infectious diseases –Seasonal assessment of migratory routes for herds

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 12 Example of Fire Detection by MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) composite of western Russia, 4 September 2002 Heat signatures (red) and smoke plumes (light blue haze) are visible from the fires. True-color image by Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), resolution 250m. Source: NASA Earth Observatory ural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=4743 Credit: Image by Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA-GSFCMODIS Rapid Response Team Satellite & Sensor: Terra- MODIS

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 13 Example of SAR Detection of a Forest Fire Scar ERS-1 SAR scene (08/23/91) of the Bettles region, located about 290 km NNW of Fairbanks. A forest fire scar resulting from a fire in 1990 is visible due to its strong backscatter/bright tone. (Alaska SAR Facility ERS- 1 SAR Image Sampler, 2001)

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 14 Credit: Eric R. Conrad, Deputy, Field Operations Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Reindeer Mapper GIS Database Reindeer Herder Data/Knowledge Remote Sensing/Science and Technology, Data and Information Other Information/Sources Data Acquisition Partner Web Communication/ Outreach Data Integration Maps/Reports and Analysis Historical Real Time Reindeer Mapper Team Reindeer Mapper System Concept Conference “Center” World Center for Sustainable Reindeer Herding Teleconferences Traditional/Local Knowledge/Data Arctic Data Archives NASA/ Remote Sensing Data Arctic Science Institutions Knowledge transfer between traditional/ local knowledge and scientific knowledge GIS Research Centre, Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 16 Reindeer Mapper (RM): Initial Steps in Creating a Shared Knowledge System for Decision-Making Selection of Highest Priority Pilot Project Test Sites Acquisition of data from all sources (field observations, RS, etc.) Development of GIS for Pilot Project Test Sites Integration of information from all RM partners into common GIS –Reindeer Herders –NASA and other remote sensing sources –Other data sources Adaptation of existing NASA GIS based system which facilitates the sharing the diverse data sets by all participants which also allows real time access and interconnectivity with remote sites Develop data base and archive for current and historical data, observations, and knowledge for parameters of interest

Goddard Space Flight Center Association of World Reindeer Herders 17 For further information: Dr. Nancy G. Maynard Associate Director NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Mail Code 900 Greenbelt, MD Tel: (301) Nancy.G. Dr. Boris Yurchak Senior Research Scientist Goddard Earth Sciences & Technology Center (GEST), Mail Code 900 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD USA Tel:(301) Johan Mathis Turi, President Association of World Reindeer Herders Gronnegata 23 P.O. Box 508 N-9255 Tromsø, Norway Tel: RADARSAT Global View of the Arctic Ocean Credit : NASA JPL, University of Alaska - Fairbanks