WHY DOES IT
MATTER?

Reindeer are currently considered a vulnerable species, and if the climate stays on its current trend, they could quickly become endangered. Additionally, it is near impossible to accurately characterize how important they are to polar ecosystems. The first benefit of healthy reindeer populations in the Arctic is their ability to bolster the northern economy. Reindeer are herded and and subsequently harvested by native people, and significant decreases in reindeer populations result in a loss of both meat and income for indigenous populations.¹ These native people heavily rely on reindeer as a source of food, and also as a commodity of sorts. Without them, the community will suffer a great loss.

 

Not only do they help the economy, but reindeer also are vital resources for nutrient cycling. As cold as the Arctic is, the soil is very nutrient limited. Reindeer existence in the polar regions creates a positive feedback loop concerning the cycling of nitrogen. Nitrogen is released from the reindeer, where it helps increase nutrient composition of the soil, and then that same nitrogen is taken up by local vegetation, which will be grazed upon by the reindeer and the cycle will begin again.² The economy and nutrient cycling are two very important factors, and they don't even begin to rival all of the cultural benefits that reindeer encompass.

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Climate change is hurting reindeer in the Arctic in ways that will become irreparable if we don't act now as a community. Even though you may not live in the Arctic, and you make not think you're directly impacted by this growing issue, you do live on this planet. Seeing as it's our only one, that's more than enough of a reason to protect it.