Case Study – Reindeer herding communities in Vindelälven, Sweden
🌿 Describing the Satoyama landscape / SEPL
This area includes the grazing lands of seven reindeer herding communities. Many different activities happen here: forestry, farming, tourism, small and large businesses, energy production, mining, and protected nature areas. People also enjoy hiking, hunting, skiing, fishing, and collecting berries and mushrooms here.
Reindeer herding is a traditional way of life in Arctic areas. It involves moving reindeer between the mountains in summer and the coast in winter. Thanks to reindeer herding, the mountain areas have stayed natural. However, forest and coastal areas have changed a lot because of tree cutting and development. Reindeer herding is allowed by law and follows special rules.
⚠️ Satoyama challenges and threats
In Sweden, land usually became private property. But in the north, where the Sami people live, they were given legal rights to use large areas of land together for herding reindeer. This became a system of “common property” (shared use). But over time, new settlers also claimed land, creating a mix of shared and private land use. This makes it hard for reindeer herders to move between mountains and coast as they always have.
Other land users, like forestry or mining companies, compete for space. Also, climate change is hurting grazing areas. The Sami may need to make big changes to continue their way of life.
