The ArcticXchange project explores how weather and climate forecasts can help reindeer herders adapt to climate change.

The ArcticXchange project, in partnership with the Arctic
Centre at the University of Lapland, explores how climate predictions can help
reindeer herders’ decision-making in reindeer husbandry. The project aims to provide
scientific information that could help the adaptation and decision-making of Arctic
reindeer herding communities in the context of climate change.

In reindeer herding communities, decision-making has been largely based on the
traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and practitioners. Although reindeer
herders have become accustomed to coping with adverse weather and grazing conditions
by utilizing traditional knowledge, today´s rapidly changing Arctic environment
poses new challenges for the management of herding activities.

The project aims to generate scientific knowledge around existing traditional
knowledge that could improve the capacity of reindeer husbandry communities to
address climate change. One of the case studies of the project will be conducted in
Finnish Lapland.

ArcticXchange is funded by the
EU-PolarNet2 and led by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC). University
Researcher Tanja Joona is leading the project activities from the side of the Arctic
Centre.

More information: ArcticXchange – Exchanging knowledge and co-producing
climate services with reindeer herders and Arctic communities

Text: Juulia Tikkanen, intern, Arctic
Centre