Reindeer Herding by Satellite
Years ago huge reindeer herds were successfully managed on the Seward Peninsula and nearby parts of Alaska. For various reasons the herds declined and the industry became relatively unimportant. Now the NANA Native Corporation has hopes of reestablishing a thriving reindeer industry. Responding to a request from NANA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service is conducting a range inventory of 4 million acres on the Seward Peninsula.
Imagery from the LANDSAT satellites is being processed by the Geophysical Institute to aid the range inventory. Through the use of computer techniques, color-coded maps are generated to show vegetation types. These maps are being checked by a field crew that collects data on vegetation, soil type and plant productivity.
These checked maps will be used to develop a management plan for the reindeer herds. The plan will include initial herd stocking rates and grazing plans. In this way it is hoped that a maximum yield can be attained without damage to the forage lands. As time goes on it may be possible to use satellites to monitor the reindeer ranges as they are being used and thereby help avoid overgrazing.
