UNFPA: Scandinavia’s Indigenous Saami Way of Life Threatened by Thawing Tundra

Saturday, 21 November 2009 00:00

The Saamis are feeling the heat of global warming. Having lived in the northernmost portions of the Scandinavian Peninsula since ancient times, these indigenous people are now facing the consequences of changing weather patterns that threaten to transform their society and their way of life.

Some 60,000 to 100,000 Saamis spread out across Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia, making a living partly from fishing and hunting. Many of them, however, herd reindeer —the backbone of the traditional economy. Reindeer meat is prized for its flavour, tenderness and low fat content. The hides, bones and antlers are used for clothing and handicrafts.

Warmer weather has had an immediate toll on the Saamis. Lichen, which is abundant in these lands, is getting trapped under a layer of ice that forms as a result of spikes and drops in temperature. The mossy fungus is the reindeer’s main source of nutrition during the long winter months; however, herds are increasingly unable to reach it.

“A reindeer can normally dig through as much as one metre of snow to get to the lichen,” says Lars-Anders Baer, President of the Saami Parliament based in Kiruna, in northern Sweden. “But now, with less snow and more ice, the plant is no longer accessible.”

Feeding reindeer that cannot find enough food on their own is putting huge financial burdens on the herders. Recently, says Mr. Baer, “around 100,000 reindeer were not able to eat the lichen, so we had to give them extra food to prevent them from dying.” Despite government subsidies, the extra cost, amplified by the latest food crisis and a decline in revenues, has forced many to sell their reindeer and quit herding, which, according to Mr. Baer, “is essential for the survival of our culture.”

Changing patterns of life

On a wider scale, pastures are starting to shrink due to the change in weather. “As the snow melts, we can see the tree line climbing,” says Mr. Baer. “This means that the ground is becoming more hospitable for agriculture and other uses, and that less pastures are available for the reindeer.”

Central governments and the private sector, which had long shied away from the bitterly cold temperatures, have taken note of the available land. The land is particularly desirable since its ownership rights have not been determined yet.

“The changing weather is making the question of land ownership more important,” says Mr. Baer.  It is a complicated legal and political issue, he adds, as it is still unclear who holds the title to the land. In Norway, the issue was solved through a political agreement between the regional government and the Saamis. In Sweden, however, the issue is still under negotiation.

And as these negotiations continue, so do the effects of climate change on the Saamis.  “Earlier, this was just a frozen desert,” says Mr. Baer. “Now, when the climate gets warmer, you have much easier access, communications, and if you want to exploit the minerals and such, it’s much easier and it’s not so expensive.”

Fewer reindeer, more people

“They have planted windmills in our land,” adds Mr. Baer. “A land that had previously been off limits to outsiders is now more attractive as temperatures become more moderate,” he adds. “Our people have to negotiate with companies building windmills, and to deal with new roads being built to bring more people into the area.”

The Government of Sweden will soon make a final decision on a plan to build the biggest windmill park in the world on land that used to be open for reindeer grazing, says Mr. Baer. Though the windmills are one way to reduce carbon emissions, they are being built at the expense of the Saamis, he adds. “After all, it is easier to build in the north because there are fewer people compared to the coastal areas.”

Hydroelectric plants, triggered by the abundance of water, are also starting to proliferate. In addition, central governments are increasingly exploiting lumber and mineral resources, creating more competition between grazing land and other potential uses, and introducing new habits and traditions.

Adapting to change

“New interests are coming into our territory,” says Mr. Baer. “For example, men working in oil and gas exploration are bringing along new symptoms associated with modernization, such as alcohol consumption, prostitution and suicides. This is putting the indigenous communities under pressure.”

Reindeer herders are good at adapting to normal weather fluctuations, says Mr. Baer. However, it is these secondary consequences of climate change that are troubling the Saamis. They are trying to cope with them by adopting new methods of doing business, such as changing reindeer movement patterns, introducing extra feeding and combining traditional and modern knowledge.

“The whole Swedish society is adapting to climate change, and we have to do the same,” says Mr. Baer. “However, we are very concerned about possible social and cultural consequences, and will have to work hard on preserving our rights, our language and our way of life.”

“The climate and the cold weather have been our greatest defenders,” says Mr. Bear. “But now, when the climate has changed, it opened up the area.” 

The impact of climate change on indigenous people, the poor, women and other vulnerable groups is the subject of the State of World Population 2009, a report published by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, on 18 November 2009.

Source: UNFPA