The Arctic Social Indicators (ASI) project is an IPY project and is following up on the activities of the Arctic Human Development Report (AHDR), and is initiated by the Stefansson Arctic Institute, Akureyri, Iceland, which also hosts the secretariat. ASI has been endorsed by the Arctic Council.

Monitoring of Development of Traditional Indigenous Land Use Areas in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Northwest Russia

Intensive oil-and-gas development occurs in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, northwestern Russia. Severe impacts occur on the environment and on the situation of the indigenous reindeer herders. The project aims at monitoring the situation and producing a GIS database, which documents oil-related and traditional activities and can be used to promote interests of traditional land users. The participation of the Association of Nenets People Yasavey will ensure that local indigenous peoples’ knowledge and viewpoints are taken care of. Local GIS expertise, administration and Russian legal expertise is attached to the project. A working group of international experts formed to evaluate attained data. (Click on map for a larger downloadable version.)

This Activity involves science and social science research that has been initiated as a result of the recent melting of glaciers and alpine ice patches. Melting of these scientific “deep freezes”, is providing unanticipated data sources that are giving us insight into past northern societies, flora/fauna, environments, and their changes through time.

EALÁT: The IPY Arctic Reindeer Herders’ Vulnerability Network Study (EALÁT)-Network study is an interdisciplinary, intercultural study that will assess the vulnerability of reindeer herding, to change in key aspects of the natural and human environments, actively involving reindeer herders, linguists, lawyers, anthropologists, biologists, geographers, economists, philosophers as well as indigenous institutions and organisations, relevant industrial enterprises and management authorities.

The Survey of Living Conditions in the Arctic, or SLiCA, is an international joint effort of research and indigenous people to measure and understand living conditions in the Arctic. This website is intended to promote the use and understanding of SLiCA data.

Environmental changes and degradation pose a threat to the integrity of the traditional food system and the health of Aboriginal Peoples in the Circumpolar North. The overall objective for this proposal is to develop a comprehensive food monitoring program and environmental health research program for Aboriginal communities that will integrate information on toxicology of environmental contaminants, food composition and nutrient requirement, food availability and effects of environmental changes, local and traditional ecological knowledge, cultural and socioeconomic factors. Education and communication initiatives are also planned to assist individuals in making their own informed decisions on food choice. The participatory nature of the research will ensure Aboriginal Peoples’ involvement and/or training in all stages of research projects, including the initiation, planning, implementation, and results communications.

The objective of The Economy of the North is to present a comprehensive overview of the economy of the circumpolar Arctic, including the traditional production activities of the indigenous people. The report discusses the importance of the Arctic economy from a global perspective, with particular focus on the natural resources in the Arctic region. Finally, likely effects of climate change on the Arctic economy are discussed.