The solution

#1 Pinpointing barriers to grazing and migration

Together with Sámi reindeer herders, we identify specific areas – such as forest stands or migration passages – that pose challenges for grazing or movement. This allows us to move forward with contacting affected landowners, seeking funding, proposing and planning measures, and exploring alternative forestry methods and revenue streams.

At the heart of this work is the deep ecological knowledge held by the Indigenous Sámi – insight rooted in generations of living in close relationship with the Nordic Taiga landscape, attuned to its shifting seasons and bearing witness to the impacts of climate change and intensified land exploitation.

#3 Supporting landowners in adopting close-to-nature forestry

As an alternative to conventional clear-cutting practice in Sweden, we propose a close-to-nature forestry approach. Here, single trees are harvested and sold at a premium, while the forest as a whole is preserved. This provides the landowner with a permanent and long-term income, rather than a single payment every 60–80 years and then decades of environmental degradation.

There is good demand for quality wood in the market, so this approach is not only environmentally but also economically sound. In close-to-nature forestry, everybody wins – nature, climate, and landowners.

#5 Removal of forestry debris on lichen-rich ground

In thinning of forests, twigs and branches are generally deposited on the forest floor. They form thick mats which exclude light and suffocate ground lichens. Although the debris eventually decomposes, they also last sufficiently long to inflict permanent damage on lichen populations. When woody debris is left on lichen-rich ground, it also prevents reindeer from accessing this important winter forage. The problem is further exacerbated in winter, when fluctuating freeze-thaw conditions create ice layers that seal the lichens even further.

To balance this, we remove logging debris from delicate areas. To avoid depleting the ecosystem of nutrients, we look into methods of keeping them in the system.

#7 Removing Contorta Pine Stands

Extensive planting of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) in the 1970s to increase timber production in northern Sweden has had severe ecological and cultural impacts. The invasive tree species grows in dense, shaded stands that outcompete native understory vegetation, such as mosses, dwarf shrubs, and ground lichens – essential winter forage for reindeer. It also fragments the landscape and obstructs historical reindeer migratory routes, undermining Sámi herding practices.

To avoid its spread and reestablish natural forest processes, successful elimination requires a carefully planned, long-term strategy of mature stand clear-cutting, seed source removal, and repeated cycles of clearing regenerating seedlings to avoid re-establishment. All of this is critical to preventing P. contorta’s negative ecological impact and to recover biodiverse, open pine forests that sustain both wildlife and Sámi traditions.

#9 Building local understanding of reindeer herding

To support both ecological restoration and sustainable reindeer herding, we work actively to inform local communities about the needs and rhythms of Sámi reindeer husbandry. Not many are aware of quite how sensitive reindeer are to disturbance, particularly at such critical periods as calving or during seasonal migration. Through dialogue, signage, and local outreach, we help spread practical information – such as when and where to avoid snowmobiling, skiing, or organising events that may disrupt herding.

By sharing knowledge, we aim to reduce misunderstandings and build acceptance around reindeer herding as a living and nature-based tradition that also depends on healthy ecosystems. When local residents and land users are better informed, it becomes easier to find shared solutions that respect both nature and culture.