A Sensible Ban

Russia’s Arctic regions have backed Arctida’s proposal to ban the movement of heavy vehicles across the tundra

In June, Arctida published a study on how heavy tracked vehicles scar the tundra. All-terrain vehicles have been crisscrossing the Arctic since Soviet times and are still widely used today. The high ground pressure of this transport leaves kilometer-long ruts in the soil that can take hundreds of years to heal. This destroys fragile vegetation, reindeer pastures, and wildlife habitats, and accelerates the thawing of permafrost.

We presented satellite images illustrating the destruction of tundra landscapes in eight northern regions. Arctida also documented cases where all-terrain vehicles crossed reindeer pastures and even a protected wildlife reserve—both prohibited under regional laws.

After the study was released, we sent inquiries to regional officials asking them to weigh in on the need for a nationwide ban on heavy equipment across the tundra and forest-tundra during the snow-free season. At present, such restrictions exist only at the regional level and only for reindeer pastures—Arctida calls for introducing a federal ban. Combined with a transition to alternative, ultra-low-pressure vehicles, it would help preserve the vulnerable ecosystems of the North.

Seven regions responded to Arctida. Here’s what we learned from their replies.

Yes to a Federal Ban

• Komi’s Natural Resources Ministry supported Arctida’s proposal. Officials also noted that back in 2019, at a forum in Moscow, Komi’s Natural Resources Minister Roman Polshvedkin had called for “decisive measures” in Russia’s Arctic and subarctic zones.
• Krasnoyarsk Krai’s Ecology Ministry also agreed with Arctida, confirming that vehicle traffic causes environmental damage.

• Several regions stopped short of explicitly endorsing the proposal but suggested preliminary steps instead: further assessment of the current situation (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug), conducting scientific research (Republic of Sakha/Yakutia), and taking a balanced approach that incorporates the views of reindeer herders (Murmansk Region).

The Ban Exists, a Penalty Does Not

In many regions, a paradoxical situation has emerged: regional laws prohibit heavy vehicles from traveling across reindeer pastures, yet impose no penalties for violating the ban.

• In the Murmansk Region, tracked vehicles are prohibited from reindeer pastures outside designated routes but there are no consequences for violators, the regional natural resources ministry acknowledged.
• On the Taimyr Peninsula in Krasnoyarsk Krai, heavy equipment is banned outside populated areas during the warm season, but again, no liability for failing to comply.
• Yakutia went further: during the snow-free period, tracked and wheeled all-terrain vehicles are banned from traveling off designated roads not only on reindeer pastures but across the entire tundra. Even there, however, no penalties are set for violating the rule.
• Authorities pointed to penalties for other offenses—for example, destroying fertile topsoil or damaging land under Russia’s Administrative Code (Komi, Yamal). But that means a violator can be held accountable for driving across reindeer pastures only if the vehicle actually damages the soil. It’s like enforcing traffic laws only when a driver’s actions result in casualties.

No Monitoring

There is also no one—and no means—to monitor who is driving where in the tundra. It’s therefore unsurprising that not a single region was able to report any identified violations.

• Murmansk Region’s Natural Resources Ministry said that compliance monitoring for the ban on driving across reindeer pastures is “essentially not conducted.” One reason is the sheer size of the pasture lands.
• In Krasnoyarsk Krai, officials cited the remoteness and inaccessibility of the territory, which makes it impossible to enforce the local ban on Taimyr.

All of this underscores the relevance of Arсtida’s proposal to equip vehicles with technical monitoring tools—such as GLONASS tracking systems. It’s also crucial to allocate funding in regional and municipal budgets for monitoring and enforcement.

Our next step is to appeal to federal authorities.

We will continue to draw attention to the need for a nationwide ban on heavy vehicles in the tundra and a shift toward less damaging modes of transportation.

See Arctida’s satellite images showing how heavy equipment destroys the fragile tundra here.