Sustainable Multispecies Relations in the Arctic (SPECIES)

This project will research and impact Arctic environmental and cultural sustainability from a multi-species perspective. It explores seven environmental conflicts surrounding iconic Arctic species in three representative countries: 1) Reindeer, King crabs, and several wild duck species in Norway; 2) Northern Finncattle and Baltic seals in Finland; and 3) Polar bears and Muskoxen in Greenland. In each case, we bring together researchers from diverse fields (anthropology, biology, ecology, technology studies, genetics, audio-visual art) and put them in dialogue with local and/or indigenous stakeholders. Together, they will co-research the conflicts, similarities and differences between their perspectives, and connect this to different environmental and multi-species ontologies.

In collaboration with the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Natural Resources Institute Finland will contribute to the Finnish cases. The traditional seal hunting is examined using anthropological and ecological approaches. The importance of seal hunting on Bothnian Bay for local communities and ecological relations are poorly understood. The pressure to increase seal hunting is high. The question is what kind of seal hunting aligns with evolving regulations?

In the other Finnish research case, the focus is on the native cattle breed, Northen Finncattle and the breed’s genetic, societal and cultural values. The livelihoods of Finnish Lapland were traditionally based on multi-species subsistence that included fish, reindeer, and hunted animals. Since contact between rural Finnish and Sámi people centuries ago, many farmsteads also included a sturdy breed of Northern Finncattle. Genetics will help clarify which genes are specifically expressed that make this native breed so resilient and well adapted to the Arctic environment, connecting this to local cultural beliefs.