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Kutuharjus reindeer research platform – Versatile knowledge for reindeer herding livelihood also in the future

MobiPoro 01

Promoting and diversifying research and developmental work related to the semi-domesticated reindeer herding and husbandry are very essential elements in today’s all time changing environment. There will be needed more cooperation between research, practical livelihood and governance in order to direct more research work towards those practical challenges, problems and questions which need both long-term and continuous focusing or more rapidly produced information.

The Kutuharju experimental reindeer field station, unique in the world, uphold by the Reindeer Herders’ Association and locating in Inari municipality, forms one central place for reindeer research allowing experimental research either in controlled fencing conditions or on more widely natural pasture areas. Size of experimental herd is 150-200 reindeer and the total fenced area covers 44 km2. The long-term data of the experimental herd has been collected already over 50 years and it forms one very important data source for research. Together with national and international research institutes and universities more controlled experimental work has been done in Kutuharju over 30 years by Luke (earlier by RKTL). Now common aim of Luke and the Reindeer Herders’ Association is to strengthen the research work in Kutuharju to fulfill many practical needs for knowledge by the reindeer herding livelihood in all time rapidly changing environment and conditions.

The biggest challenge for continuing versatile reindeer research in Kutuharju is now, however, outdated and partly rundown research infra. Especially rooms for sample taking, handling and weighting of reindeer, sample handling spaces, feeding places and fences, and other facilities, rooms and devices are now becoming rundown or partly lacking, and need renewing or rebuilding. In this project the new movable research infra is under investigation what are their possibilities in data production.

The aim of project is to plan the Kutuharju research infra and research data production with new technological solution in a way which makes possible to make many-sided research there to support developing the reindeer herding livelihood today and in the future. Concrete aim of the project is to make a versatile and comprehensive clarifying of the needs with their costs in order to develop the Kutuharju research infras dataproduction. The project work forms a basis what is needed when renewing and rebuilding of the Kutuharju research infra.