“Traditional knowledge” in the Context of Legal Measures on Preservation of Arctic Environment

Abstract

At the present moment in the light of increasing anthropogenic stress a question regarding use of indigenous people knowledge, socalled «traditional knowledge», which according to scientists could play a considerable role in preservation of natural ecosystems gains enormous significance. Application of the given knowledge has particular importance as part of environment impact assessment which allows to effectively estimate adverse influence on the environment and to take all measures for its prevention or at least reduction.
For this reason high efforts of the states both on international and on national levels are directed on development of definition of the given concept, creation of system of traditional knowledge protection while taking into account their features, indissoluble connection with a life and culture of the indigenous people. The question of the given knowledge use in Arctic is extremely urgent due to biosphere, climate role of that region and also its special sensitivity to various kinds of pollution. Application of traditional knowledge at all stages of energy projects development would allow to forecast possible consequences and to reduce present uncertainty of scientific data concerning the Arctic region in view of its insufficient level of scrutiny and difficulty of empirical material collection.