The seminar was jointly organized by the Institute of Industrial Ecology of the North, Luzin Institute for Economic Studies, Laboratory for Sustainable Development of the Project Office for Arctic Development within Kola Science Center structures, and Sami Heritage and Development Fund in partnership with the Centre for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North.

The main task of the seminar was to inform the Sami community about the results of scientific research on the ongoing changes in the Arctic ecosystems and society, which develop under the influence of climate change, and as the result of anthropogenic influence.

The presentations covered the following areas: climate change impact on Arctic plants, animals, humans, certain industries. A separate section was devoted to traditional knowledge and its use in adapting to the changing world.

The second part of the seminar was devoted to scenarios for the Murmansk region development until 2050 from the Sami future perspective. The main driving forces, according to the participants are the rights of indigenous people and dialogue with the authorities, environmental policy, human capacity and traditional culture. Based on how these drivers will look by 2050, seminar participants developed four scenarios. All four turned out to be optimistic. Even under unfavorable conditions, the Murmansk region is headed towards preservation of indigenous people and their traditional culture. The most desirable scenario is the one in which a representative of the Sami people becomes a governor of the Murmansk region.

Two more seminars of the kind will be organized in 2020.

Read the original article in Russian at KSC RAS webpage.