CARMA is a network of researchers, managers and community people who share information on the status of the world's wild Rangifer (reindeer and caribou) populations, and how they are affected by global changes, such as climate change and industrial development.

WHAT'S NEW?

This is it ... 2011 is the last year of IPY funding. And after over five years of IPY support, CARMA looks, feels and works better than ever. So ... if you know anyone who's looking for a useful network to fund, slip them our info or let us know.

The CARMA Steering Committee has produced a snazzy brochure, so if you're heading to an event, contact us at askcarma(at)gmail.com and we'll send you some or send you the PDF so you can quickly and easily get some printed wherever you are.

If you haven't already, sign up for our quarterly e-newsletter, using the link at the top of the left margin.

Check individual projects for the latest updates.

FEATURE HERD

Taimyr - A Lesson in Harvest Management

by Leonid Kolpashikov and Don Russell

The Taimyr wild reindeer herd was at the turn of this century the largest wild reindeer or caribou herd in the world. Estimated at 1,000,000 animals in 2000, the herd increased from about 4000,000 in the early 1970's. Like other herds across the globe, numbers dramatically increased from the 1970's for the next 30 years. Unlike other herds, especially in North America, the State initiated a very aggressive commercial harvest of this herd in 1970 to create a strong local economy and to limit population growth. Thus high harvests were recorded over the next 20 years with the highest recorded harvest of over 100,000 animals in 1990. By 1990 there were signs the range was impacting herd productivity; average female body weights started to decline and annual pregnancy rates declined. However, also in 1990, the Soviet Union collapsed and state subsidies for commercial harvests were removed. It was no longer profitable to harvest reindeer commercially so annual harvest rates declined dramatically. Even though indications were that the herd was nutritionally compromised, the herd, with very low harvest, continued to increase until peaking in 2000. A number of factors are now contributing to the present decline (estimated at 650,000 in 2009) with uncontrolled poaching, range deterioration, increased incidence of disease and parasites as some of the leading factors.

COMING EVENTS

13th North American Caribou Workshop . Winnipeg, Manitoba . October 25-28, 2010

Why: The workshop theme, Sustaining Caribou and their Landscapes - Knowledge to Action, provides the opportunity to share both scientific and traditional knowledge for sustaining caribou populations. Website: http://www.nacw2010.ca/

CARMA Participation:

CARMA is organizing at least one session with the goal of highlighting progress on our Synthesis Volume. Although not finalized, we are considering presentations the 6 main synthesis chapters:

Brad Griffith - Habitat
Bob White - Body condition and health
Anne Gunn - Population dynamics
Susan Kutz - Monitoring
Gary Kofinas - Managing abundance
Don Russell - Impacts global change

PAST EVENTS

International Polar Year Oslo Science Conference . Oslo, Norway . June 8-10, 2010

Why: "The IPY Oslo Science Conference will demonstrate, strengthen, and extend the International Polar Year's accomplishments in science and outreach". Website: http://www.ipy-osc.no/

CARMA Participation:

Susan Kutz et al - Integrated scientific and community-based tools and strategies for understanding infectious disease in arctic wildlife
Susan Kutz et al - Caribou health and Climate Change: a snapshot in time for infectious diseases
Andy Dobson et al - A tale of two parasites: Modeling dynamics of parasitic diseases in caribou and reindeer
Robert White et al - Modeling Energy and Protein Costs of Parasites in Caribou and Reindeer
Robert White et al - Involvement of the CARMA (CircumArctic Rangifer Monitoring and Assessment) Network in analysis, synthesis and management of Arctic caribou and reindeer populations
Gary Kofinas et al - Responses to Change in Caribou/Wild Reindeer Abundance: An Assessment of Human-Rangifer System Resilience from Regional Comparisons
Ryan Brook et al - Tools and Collaborative Approaches to Bridging the Communication Gap between Northern Communities and Scientists about Caribou Anatomy and Health

State of the Arctic Conference . Miami, Florida . March 16-19, 2010

Why: "The main goal of the conference is to review our understanding of the arctic system in a time of rapid environmental change." Website: http://soa.arcus.org/about

CARMA Participation:

Brad Griffith et al - Heterogeneity in Habitat Trends Among Circumpolar Caribou and Reindeer Herds
Don Russell et al - Modeling the Abundance of Rangifer: The Frame Size Model
Don Russell et al - What Drives Caribou Cycles?
Craig Nicolson et al - Modeling for Decision-Support: Identifying Thresholds and Reducing Uncertainty in the Harvest Management of Barren Ground Caribou
Gary Kofinas et al - Towards Adaptive Co-Management of Human-Caribou Systems: Lessons from Regional Comparisons and International Cooperation
Leonid Kolpashikov et al - Three Periods of Taimyr Management: Low, Subsidized, and Open Access Harvesting

NACW 13

13th North American Caribou Workshop. http://www.nacw2010.ca

CARMA 6

Held Dec 4-6, 2009.  Click Vancouver 2009 for documents related to the workshop (agenda, posters and powerpoints). This annual conference brought together CARMA network members from the circumpolar region, providing for the presentation of a variety of research, trends and status information. In addition to the steering committee, biologists, herd management board members and researchers attended the conference. Sessions included a joint planning session on herd management, poster presentations and development of a framework for a synthesis volume.

CARMA 5

Click Vancouver 2008 Conference for documents related to the workshop.

CONTACT CARMA

Email: askcarma(at)gmail.com