Productivity beyond density: A critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in Norway
Abstract The official governance of the reindeer pastoralist system in the north of Norway relies overwhelmingly on one central argument: that in order to maintain a sustainable system, maximum numbers and densities of reindeer, as well as certain herd structures, should be upheld. If these indicato...
Published in: | Pastoralism |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2020
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-020-00164-3 https://doaj.org/article/30c00262a6904e7db7a07aa291149c80 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:30c00262a6904e7db7a07aa291149c80 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:30c00262a6904e7db7a07aa291149c80 2024-09-15T18:05:59+00:00 Productivity beyond density: A critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in Norway Andrei Marin Espen Sjaastad Tor A. Benjaminsen Mikkel Nils M. Sara Erik Johan Langfeldt Borgenvik 2020-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-020-00164-3 https://doaj.org/article/30c00262a6904e7db7a07aa291149c80 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13570-020-00164-3 https://doaj.org/toc/2041-7136 doi:10.1186/s13570-020-00164-3 2041-7136 https://doaj.org/article/30c00262a6904e7db7a07aa291149c80 Pastoralism, Vol 10, Iss 1, Pp 1-18 (2020) Reindeer Sámi Norway Pastoralism Non-equilibrium Density dependence Animal culture SF1-1100 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-020-00164-3 2024-08-05T17:50:09Z Abstract The official governance of the reindeer pastoralist system in the north of Norway relies overwhelmingly on one central argument: that in order to maintain a sustainable system, maximum numbers and densities of reindeer, as well as certain herd structures, should be upheld. If these indicators are ignored, the argument goes, the consequences are resource degradation and economic collapse. Even though this argument has been challenged by both researchers and reindeer herders across Fennoscandia, it continues to dominate management policies and practice. Here we set out to investigate the validity of the premise that there is a strong relationship between density and carcass weights over the whole of Finnmark, based on official data. We find that although the relationship is present, its explanatory power is not very strong in a variety of circumstances and propose that it therefore cannot be used to frame important governance policies for the whole system. We also critically reflect on the model’s goal of high productivity per capita of reindeer (high carcass weight). We suggest that productivity per area unit can be at least as relevant as carcass weights and perhaps a better indicator for pastoralist systems in general. For the Finnmark pastoralist system, we argue, a measure of productivity in kilogrammes per square kilometer reveals a different picture: rather than being a failed system marred by suffering animals and low economic returns, reindeer herding in Western Finnmark becomes the most productive in Norway. This shift of focus is likely relevant for other pastoralist systems where governance is premised on similar arguments. Article in Journal/Newspaper Fennoscandia Finnmark Finnmark Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Pastoralism 10 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Reindeer Sámi Norway Pastoralism Non-equilibrium Density dependence Animal culture SF1-1100 |
spellingShingle |
Reindeer Sámi Norway Pastoralism Non-equilibrium Density dependence Animal culture SF1-1100 Andrei Marin Espen Sjaastad Tor A. Benjaminsen Mikkel Nils M. Sara Erik Johan Langfeldt Borgenvik Productivity beyond density: A critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in Norway |
topic_facet |
Reindeer Sámi Norway Pastoralism Non-equilibrium Density dependence Animal culture SF1-1100 |
description |
Abstract The official governance of the reindeer pastoralist system in the north of Norway relies overwhelmingly on one central argument: that in order to maintain a sustainable system, maximum numbers and densities of reindeer, as well as certain herd structures, should be upheld. If these indicators are ignored, the argument goes, the consequences are resource degradation and economic collapse. Even though this argument has been challenged by both researchers and reindeer herders across Fennoscandia, it continues to dominate management policies and practice. Here we set out to investigate the validity of the premise that there is a strong relationship between density and carcass weights over the whole of Finnmark, based on official data. We find that although the relationship is present, its explanatory power is not very strong in a variety of circumstances and propose that it therefore cannot be used to frame important governance policies for the whole system. We also critically reflect on the model’s goal of high productivity per capita of reindeer (high carcass weight). We suggest that productivity per area unit can be at least as relevant as carcass weights and perhaps a better indicator for pastoralist systems in general. For the Finnmark pastoralist system, we argue, a measure of productivity in kilogrammes per square kilometer reveals a different picture: rather than being a failed system marred by suffering animals and low economic returns, reindeer herding in Western Finnmark becomes the most productive in Norway. This shift of focus is likely relevant for other pastoralist systems where governance is premised on similar arguments. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Andrei Marin Espen Sjaastad Tor A. Benjaminsen Mikkel Nils M. Sara Erik Johan Langfeldt Borgenvik |
author_facet |
Andrei Marin Espen Sjaastad Tor A. Benjaminsen Mikkel Nils M. Sara Erik Johan Langfeldt Borgenvik |
author_sort |
Andrei Marin |
title |
Productivity beyond density: A critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in Norway |
title_short |
Productivity beyond density: A critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in Norway |
title_full |
Productivity beyond density: A critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in Norway |
title_fullStr |
Productivity beyond density: A critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in Norway |
title_full_unstemmed |
Productivity beyond density: A critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in Norway |
title_sort |
productivity beyond density: a critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in norway |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-020-00164-3 https://doaj.org/article/30c00262a6904e7db7a07aa291149c80 |
genre |
Fennoscandia Finnmark Finnmark |
genre_facet |
Fennoscandia Finnmark Finnmark |
op_source |
Pastoralism, Vol 10, Iss 1, Pp 1-18 (2020) |
op_relation |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13570-020-00164-3 https://doaj.org/toc/2041-7136 doi:10.1186/s13570-020-00164-3 2041-7136 https://doaj.org/article/30c00262a6904e7db7a07aa291149c80 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-020-00164-3 |
container_title |
Pastoralism |
container_volume |
10 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1810443492487331840 |