The indigenous population of Yamal increased by 11%
Today our region is the home for 540,000 people, 42,000 of whom are representatives of the low-numbered indigenous peoples of the North. For them the Arctic Region of Russia is their homeland and it goes without saying that our national policy focuses on the interests of the native northerners.
The area of the region is 770 thousand square kilometers, half of the Okrug lies beyond the Arctic Circle. Yamal is one of the most multicultural regions in the Russian Federation, with representatives of 112 nationalities living here. Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug is called the energy heart of Russia and that name is given for a reason: the total resource potential of the region is over 147 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. 15% of all oil and 85% of all gas in Russia are produced in the Okrug. Over 50 major Russian and foreign companies are engaged in production, processing and transportation of hydrocarbons, as well as geological exploration. It should be noted that just 11% of the proved resources has been produced during the entire period of the Yamal mineral resources development.
Today some unique, even according to international standards, large-scale investment projects are being implemented in the Okrug. Here in the Arctic Region we understand how fragile the borderline between the two seemingly different realms is. On the one hand, it is a high-tech oil-and-gas industry, on the other hand it is the traditional way of life of the indigenous population, which is in harmony with the nature. According to the head of Yamal, sustainable development of the Russian North is possible only on the basis of sustainable socio-economic development of its indigenous minorities. The indigenous population of Yamal has increased by 11% over the last 10 years. We are particularly proud of it.
Three fundamental principles underlie activities of the bodies of state power in Yamal. The first principle is preservation of the culture, customs and traditional economic activities of the indigenous peoples of the North. The biggest herd of domestic deer, about 700 thousand heads, is grazed in Yamal. The organic deer meat is popular both in Russia and abroad.
The second principle of our policy is ensuring environmental safety in the region. Every 10th square meter of the territory of Yamal is a nature reserve. 79 thousand square kilometers of the Okrug have the status of specially protected natural areas. In terms of area it is comparable with a Central Europe state. These rules are strictly observed by all the companies operating in the region.
The third principle is maintaining a balance of the interests of industrial companies and low-numbered indigenous peoples.
It is important for us that the deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation representing the region should be representatives of the indigenous peoples of the North. They are responsible and reputable Yamal residents who respects their roots and traditions of generations.
In recent years we have been also actively using the international experience.