175 years of adaptation: North Scandinavian Sámi reindeer herding between government policies and winter climate variability (1835–2010)

• Main Authors: Riseth, Jan Åge, Tømmervik, Hans, Bjerke, Jarle W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Norway; Kautokeino; Torneträsk; Finnmark
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1104689916300101

Unmanaged wild reindeer populations tend to follow cyclical behaviour, and domesticated reindeer populations often show cyclical behaviour, too. In this contribution, we intend to use the long-term development of two areas in northern Scandinavia to explore how externally imposed policies and winter climate variability have influenced the reindeer herd size and pasture state. We do this by comparing the development in two areas that are rather similar ecologically: Torneträsk in northernmost Sweden and Kautokeino (Vest-Finnmark) in northernmost Norway. Reindeer herding; Adaptation; Political shocks; Climate events; Pasture state;