Compensation of Damage to Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of Yakutia from Industrial Development of the Territory

Abstract

The article examines the experience in conducting expert ethnological evaluations in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and assesses the effectiveness of this institution for protecting the rights of indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North (ISPN) during the implementation of large investment projects. For the first time, per capita estimates of compensation for damage to the ISPN community per 1 km of territory and water area withdrawn out of traditional economic activity have been determined. The authors compare the size of compensation with the annual income of community members, as well as the size of payments practiced in other regions. The shortcomings of expert ethnological evaluations are shown, and directions for their improvement are proposed. The necessity of expanding the list of ecosystem services is substantiated. It is concluded that, when assessing damage in the case of deteriorated conditions for traditional economic activity, a different approach is required: assessment of impact on community resilience.