Reindeer herding

Reindeer herding Dolgans, Khatanga Region, Taymyr, Russia

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In areas around the taiga/tundra boundary in Southern Taymyr since long time different tribes of indigenous peoples have settled.

Year: 1993


Photographer: Peter Prokosch

References

In many Arctic and Northern regions, domesticated or semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are the only large herbivores (Uboni et al. 2016). Reindeer play a crucial role in these ecosystems and in the livelihoods and traditions of multiple local and indigenous populations. In light of the major impact of climate change in the Arctic, the capacity of large herbivores to mitigate some of these effects is being explored. Herbivores can have different climate positive effects as they can reduce shrubification and slow ecosystem responses to climate change (Olofsson and Post 2018; Happonen et al. 2021), modify summer and winter surface albedo (te Beest et al. 2016), trample winter snow to thicken permafrost (Beer et al. 2020; Windirsch et al. 2022), and increase biomass and soil carbon sequestration (Ylänne et al. 2018; Ylänne et al. 2021; see also soil management).

The Arctic contains around 1.8 million reindeer on some 1.8 million km2 (Forbes et al. 2006), and the effect of wild caribou and domesticated reindeer have been found to be practically similar (Bernes et al. 2015). This makes the management of reindeer a potentially impactful measure alongside major rewilding efforts with multiple species as is done in the Pleistocene Park experiment (see re-wilding). Marin et al. (2020), however, clearly show that the case of failing reindeer policies in the northern Norwegian region of Finnmark exemplify the need for management strategies that are sustainable and not (primarily) focused on productivity. The main currently ongoing research project on reindeer management and presence in the Arctic is the multinational and multidisciplinary EU-funded CHARTER project (www.charter-arctic.org/), which, amongst other goals, seeks to provide clear policy advice on the potential of reindeer management in the region to mitigate some of the effects of climate change. CHARTER even uses the term ‘biogeoengineering’ for the large-scale management of reindeer grazing (see CHARTER Deliverable 5.2; N.B. This definition of biogeoengineering differs from how it is used elsewhere in this report). The project is still ongoing but was severely hampered by the break in relations with Russia mandated by the EU due to the Ukraine war. As a result, it has not yet released clear findings on potential scale and feasibility or form of potential management proposals.

Analysis overview

Technological Readiness Level (TRL)

High 3

Reindeer herding has long since been practiced by indigenous Arctic communities, and implementation of novel herding strategies can likely be done without the development of novel technologies.

Technological Readiness Level (TRL)

A technology with a TRL of 7-9: TRL 7 – prototype demonstrated; TRL 8 – system complete; TRL 9 – system proven

Scalability

High 3

Physically, alternative reindeer herding strategies could potentially be implemented across the 1.8 million km2 where reindeer are currently living. But there could be significant clashes with other forms of land use such as forestry (Horstkotte et al, 2022; see also afforestation and forest management). In the CHARTER working paper 1, Eronen et al (2020) also clearly state that: 'Almost every new land-use project has detrimental impacts on reindeer herding.’ There might however also be cases of positive feedback between reindeer herding and other forms of land management, as Tarvainen et al (2022) for example find that peatland restoration might be combined with the usage of those lands for reindeer herding (see also peatland restoration).

Scalability

High ability to scale physically; exponential efficiencies

Timeliness for near-future effects

High 3

CHARTER is not yet completed, and follow up research is likely needed. However, it seems likely that the relatively flexible nature of herding management could quickly be shifted to a more optimal strategy. In any case, the project description clearly notes that it aims to provide ‘policy-relevant, testable and locally applicable results for the next generation, out to the year 2050’.

Timeliness for near-future effects

Implemented in time to make a significant difference

Northern + Arctic potential

Unknown 0

Although most studies seem to indicate climate positive effects of reindeer herding, some note detrimental effects, for example on permafrost stability and surface albedo (See for a clear literature review the CHARTER scientific background document). It is furthermore still unknown if reindeer management strategies can make a significant and durable impact on the region, especially in light of the rapidly increasing temperatures.

Global potential

Low 1

If reindeer herding turns out to be able to help to preserve Northern permafrost this can also have significant global effects. This is planned to be simulated using Earth System Models in Charter. However, the dominant effects of this measure will remain largely regional.

Global potential

Insignificant to be detected at a global scale

Cost - benefit

Unknown 0

Costs would depend on the extent of the proposed shifts in current practice. Reindeer herding requires significant amounts of land, and can therefore conflict with commercial interests related to logging, infrastructure, mining, renewable energy generation, or afforestation. If this measure is considered mostly for its potential climate positive effect, there will have to be a cost-benefit analysis against other measures.

Environmental risks

Low 3

Modifying reindeer territories will lead to different ecological and environmental effects (Stark et al 2023). It has to be ensured that such modifications are sustainable under near-future climate conditions in a warming region. However, given the very known practice of reindeer herding, it is unlikely to come with significant risks.

Environmental risks

Very limited, site-specific effects restricted to the solution deployment location only

Community impacts

Beneficial 3

Reindeer herding is of high cultural and historical significance for Sámi Indigenous peoples. Reindeer husbandry provides employment and income through meat production, tourism and handicraft production. However, as stated above, reindeer herding can also conflict with several other economic activities, and interests will have to be weighed.

Community impacts

Significant benefits to communities

Ease of reversibility

Easy 3

If found to be undesirable, reindeer could easily be removed again from the concerned areas. Shrubs would regrow in a decade.

Ease of reversibility

Easily reversible naturally

Risk of termination shock

Low 3

0

Risk of termination shock

Low or insignificant termination shock or damage

Legality/governance

High 3

Indigenous reindeer herding is protected under international legal norms in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, the four nations that make up Sápmi (Kirchner and Fresse 2016). See for example the Reindeer Husbandry Act (848/1990) from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland.

Legality/governance

Currently legal to deploy, with governance structures in place to facilitate it and/or financial incentives to develop it

Scientific/media attention

Medium 2

Although reindeer herding has not been picked up by global media like Pleistocene Park has, there is major regional interest in the topic. There is also significant academic interest in the topic, both from social- and natural scientists, with CHARTER being the central research project.

Scientific/media attention

Some attention within the scientific community, including published research and funding programmes; some media attention; some commercial interest

References

Bernes C, Bråthen KA, Forbes BC, Speed JDM, Moen J. 2015 What are the impacts of reindeer/caribou (Rangifer tarandus L.) on arctic and alpine vegetation? A systematic review. Environ. Evidence 4, 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-014-0030-3

Bon, M., Hansen, B. B., Loonen, M. J. J. E. et al (2023). Long-term herbivore removal experiments reval different impacts of geese and reindeer on vegetation and ecosystem CO2-fluxes in high-Arctic tundra. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.01.27.525821

CHARTER. n.d. CHARTER scientific background document: DRIVERS AND FEEDBACKS OF CHANGES IN ARCTIC TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY (CHARTER) (2019), available at https://www.charter-arctic.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DRIVERS-AND-FEEDBACKS-OF-CHANGES-IN-ARCTIC-TERRESTRIAL-BIODIVERSITY_Sci_background.pdf [Accessed 16 July 2024]

CHARTER. n.d. Definition of ‘biogeoengineering’ scenario experiments. CHARTER Deliverable 5.2; https://www.charter-arctic.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Charter_Deliverable_D5.2_310122.pd [Accessed 16 July 2024]

Forbes, B. C., et al. (Eds.). (2006). Reindeer management in northernmost Europe: linking practical and scientific knowledge in social-ecological systems (Vol. 184). Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN-13: ‎  978-354026087. 422 pp.

Heggenes, J., Odland, A., Chevalier, T. et al (2017). Herbivore grazing-or trampling? Trampling effects by a large ungulate in cold high-latitude ecosystems. Ecology and Evolution, 7 (16), pp. 6423-6431. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3130

Horstkotte, T., Kumpula, J., Sandström, P., Tømmervik, H., Kivinen, S. et al. (2022) Pastures under pressure: Effects of other land users and the environment In: Tim Horstkotte, Øystein Holand, Jouko Kumpula, Jon Moen (ed.), Reindeer Husbandry and Global Environmental Change: Pastoralism in Fennoscandia (pp. 76-98). Taylor & Francis https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003118565-7 

Köster, E., Köster, K., Aurela, M., Laurila, T., Berninger, F., Lohila, A. and Pumpanen, J. (2013). Impact of reindeer herding on vegetation biomass and soil carbon content: a case study from Sodankylä, Finland. Boreal Environment Research, 18:35-42. Available at http://hdl.handle.net/10138/165161 [Accessed 19 July 2024]

Marin, A., Sjaastad, E., Benjaminsen, T. A., Sara, M. N. M., & Borgenvik, E. J. L. (2020). Productivity beyond density: A critique of management models for reindeer pastoralism in Norway. Pastoralism, 10, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-020-00164-3 

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland (1990). Reindeer Husbandry Act (848/1990; amendments up to 54/2000 included) Available at:https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1990/en19900848_20000054.pdf [accessed 19 July 2024]

Rubin, S. (2022). In an ancient reindeer forest, one woman has found a way to slow climate change. The Washington post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/interactive/2022/climate-change-reindeer-habitats-deforestation/ [Accessed March 8 2023]

Stark, S., Horstkotte, T., Kumpula, J. et al (2023). The ecosystem effects of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in northern Fennoscandia: Past, present and future. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 58, 125716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2022.125716

Tarvainen, O., Hökkä, H., Kumpula, J., & Tolvanen, A. (2022). Bringing back reindeer pastures in cutaway peatlands. Restoration Ecology, 30(8), e13661. https://10.1111/rec.13661

Tuomi, M., Väisänen, M., Ylänne, H. et al (2020). Stomping in silence: Conceptualizing trampling effects on soils in polar tundra. Functional Ecology, 35 (2), pp. 306-317. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13719

Turunen, M T., Rasmus, S., Järvenpää, J. and Kivinen, S. (2020). Relations between forestry and reindeer husbandry in northern Finland – Perspectives of science and practise. Forest Ecology and Management, 457 (1), 117677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117677

Uboni A, Horstkotte T, Kaarlejärvi E, Seveque A, Stammler F, Olofsson J, Forbes BC, Moen J. 2016 Long-term trends and role of climate in the population dynamics for Eurasian reindeer. PLoS ONE 11, e0158359. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0158359) ///Kirchner, S. and Fresse, V. M. (2016). Sustainable Indigenous Reindeer Herding as a Human Right. Laws, 5 (2). https://doi.org/10.3390/laws5020024

Ylänne, H., Madsen, R. L., Castaño, C., Metcalfe, D. B., & Clemmensen, K. E. (2021). Reindeer control over subarctic treeline alters soil fungal communities with potential consequences for soil carbon storage. Global Change Biology, 27(18), 4254-4268. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15722

Ylänne, H., Olofsson, J., Oksanen, L., & Stark, S. (2018). Consequences of grazer‐induced vegetation transitions on ecosystem carbon storage in the tundra. Functional Ecology, 32(4), 1091-1102.https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13029

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