Traditional nature management


Relationship among small-in-number indigenous peoples of the North
 and oil & gas complex enterprises on the territory of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug

Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug is a territory with a high level of anthropogenesis and technogenous influences. It is characterized by complex of geographical, climatic, demographic and ethnographic features causing the necessity of additional requirements usage to the environmental protection conditions, legislative measures of its protection, insurance of the population ecological protection, as well as taking of the organizational-administrative measures, connected with nature management and nature protection activity.

Okrug public authorities in mutual relations regulation of small-in-number indigenous peoples of the North with subsoils and nature users are stipulated by Okrug laws "On Withdrawal & Grant of Land Parcels on the Territory of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug", "On Land", "On Subsoil Management".

Before oil-and-gas deposits development on the territory of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, traditional economy of small-in-number indigenous peoples of the North was developed. The part of the territories, on which the indigenous population lived, was withdrawn for industrial needs. As a result of the regional development the area of priority nature use was considerably reduced and the basic aspect in traditional life style preservation, language, traditional occupations and crafts was determined.

In connection with it on basis of norms of Federal legislative system and according to the normative acts of  the executive authorities of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, institute of especially preserved natural territory - territory of traditional nature use is founded.

By Decree of the Government of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug #140-p "On register of traditional nature management territories of indigenous small-in-number peoples of the North oа regional significance  in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra" dated July 1, 2008, work on personal register of resident living traditional life was organized, their status of subjects of traditional management right was defined to render addressed assistance of state support.

According to information of the Federal agency of real estate objects registry over the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra (dated July, 30, 2008 # 08/1675) there are 523 territories of traditional nature management of regional significance with the total square of 14 832 408 ha, within the limits of which small-in-number indigenous peoples of the North live their traditional life.

In comparison with 2001 the number of traditional nature management territories increased by 46 or by 1 007 172 ha.

The most part of traditional nature management territories is placed in the Districts as follows:

  • 157 in the Surgut District, total square of 7 430 200 ha;

  • 135 in the Nizhnevartovsky District, total square of 3 001 300 ha;

  • 56 in the Oktyabrsky District, total square of 346 802 ha;

  • 54 in the Khanty-Mansiysky District, total square of 1 013 441 ha.

330 of the total number of traditional nature management territories are within the limits of licensed lands with the total square of 10 260 843 ha, including all traditional nature management territories of Surgutsky and Nefteyugansky Districts;

  • 41of 54 in the Khanty-Mansiysky District, total square of 841 408 ha;

  • 40 of 135 in the Nizhnevartovsky District, total square of 351 000 ha;

  • 28 of 41 in the Kondinsky District, total square of 88 000 ha;

  • 23 of 56 n the Oktyabrsky District, total square of 115 981 ha.

On December 31, 2008, according to the data of authorized bodies on issues of small-in-number peoples of the North of the municipals entities of the Autonomous Okrug. number of indigenous small-in-number peoples of the North living traditional life within the traditional nature management territories amounted to 2 440 people, it accounted for 8.0% of the total number of indigenous people or 14.4% of the total number of indigenous small-in-number peoples of the North settling in rural areas.

In the period of 2002-2008 decreasing of indigenous small-in-number peoples size by 4 693 people living in rural area (rural settlement) was observed, number of people living traditional life decreased by 16 people.

Number of indigenous small-in-number peoples' families of the North keeping traditional life style accounts for 827 in the total number of 2 4440 people, including 556 families engaged in deer farming. The most part of families engaged in deer farming lives in the Surgutsky District (382 families), 80 families in Beryezovsky District, 67 families in Nizhnevartovsky District.