Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change?
This paper inquires whether reindeer herders’ traditional knowledge (TK) provides a reservoir of precaution and adaptation possibilities that may be relevant to counteract climate change. As our core example, we used the milking of reindeer—which, in some areas, was practiced up until the 1950s–1960...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:11d2ef33effb49c8988c43a076c67034 2023-05-15T17:40:07+02:00 Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? Jan Åge Riseth Hans Tømmervik Morten Tryland 2020-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 https://doaj.org/article/11d2ef33effb49c8988c43a076c67034 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/6002 https://doaj.org/toc/1661-7827 https://doaj.org/toc/1660-4601 doi:10.3390/ijerph17166002 1660-4601 1661-7827 https://doaj.org/article/11d2ef33effb49c8988c43a076c67034 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 17, Iss 6002, p 6002 (2020) herders’ traditional knowledge disease precaution historical milking grounds necrobacillosis climate change challenges Medicine R article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 2022-12-31T14:19:26Z This paper inquires whether reindeer herders’ traditional knowledge (TK) provides a reservoir of precaution and adaptation possibilities that may be relevant to counteract climate change. As our core example, we used the milking of reindeer—which, in some areas, was practiced up until the 1950s–1960s—and the risk of getting foot rot disease (digital necrobacillosis; slubbo in North Sámi), caused by the bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum. Via wounds or scratches, the bacterium creates an infection that makes the infected limb swell and, eventually, necrotize. The disease is often mortal in its final stage. Historically, female reindeer were gathered on unfenced milking meadows near herder tents or in small corrals, from early summer onward. When the soil was wet and muddy, the risk of developing digital necrobacillosis was considerable. Our sources included classical Sámi author/herder narratives, ethnographic and veterinary literature, and herder interviews. For this study, we conducted a qualitative review of the literature and carried out individual in-depth interviews with local knowledge holders. Our findings seem consistent: a documented prevention strategy was, in early summer, to move the reindeer to unused grazing land and to avoid staying too long in trampled and dirty grazing land. Contemporary climate change and winter uncertainty due to freeze–thaw cycles and ice-locked pastures challenge this type of strategy. Due to a lack of pasture resources, typical actions today include the increased use of supplementary feeding, which involves more gathering and handling of reindeer, higher animal density, challenging hygienic conditions, and stress, which all contribute to increased risks of contracting and transmitting diseases. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Sámi Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17 16 6002 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
herders’ traditional knowledge disease precaution historical milking grounds necrobacillosis climate change challenges Medicine R |
spellingShingle |
herders’ traditional knowledge disease precaution historical milking grounds necrobacillosis climate change challenges Medicine R Jan Åge Riseth Hans Tømmervik Morten Tryland Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
topic_facet |
herders’ traditional knowledge disease precaution historical milking grounds necrobacillosis climate change challenges Medicine R |
description |
This paper inquires whether reindeer herders’ traditional knowledge (TK) provides a reservoir of precaution and adaptation possibilities that may be relevant to counteract climate change. As our core example, we used the milking of reindeer—which, in some areas, was practiced up until the 1950s–1960s—and the risk of getting foot rot disease (digital necrobacillosis; slubbo in North Sámi), caused by the bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum. Via wounds or scratches, the bacterium creates an infection that makes the infected limb swell and, eventually, necrotize. The disease is often mortal in its final stage. Historically, female reindeer were gathered on unfenced milking meadows near herder tents or in small corrals, from early summer onward. When the soil was wet and muddy, the risk of developing digital necrobacillosis was considerable. Our sources included classical Sámi author/herder narratives, ethnographic and veterinary literature, and herder interviews. For this study, we conducted a qualitative review of the literature and carried out individual in-depth interviews with local knowledge holders. Our findings seem consistent: a documented prevention strategy was, in early summer, to move the reindeer to unused grazing land and to avoid staying too long in trampled and dirty grazing land. Contemporary climate change and winter uncertainty due to freeze–thaw cycles and ice-locked pastures challenge this type of strategy. Due to a lack of pasture resources, typical actions today include the increased use of supplementary feeding, which involves more gathering and handling of reindeer, higher animal density, challenging hygienic conditions, and stress, which all contribute to increased risks of contracting and transmitting diseases. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jan Åge Riseth Hans Tømmervik Morten Tryland |
author_facet |
Jan Åge Riseth Hans Tømmervik Morten Tryland |
author_sort |
Jan Åge Riseth |
title |
Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
title_short |
Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
title_full |
Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
title_fullStr |
Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Spreading or Gathering? Can Traditional Knowledge be a Resource to Tackle Reindeer Diseases Associated with Climate Change? |
title_sort |
spreading or gathering? can traditional knowledge be a resource to tackle reindeer diseases associated with climate change? |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 https://doaj.org/article/11d2ef33effb49c8988c43a076c67034 |
genre |
North Sámi |
genre_facet |
North Sámi |
op_source |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 17, Iss 6002, p 6002 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/6002 https://doaj.org/toc/1661-7827 https://doaj.org/toc/1660-4601 doi:10.3390/ijerph17166002 1660-4601 1661-7827 https://doaj.org/article/11d2ef33effb49c8988c43a076c67034 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17166002 |
container_title |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
container_volume |
17 |
container_issue |
16 |
container_start_page |
6002 |
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1766140936908177408 |