Impact of hydroelectric power development on reindeer husbandry: the case of Suorva

• Reindeer husbandry in Sapmi continuously coexists and competes with other land users, such as forestry, tourism, hydroelectric power and mine activities. The impact of water regulation for hydroelectric power, on reindeer herding use is rather unknown. In Sirges reindeer herding community in northern Sweden a large part of their range are affected by hydroelectric power developments, which have forced the reindeer herding to change the use of their ranges. Here we study these changes in relation to the Suorva dam within Lule river system, one of 15 dams within Sirges reindeer husbandry community. We compiled topographic maps from 1890 and 2007 and included the Renbruksplan (reindeer husbandry plan) developed by Sirges reindeer husbandry community. The Renbruksplan consists of the reindeer herder's documentation of seasonal grazing ranges within their reindeer husbandry community, in relation to vegetation type, intensity of use and quality of forage. Using topographic maps the losses of pasture in relation to the regulation of the Suorva dam were calculated using GIS software. The impacts on Unna Tjerusj reindeer herding community north of the dam Suorva are not included in this study. The results of the study showed that after the four water regulations (1923, 1941, 1944 and 1972) the reindeer lost calving areas and autumn pastures composed of birch forest and mires. In Sirges 55 km² has been lost as a direct result of the flooding of grazing areas. This constitutes 6 % of the ranges used during the bare-ground season in the Vaisa-group of Sirges herding ranges. This also includes the loss of important movement areas, which formerly connected seasonal grazing areas along the flooded rivers system and currently force the reindeer to use steeper less productive hillsides above the dam. In conclusion, this study gives a good overview of how water regulation may affect reindeer herding. Due to the losses, the reindeer herders in this area had to change their migration routes and herding routines in relation to use of the calving grounds and the autumn pastures. These losses most likely had negative effects on reindeer husbandry production, because of the lack of good and rich forage during important parts of the grazing season, however this loss cannot be traced today

Ämnesord

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Annan lantbruksvetenskap -- Miljö- och naturvårdsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Other Agricultural Sciences -- Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Husdjursvetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Animal and Dairy Sience (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Veterinärmedicin (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Veterinary Science (hsv//eng)

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