Reindeer herding, an important aspect of indigenous Sami culture across the Nordic countries of Finland, Norway, and Sweden, is being threatened by record high summer temperatures. Traditionally, these animals would migrate northward in search of a reprieve from the heat. A new report shows that the paving of Paradise greatly reduces the amount of relief those diamond-encrusted neighborhoods provide. As a consequence, reindeer are now overheating, and producers find it increasingly difficult to provide enough food and water. Now, they’re making their way deeper into cities looking for safety.
This shift is having alarming effects on the indigenous Sami people, the historic reindeer herders. Their currently protracted heatwave has added extraordinary stress to an already tenuous existence. Climate change poses intense threats to their land, forcing changes in the behavior and health of reindeer, which our folks depend on.
Impact of Climate Change on Reindeer Habitats
Reindeer, or caribou, have thrived for millennia by adapting to their harsh, natural tundra habitat, which involves seasonal migrations in the summer months from lower altitudes to higher altitudes. This migratory behavior has allowed them to follow the retreating ice northward, giving them historically cooler summers and access to more temperate wintering grounds. The large dollar signs and profound impact that comes with today’s climate crisis has shifted this trend radically.
Our research demonstrates that higher elevation temperatures have warmed by about 2 degrees Celsius as a result of climate change. In these conditions, the increasing temperatures are disrupting the environmental cues reindeer use to identify livable habitats. Even these shadier spaces that they relied on aren’t safe from their impacts. As a result, reindeer have been exposed to more heat stress, making it more challenging to keep the animals healthy and reindeer husbandry sustainable.
As their natural habitats continue to degrade, reindeer herders are seeing the impact these animals undergo on their front lines. The extreme weather has left many herders fearful for the long-term viability of their livelihood. As a result, they face fears for the long-term survival of reindeer populations across these areas.
Urbanization and the Search for Shade
Now, as heat waves encircle the globe, wild reindeer in Norway have begun moving into cities to find shade and cooler temperatures. Such behavior is out of character for these creatures, who usually do everything possible to stay out of human developed areas. The increasing urban encroachment of reindeer is creating challenges for both local reindeer herders and their communities.
As more and more reindeer wander into town, traffic accident risk increases, as does the risk of violent encounters with frightened locals. Local authorities need to move fast in their response to these changes. To protect reindeer and people, they’re making educational outreach campaigns and putting up infrastructure with safety features.
Getting ready as well are the Sami reindeer herders, who are just beginning to adjust to this new climate reality. They are working with cities to better facilitate the coexistence of reindeer with urban settings. Simultaneously, they have persisted in their struggle to defend and maintain their traditional practices and rights.
Strains on Indigenous Sami Herders
The ongoing heatwave has placed significant strain on the Sami people, who rely on reindeer herding as a cornerstone of their cultural identity and livelihood. The issues they deal with are complex, affecting them economically, environmentally and socially.
Sami reindeer herders are increasingly finding it harder to find enough grazing land for their herds. Once fertile pastures have dried up under the impacts of extreme heat and drought. Further, rising health monitoring demands for reindeer health have placed added labor and monetary costs on herders.
Additionally, because Sami culture is rooted in reindeer herding, the impacts of these changes go beyond economic. Yet as they face the harsh new reality of climate change, the bedrock of their cultural life is in danger. Today, the majority of herders are calling out for their voices to be heard and rights to be respected. They equally call on governments to do better in addressing these urgent matters.