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5. Main Conclusions

Disasters and their impacts:

• Blizzards and strong winds were often described as the most common disaster types in Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Blizzards, strong winds, floods and icing were identified by many as disasters having the most serious impacts on nature and human beings. In Kamchatka, blizzards, fires and floods were frequently identified as the most common disasters, while fires were most often flagged as having the most serious impacts on nature and human beings.
• Interviewees often defined disasters in relation to their occupations. For example: �For reindeer herding the disasters are blizzards, ice-covered ground, snow slides, strong rains, and mosquitoes�. People talked about conditions such as lack of snow, heavy rains, droughts, and flies in the summer in relation to how they affected the harvest of fish and animals.�
• People did not necessarily regard the disaster types listed in the questionnaire as disasters, but rather as extreme weather events to which they have adapted.

Early warning and disaster management:

• People�s traditional knowledge of early warning and disaster management varies according to where they live and carry out their traditional pursuits (flat tundra, sea coasts, river valleys, mountains or foothills) and their occupations (reindeer herding, hunting, river and marine fishing, gathering of wild plants, or gardening).
• The most commonly discussed signs providing early warning of disasters are related to animal behaviour and to appearance of the sky (clouds, moon, sun, etc). Other early warning signs are related to observations of snow density and direction of snow waves, features of firewood burning in the stove, and density of clouds on the hill tops.
• Common strategies for minimizing the negative impacts of natural disasters include: maintaining a state of constant preparedness for the disaster; finding a safe place to wait out the disaster; relying on domesticated animals to lead the way to safety; and avoiding and mitigating disasters by regulating the size of reindeer herds and managing the use of pastures.
• Reindeer herders use their knowledge of conditions and changes in the tundra and mountains to cope with extreme weather events and disasters and to minimize the loss of reindeer. Coastal inhabitants and people who fish keep safe by using their knowledge of periodicity and features of floods and landslides when making camp or crossing rivers. Marine hunters use their knowledge of the seas and weather conditions when deciding when and where to go fishing and hunting.