Reindeer Herding and Coastal Pastures: Adaptation to Multiple Stressors and Cumulative Effects
2021
Many reindeer herders in northern Norway use coastal pastures for grazing. Such use comes with challenges for herding flexibility, coastal grazing and traditional adaptation practices. We are addressing three of those challenges here, predominantly focusing on Nordland County. First, we look at how climate change affects the pastures through increased woody vegetation (shrub and forest), along the coast, increasing the tick distribution and abundance. Second, herders are increasingly experiencing pasture encroachments through physical infrastructure and human activity, making coastal grazing challenging. Last, climate change and the spread of climate sensitive infections (CSIs) to new geographical areas create potential risks for the herders, and for citizens in general. Many CSIs are zoonotic infections that may be transmitted between humans and animals. Arthropod vectors (i.e. mosquitos, midges, ticks) as well as animal hosts are sensitive to climate change. The distribution range of ticks have moved northwards because of warmer and wetter weather conditions. This increasing risk of tick-borne diseases and the introduction of such diseases to new areas is the focus of our inquiry within our project CLINF under the Nordic Center of Excellence Arctic Programme. In this chapter we explore these threats to reindeer herding through the coproduction of knowledge approach. We consider the effects of multiple and interacting changes in climate, pasture access, encroachments and the spreading of CSIs. We approach the multiple stressors in a holistic manner and identify the interactive and cumulative effects on reindeer herding.
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