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The fodder base is the basis for the development of reindeer husbandry and, consequently, the existence of indigenous peoples of the North. Currently lichen pasture areas continue to decline. Reduction of pasture areas can lead to a decline in production in the traditional sector due to the narrowing of its activities. The development of reindeer husbandry is primarily determined by the state of pastures and their deer carrying capacity. For 01.01.2001 out of the total territory of reindeer breeding districts of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia ) - amounting to 2,456.5 thousand km2 (79.2% of the territory of the republic) - reindeer pastures occupy 918.9 thousand km2. And on the scale of the Russian Federation reindeer pastures occupy about one-fifth of the territory of Russia. The standards were established for the sizes of reindeer herds in reindeer herding zones in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia): for the tundra zone - no less 1200 heads; for forest-tundra - no less than 1000 heads; for mountain taiga - no less than 800 deer and for taiga - no less than 500. The area of grazing per one deer in the snowy period of the year (late autumn, winter, early spring) in the tundra zone of Yakutia is 40-43 ha. The size of the grazing area per 1 reindeer for 6 pasture seasons of the year in the taiga zone of the RS (Y) is 75-80 ha. In the mountain taiga zone, the area of grazing of one reindeer by season is: in late spring - 3,40 hectares (59,9%), in summer - 13,37 hectares (92,4%), in early autumn - 5,92 hectares (80 , 5%), in late autumn - 1.97 hectares (51.1%), in winter - 5.26 hectares (35.8%), in early spring - 3.82 ha (45.3%). For the entire year, that is in both the snowless and snowy periods of the year, one reindeer utilises 33.74 hectares of grazing or 61.9% of pasture land according to the project norm. Today, data on grazing resources, reserve pastures, and carrying capacity is needed more than ever: how many reindeer livestock should be grazed on the territory, and hence the planned productivity and economic efficiency of reindeer husbandry, as well as the associated socioeconomic standard of living of the population engaged in this sector. Therefore, it is proposed to conduct a geobotanical survey of reindeer herding districts, to include reindeer pasture identification, mapping of their location, determination of the quality and stock of fodder plants, and establishment of carrying capacity. The problem of land is key to indigenous peoples for two reasons. Firstly, the land for the small peoples of the North is the material and spiritual basis of life. Secondly, the legal status of the minority peoples of the North is connected to their land rights. These are issues of self-government, issues of subsoil use, the solution of social development, culture, language. It seams to us that granting to the indigenous peoples lands of traditional nature use, including reindeer pastures, water reservoirs, hunting grounds for free and permanent use, is the only correct solution to the problem. At the same time, minority peoples should have compensation for the development of minerals. We recommend to bring into practice the direct conclusion of contracts under the chain of extracting company → local administrative authorities → direct land user, i.e. reindeer herder. It is necessary to establish special rights of indigenous peoples on the territory of traditional nature management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The target of the investigation was the comparative analysis of conditions determining the dynamics and sustainability of reindeer herding in two Arctic regions - Kola and Yamal peninsulas - based on the authors' field studies (2010-2014) and official statistic data. In the 1960s the reindeer stock on Kola and Yamal was commeasurable (74,200 and 103,100 in 1961), however, for the next half a century the difference increased. In 2014 in these regions there were, correspondingly, 54,900 and 293,600 of reindeer. We tried to clear out what it is connected with. Although reindeer husbandries on Kola and Yamal peninsulas have much in common (big herds, long summer-winter migrations from North to South, orientation on meat production), they have also a number of important differences. On Yamal nomadic Nenets herders migrate with their families all year round. Herds are controlled and managed continuously. The majority of reindeer are owned by nomadic families. On Kola peninsula herders' families live in settlements. The reindeer's grazing system is a combination of the Nenets herd management with the Saamies tradition of free (non-restricted) summer pasturing. As distinct from Yamal, fences are used here. 90% of reindeer are publicly owned, and only 10% belong to herdsmen. The main threat to reindeer herding on Yamal is the lack of pastures and their exhaustion caused by overgrazing and land transfer for the needs of gas extraction industry. Besides, Yamal is crossed with pipe-lines and railways, which are a serious problem for migrating herds. In some winters, when ice crust was formed, dozens thousand reindeer died because of the lack of pasture reserves. On Kola peninsula the main pasture range is located away from industrial areas. However, poaching and disturbance of reindeer by snowmobiles are really serious problems here. Another, even more important problem is recruiting young herdsmen. The results of the study allowed to reveal three main reasons for the differences between the trends in Yamal and Kola reindeer herding. The first advantage of Yamal reindeer herding is a kind of symbiosis of private reindeer owners with municipal reindeer herding enterprises, the second one is the Nenets cultural tradition, according to which reindeer number is the main social measure of welfare, and the third one is 1000 nomadic herders' families which preserve herding traditions and have many children who on growing become reindeer herders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]