Reindeer and forestry in the Nordic countries

Reindeer herding has a long history in Sápmi, the northernmost region of Norway, Sweden and Finland. But the reindeer husbandry is under pressure. Mining, hydropower dams, windmills, roads, tourism and not least forestry have all made old migration routes, resting places and pastureland for reindeer herders decrease or become damaged.

The film Reindeer and forestry in the Nordic countries focus on the options to solve potential conflicts between reindeer herding and forestry. We meet reindeer owners and forestry servants in northern Norway (Alta), Finland (Ivalo) and Sweden (Jokkmokk and Sveg). They discuss the problems and how they can be overcome with dialogue and concern.

The first half of the film gives an overview and history of reindeer herding in the Nordic countries, together with snapshots from Norway and Finland. The second half describes (from Sweden) active measures that the forestry can do to reduce the impact on lichen availability, the main fodder for the reindeer. Examples are: more lenient site preparation, thin the forest to help lichens and accessibility, avoid lodgepole pine in sensitive areas, leave seed trees and tree groups and use selective cutting in old spruce forests.

The main message of the film is that forestry and reindeer herding will continue to exist side by side, but in order to do so, dialogue and mutual respect is necessary.bThe 20 minute long film is a co-production from Heurgren Film and Silvinformation, made with support from Nordic Forest Research (SNS) and Nordic Agri Research (NKJ). It is partly built on the Swedish film "Skogsbruk i renens land", made for Skogskunskap.se.