Flexibility in reindeer husbandry to carnivore governance in Nordland, northern Norway

This paper investigates how changes in pastoral access and flexibility affect the adaptive capacity within reindeer husbandry in Nordland, northern Norway. Large carnivores (wolf, brown bear, wolverine, lynx, golden eagle)... [ view full abstract ]

This paper investigates how changes in pastoral access and flexibility affect the adaptive capacity within reindeer husbandry in Nordland, northern Norway. Large carnivores (wolf, brown bear, wolverine, lynx, golden eagle) that historically inhabited mountain regions were almost eradicated by the beginning of the 20th century. These populations have dramatically increased again in Fenno-Scandinavia due to international and national commitments towards protecting large carnivores. Moreover, climate change has increasingly locked winter pastures for reindeer during the past 30-50 years. Presently, the Carnivore Management Plan for the Nordland region is under revision. The national government expects this revision to harmonize conflicting interests, expressed in a ‘double objective’ of safeguarding sustainable carnivore populations, and maintaining local pastoralist livelihoods. ‘Clear zoning’ is defined as the basic management instrument – to achieve established ‘population goals’ for carnivores. Still, increased carnivore pressure together with a rapidly changing context of encroachment from urbanization, mining and infrastructure such as railways and roads is reducing the ability of herders to handle the pressing challenge of climate change.

In this study, we analyse how these cumulative effects impact upon reindeer herders’ flexibility and pastoral mobility. In the analysis, we examine the existing, official reindeer land use maps and compare these to the reindeer herders' accounts and perspectives, drawing on their knowledge to visualize lost pastures, migration- and herding routes. We draw on observations, interviews, focus groups, participatory mapping and document studies.