Environmental and Social Impacts of Industrial Development in Northern Russia (ENSINOR)

Abstract
The project will undertake a multidisciplinary analysis of the social and environmental consequences of energy development in northern Russia. Specifically, this project will make a comparative study of two districts in northwest Russia - Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YNAO). NAO and YNAO contain Russia's most productive proven energy sources for the present and the foreseeable future. Two intensive study sites will be selected within each district. A team of researchers will undertake intensive fieldwork in reindeer pastures that have experienced extensive development in the past 20-30 years. The disciplines represented will be geography, biology and anthropology, all geared toward the policy implications of energy development. The group will work closely together with indigenous stakeholders to produce a state-of-the-art assessment of the role of this development. The project will: (1) promote sustainable development by providing expert knowledge on the collective benefits and impacts of development; (2) prepare scenarios for Finland's future roles in this process and for traditional livelihoods in the source areas affected by development; (3) disseminate this knowledge to the public and policy makers via Arctic Centre's science exhibition, scientific publications, and data and information services, and a final public symposium.

Project leader: Prof. Bruce Forbes, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, P.O. Box 122, 96101 Rovaniemi, tel. 016-341 2710, fax 016-341 2777, bforbes(at)ulapland.fi, http://www.urova.fi/home/arktinen/bforbes/

Researchers:
Tuula Tuisku, Giellagas, University of Oulu, tuula.tuisku(at)oulu.fi
Nina Meschtyb, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, meschtyb(at)mail.ru
Timo Kumpula, Dept. of Geography, University of Joensuu, timo.kumpula(at)oulu.fi

Project description