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The decreasing availability of reindeer forage in boreal forests during snow cover periods: A Sámi pastoral landscape perspective in Sweden

Harnesk, David LU (2022) In Ambio: a Journal of the Human Environment p.1-16
Abstract
This paper argues that Sámi reindeer pastoralism in Sweden is highly stressed during the critical snow cover periods due to large-scale human interventions, especially forestry, and that these have over time significantly worsened the ecological conditions for natural grazing-based responses to changing snow conditions caused by climate change. Informed by a literature review, the paper conceptualises two, overlapping ecological dynamics that shape the availability of lichen as key forage resources within a Sámi pastoral landscape perspective: the grazing dynamics of reindeer during snow cover periods as determined by climatic stochasticity, and the more predictable vegetation dynamics of lichen habitat formation, growth and sustenance... (More)
This paper argues that Sámi reindeer pastoralism in Sweden is highly stressed during the critical snow cover periods due to large-scale human interventions, especially forestry, and that these have over time significantly worsened the ecological conditions for natural grazing-based responses to changing snow conditions caused by climate change. Informed by a literature review, the paper conceptualises two, overlapping ecological dynamics that shape the availability of lichen as key forage resources within a Sámi pastoral landscape perspective: the grazing dynamics of reindeer during snow cover periods as determined by climatic stochasticity, and the more predictable vegetation dynamics of lichen habitat formation, growth and sustenance based on structured forestry practices. This could help articulate an intervention ecology that pursues sustainable ecological conditions for natural grazing-based Sámi reindeer pastoralism, along with other goals. As such alternatives are likely to face political resistance, the article discusses the implications of its findings within a science–politics interface. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Equilibrium theory, Forestry, Lichens, Non-equilibrium theory, Reindeer husbandry, Sámi pastoralism
in
Ambio: a Journal of the Human Environment
pages
16 pages
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85132323481
  • pmid:35727486
ISSN
0044-7447
DOI
10.1007/s13280-022-01752-w
project
Sámi social movements – indigenous mobilization around the ecological conditions of reindeer husbandry under climate emergency
Climate Change Resilience in Small Communities in the Nordic Countries
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
167e1315-1d00-4c27-bf94-c7fd20565b67
date added to LUP
2022-06-21 21:10:02
date last changed
2024-03-05 22:17:00
@article{167e1315-1d00-4c27-bf94-c7fd20565b67,
  abstract     = {{This paper argues that Sámi reindeer pastoralism in Sweden is highly stressed during the critical snow cover periods due to large-scale human interventions, especially forestry, and that these have over time significantly worsened the ecological conditions for natural grazing-based responses to changing snow conditions caused by climate change. Informed by a literature review, the paper conceptualises two, overlapping ecological dynamics that shape the availability of lichen as key forage resources within a Sámi pastoral landscape perspective: the grazing dynamics of reindeer during snow cover periods as determined by climatic stochasticity, and the more predictable vegetation dynamics of lichen habitat formation, growth and sustenance based on structured forestry practices. This could help articulate an intervention ecology that pursues sustainable ecological conditions for natural grazing-based Sámi reindeer pastoralism, along with other goals. As such alternatives are likely to face political resistance, the article discusses the implications of its findings within a science–politics interface.}},
  author       = {{Harnesk, David}},
  issn         = {{0044-7447}},
  keywords     = {{Equilibrium theory; Forestry; Lichens; Non-equilibrium theory; Reindeer husbandry; Sámi pastoralism}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  pages        = {{1--16}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Ambio: a Journal of the Human Environment}},
  title        = {{The decreasing availability of reindeer forage in boreal forests during snow cover periods: A Sámi pastoral landscape perspective in Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-022-01752-w}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s13280-022-01752-w}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}