Reindeer husbandry has been part of the Nordic and Arctic culture for a very long time. However, the future of reindeer husbandry should not be taken for granted. It is a big task to solve the challenges the sector faces, and traditional knowledge, research as well as policy are needed.
Reindeer husbandry is a part of the bioeconomy, the food industry, tourism and culture and contributes to the Nordic society. Not the least, it is also a big part of the culture and society in Sapmi. A part of the work of NKJ is to promote and support research, innovation, and policy development in the reindeer husbandry in the Nordic region.
Some concrete examples of what challenges the reindeer husbandry sector faces are:
• Conflicts of land use, e.g. due to forestry, wind power plants and the building of new infrastructure
• Climate change
• Psychological challenges among reindeer herders
• Predators
• Diseases
• Lack of lichens
To deal with the conflict areas at hand, the board of NKJ has established a committee for reindeer husbandry. The latest activity arranged by them was The Nordic Conference on Reindeer Husbandry 2022, held in Svanhovd, Norway, 9-10 Nov. More about the conference here!
This film, “Reindeer and forestry in the Nordic countries”, focus on the options to solve potential conflicts between reindeer herding and forestry:
The Nordic reindeer committee
(part of the NKJ board)
NORWAY
Silje Trollstøl, Ministry of Agriculture and Food
silje.trollstol@lmd.dep.no
SWEDEN
Bilge Tekin-Befrits, Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation
bilge.tekin-befrits@regeringskansliet.se
FINLAND
Mika Survonen, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
mika.survonen@mmm.fi
NKJ funded networks in reindeer husbandry:
TARANDUS
Solutions for supplementary feeding of reindeer
Road salting and reindeer/vehicle-collisions
Report (2022): The Nordic Conference on Reindeer Husbandry 2023 – Conclusions for the future