MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. WWF Russia announced beginning of a 7-year project to preserve traditional life of the low-numbered indigenous peoples in Chukotka, Nenets Region, Taimyr and Evenkiya (Krasnoyarsk Region) under conditions of the changing climate, the organization reported on its website on Tuesday.
"The traditional life of people, living in the North, the reindeer breeding, hunting, fishing and gathering, would be affected by the changing climate conditions and it depends greatly on the environment’s quality and on preservation of animals and plants," WWF Russia said.
According to WWF, on the Taimyr Peninsula only, 30% of the Arctic ecosystems would be affected within ten years. Additional burden comes from the industrial development in the northern territories. Those changes will include: earlier springs and snow melting, later river and sea freezing, new plants replacing traditional plants. Large ungulates may starve because of vegetation shortage, and sea mammals, on the contrary, will be short of ice to hunt far away from shores.
Under the project, WWF hopes in partnership with state bodies and non-governmental organizations, the locals, to have in early 2019 a map of most hazardous areas. The ecologists will pay special attention to keeping the reindeer population on Taimyr and in Yakutia. All suggestions and maps will be presented to regional and federal authorities, so that they are included into regional development strategies.