Los herd of reindeer they have a long history in Northern Norway, Sweden and Finland and have shaped the mountainous landscape of the region called Fenoscandinavia, which includes the Scandinavian and Kola peninsula, Karelia and Finland. Now a study published in Scientific reports shows that most of these lands are threatened by the expansion of human activities to the north.
About 60% of the reindeer foraging region is under multiple pressures
The authors of the work used a large-scale integrated geographic information system (GIS) in three countries: Norway, Sweden and Finland. Their results indicate that about 60% of the region in which these animals feed is subject to multiple pressures and that 85% are exposed to at least one pressure. This dramatically reduces the size and quality of the reindeer grazing area in the summer. The study revealed this only 4% of the surface remains unchanged.
“In northern Fennoscandinavia we are fortunate to still have one of the oldest reindeer husbandry systems in Europe, where these ruminants can roam freely in 40% of Norway, Sweden and Finland. Or, at least, they did. With the increase in human presence on several fronts, the survival of the Nordic reindeer herds is threatened. Marianne Stoessel, first author of the study and researcher at Stockholm University.
Pasture and plant biodiversity
The problem is not new and the scientific community had already warned of the risks. According to Stoessel, “the novelty is that we have finally been able to get an overview of these pressures throughout the area. It wasn’t easy, as different land uses act on different scales and can be very dynamic. In addition, predators and effects of climate change grazing, ”says Marianne Stoessel.
The study warns of a high risk of vegetation and landscape change in the future
“This is a key process for maintaining plant biodiversity, even in the mountains. Therefore, it was important to study the extent of these cumulative pressures taking into account the summer pastures, where reindeer feed, “he comments Queen Lindborgco-author of the study and coordinator of the research project.
Due to the large extent of these pressures in the region and climate change, this study suggests a high risk of vegetation and landscape change in the future, which will lead to reindeer grazing concentrations in less disturbed areas and the invasion of trees and shrubs in the most weathered.
The study is part of the research project The interactive effects of land use and global warming on the pastures of northern Fennoscandia.
Rights: Creative Commons.
