Effects of modern forest management on winter grazing resources for reindeer in Sweden

Abstract

Boreal forests in Sweden are exploited in a number of ways, including forestry and reindeer husbandry. In the winter, reindeer feed mainly on lichens, and lichen-rich forests are a key resource in the herding system. Commercial forestry has mainly negative effects on reindeer husbandry, and conflicts between these two industries have escalated over the last century. This article reviews the effects of modern forest management practices on the winter resources available for reindeer husbandry. Forestry affects reindeer husbandry at both the stand level and the landscape level and over various time scales. Clear-cutting, site preparation, fertilization, short rotation times, and forest fragmentation have largely resulted in a reduced amount of ground growing and arboreal lichens and restricted access to resource. This article also discusses alternative forestry practices and approaches that could reduce the impacts of forestry on reindeer husbandry, both in the short and long-term.

Fig. 1

Location of the reindeer husbandry area in Sweden. The map also shows the 51 herding districts. Year-round reindeer pastures in the northern part of the reindeer husbandry area are found above (to the west) of the so-called cultivation limit (odlingsgränsen)

Fig. 2

Productive forest land by age class in northern Sweden (Norrland, Västerbotten, Jämtland, Västernorrland) in 2004–2008 (excluding protected productive forest land). Source: Skogsstyrelsen—Swedish Forest Agency. Forestry statistics (www.skogstyrelsen.se)

Fig. 3

Soil scarification conducted on a clear-cut (Photo: Sonja Kivinen)