Helga Pedersen, deputy leader of the governing Labour Party was quoted as saying,

We are for mineral exploration in Inner Finnmark – But it’s not that we can say yes all, everywhere and at any price. We must also develop this industry and take account of the environment and to those on the plateau before (mining)

Here she is of course referring to the indigenous Sami, many of whom (especially reindeer herders) have been critical of the current ‘gold rush’ for minerals that is occurring in Finnmark. Surprisingly perhaps, Pedersen herself is of Sami ancestry and she has been a vigorous supporter of developing mining in the county. Legal researcher, Øyvind Ravna is quoted in the article as saying,

A charge should be introduced which would provide direct compensation to the  indigenous Sami people if they are  to accept such activities in their core areas

Ravna pointed to the activities of some mining ventures in Canada where First Nations are compensated directly for mining activity on their land. Pedersen is quick to rule out talk of compensation for mining for the Sami, which would be very unpopular among many Norwegian communities,

Meanwhile, in the regional media, the County Mayor of Finnmark is quoted as saying that people are getting angry that mining is being held up,

For far too long there has been talk of the great riches found in the county and how many jobs a new mining industry can provide. Now is the time that they should be realized otherwise people will become frustrated and eventually angry

Reindeer ferry season is about to begin this year on April 20th from Balnes in Balsfjord and some 15,000 reindeer from 20 reindeer herding districts will make the ferry ride by May 9th.  National Geographic featured a short article on this unusual form of transport in collaboration with the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry which you can read here.

Source: LMD

www.nrk.no/sami

Climate and climate change affects reproduction and survival of all living organisms.

This thesis includes several experiments where winter conditions were improved or worsened by manipulating access to feed to deer females.

- A reduction in winter conditions led to females next summer reduced investment in calf, and instead concentrated on building up body reserves, “explains Bård-Jørgen Bårdsen.

A similar improvement in winter conditions, however, had to take place over several years before the females were willing to increase their reproductive investment.

Larger females, but fewer calves

This study shows that reindeer have developed a risk-sensitive investment strategy in which females build fat reserves based on what kind of winter they expect to come.

- Increased rainfall and milder winters in Finnmark will in line with these studies in future provide significantly lower reindeer numbers and larger animals with low willingness to invest in calf production, Bårdsen says.

However, one reindeer herder interviewed by NRK Sami Radio, was sceptical to towards this research.

Mathisen pointed out that reindeer husbandry is more than just a cultural issue and that from an economic standpoint, it is more important to the regional economy than people think and the focus on its cultural importance diminishes its economic potential.

Figures from Innovation Norway show that the reindeer industry employs more than agriculture, fishing industry and aquaculture industry in the county of Finnmark. In 2007, reindeer herding employed 743 people with only the fisheries industry employing more people: 1138. The total gross value added in reindeer husbandry amounted to about 140 million NOK (ca. 16 Million Euros) a year. Besides buying reindeer food goods and services to 70 million NOK annually in the county.

The business opportunity must be brought forward in the discussion. There must be a more professional debate about the reindeer herding as a business and not just a culture bearer,

Source: Finnmark Dagblad

“From their birth, the reindeer calves were taught not to be afraid of humans,” Valery Strakhov said.

Early on Thursday, a pack of wolves and feral dogs broke through the farm’s fence, and attacked the reindeer, killing them all in a matter of minutes. Farmers armed with pitchforks failed to stop the animals. Meanwhile, in Finnmark, Henrik I. Eira of the  Statens Naturoppsyn (SNO) is reported in NRK Sami Radio that wolves are killing reindeer in the Anárjohka national park . Wolves are rare in Norway – there are perhaps 12-18 of them.

At this time of year, large migrations of reindeer are underway in northern Norway. This means the crossing of roads, several of which are busy and driving conditions at this time of year are challenging. There have been several accounts of reindeer being hit by cars, which is nearly always fatal to reindeer.

Some have claimed that the deaths are caused by the salting of roads, which attracts reindeer as salt is something they crave. Salt has been mentioned as a cause in the Skiboth valley. However, Ole Mathis Eira, a herder from Kautokeino and a board member of the NRL/NBR stated to Finnmark Dagblad that the real problem is the fact that roads transect all the pastures. Eira has already lost 10, but some winters loses as many as 70. Not all accidents are reported, as drivers pay compensation to reindeer herders from their insurance.

According to the reindeer police, the most dangerous sections of road are Olderfjord-Kåfjord, Soulovuobme-Stornes, Kautokeino-Finland, Gievdnjegoikka-Suosjavrre, Kvalsund-Hammerfest and Kåfjord-Langfjordbotn, most of which are in West Finnmark.

You can read the Hålogaland decision here (Norwegian)

At the time, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority stated their satisfaction with the ruling,

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is satisfied that the decision in the lagmann is so unambiguous and clear.There can no longer be any doubt that the Animal Act requirement also applies to the killing of reindeer. We expect that this verdict will help to end any other illegal ways to kill reindeer.

The knife into the heart method is not uncommon for reindeer peoples around the world (for example Chukotka), as peoples have used different methods to kill reindeer in different regions. The Reindeer Portal and Reindeer Blog will continue to follow this story.

First and foremost, we should have better dialogue between farmers and reindeer husbandry, but when it comes to the ministry level, they should have an understanding of both industries.This is where we feel that we have not been heard as closely as agriculture.

(Pic – Johan Mathis Gaup) NRK has been full of a story this week that is just south of Kautokeino / Guovdageaidnu. This is the time of year that reindeer herds are migrated back to the interior and their winter pastures, as the temperature drops. Two large herds have become mixed together – in total about 23,000 animals that belong to the reindeer herding districts Orda and Lákkonjárga (30/31) in the  Guovdajohtolat (Middle Zone). The Reinpolitiet (established in 1950, a branch of the Norwegian Police that deals with reindeer husbandry) have been called in, though there is disagreement as to who called them, and they are now observing the situation. Concerns have been raised as to police presence, the impact on pastures of so many animals in one place and as to how this could have happened in the first place. 

Reindeer Antlers : Sales Drooping

So said reindeer herder Johan Mikkel Haetta as he complained that the bottom has fallen out of the reindeer antler market. Used in the large market in the Far East for aphrodisiacs, reindeer antlers have been an important supplemental source of income for reindeer herders (especially in parts of Russia). The availability of synthetic aphrodisiacs such as Viagra has had a major negative impact on the market.

Fences are in the news in Finnmark, as it has been estimated that there are as much as 600 km of illegal fencing in the county that the Reindeer Husbandry Administration is in the process of removing. Politicians in Karasjok say the work is not progressing fast enough, while reindeer herders  are quoted as being reluctant to remove them as they are a great help with herd management. In Northern Finnmark, reindeer herding district 13 are attempting to ensure that a planned road will avoid an important calving district. In Oslo, last week, farmers and reindeer herders met in an attempt to maintain dialogue in order to avoid a repeat performance of the conflict this year (5 reindeer were shot on the grounds of a farm in Alta). Finnish farmers are also reported to be considering shooting at reindeer that cross the border from Norway, which has prompted the head of the reindeer herding administration to initiate dialogue.

Elsewhere, it looks like the 2018 Winter Olympics will not be held in Tromso, as fears about escalating costs and a thumbs down from the Sports Board. Arild Pettersen Inga, the area leader for the Troms district for one thought that this was a lost opportunity for reindeer husbandry to get some positive press coverage for a change.