1
|
Markkula I, Turunen M, Rikkonen T, Rasmus S, Koski V, Welker JM. Climate change, cultural continuity and ecological grief: Insights from the Sámi Homeland. AMBIO 2024; 53:1203-1217. [PMID: 38613746 PMCID: PMC11183005 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-024-02012-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Arctic regions are warming significantly faster than other parts of the globe, leading to changes in snow, ice and weather conditions, ecosystems and local cultures. These changes have brought worry and concern and triggered feelings of loss among Arctic Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Recently, research has started to address emotional and social dimensions of climate change, framed through the concept of ecological grief. In this study, we examine sociocultural impacts of climate change and expressions of ecological grief among members of reindeer herding communities in the Sámi Homeland in Finland. Results indicate that ecological grief is felt in connection to major environmental concerns in the area: changes in winter weather and extreme weather events, Atlantic salmon decline and land use changes, which all have cultural and social consequences. Our results indicate that ecological grief is strongly associated with ecological losses, but also with political decisions regarding natural resource governance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inkeri Markkula
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulun Yliopisto, PL 8000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Pohjoisranta 4, 961010, Rovaniemi, Finland.
| | - Minna Turunen
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Pohjoisranta 4, 961010, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Taru Rikkonen
- Natural Resource Institute Rovaniemi, Ounasjoentie 6, 96200, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Sirpa Rasmus
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Pohjoisranta 4, 961010, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Veina Koski
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulun Yliopisto, PL 8000, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jeffrey M Welker
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulun Yliopisto, PL 8000, 90014, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, 211 Providence Drive, CPSB 101, Anchorage, Alaska, 99508, USA
- University of the Arctic (UArctic), Rovaniemi, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Terrado M, Pérez-Zanón N, Bojovic D, González-Reviriego N, Versteeg G, Octenjak S, Martínez-Botí A, Joona T. Climate change adaptation stories: Co-creating climate services with reindeer herders in Finland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168520. [PMID: 37963523 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Reindeer husbandry in the Arctic region is strongly affected by the local climate. Reindeer herders are used to coping with adverse weather, climate, and grazing conditions through autonomous adaptation. However, today's rapidly changing Arctic environment poses new challenges to the management of herding activities. Finding means for combining traditional and scientific knowledge without depriving any of the systems of its fundamental strengths is hence deemed necessary. In this work, we apply a transdisciplinary framework for knowledge co-production involving international researchers and reindeer herders from different cooperatives in northern Finland. Through 'climate change adaptation stories', we co-explore how climate predictions can inform herders' decision making during the herding season. Relevant decisions include the anticipation of summer harvest time, the inopportune periods of cold weather in spring, and insect harassment in summer. Despite their potential benefits for climate-sensitive decisions, climate predictions have seen limited uptake, mainly due to their probabilistic nature and lower quality compared with shorter-term weather forecasts. The analysis of two different adaptation stories shows that seasonal predictions of temperature for May and June can successfully advise about the likelihood of having an earlier than normal harvest. This information can be obtained up to three months in advance, helping herders to better arrange their time for other activities. Likewise, sub-seasonal predictions of temperature during April and May can be useful to anticipate the occurrence of backwinter episodes, which can support herders in deciding whether to feed reindeer in pens for longer, avoiding putting the survival of calves at risk. This study, which would benefit from co-evaluation in real world settings and consideration of additional adaptation stories, sets the basis for a successful co-production of climate services with Arctic reindeer herders. This research shows the potential to enhance the resilience of Polar regions, offering opportunities for adaptation while supporting the sustainability and culture of traditional practices of Arctic communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Terrado
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Plaça Eusebi Güell, 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Nuria Pérez-Zanón
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Plaça Eusebi Güell, 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Dragana Bojovic
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Plaça Eusebi Güell, 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | | | - Gerrit Versteeg
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Plaça Eusebi Güell, 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Sara Octenjak
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Plaça Eusebi Güell, 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Albert Martínez-Botí
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Plaça Eusebi Güell, 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Tanja Joona
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Pohjoisranta 4, 96100 Rovaniemi, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wallin Philippot K, Baron J, Sánchez Romano J, Rautiainen H, Frössling J, Nymo IH, Persson Y, Omazic A, Tryland M. Infectious keratoconjunctivitis in semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus): a questionnaire-based study among reindeer herders in Norway and Sweden. Acta Vet Scand 2023; 65:34. [PMID: 37438784 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-023-00694-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of climate change, loss of pastureland to other land usage and presence of large carnivores are the main reasons for the increase in supplementary feeding of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Fennoscandia over the last decades. Feeding might expose reindeer to stress and increased animal-to-animal contact, leading to an increased risk of infectious disease transmission, such as infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC). As it can develop rapidly and be very painful, IKC is described as an important animal welfare concern and a potential source of economic loss. The aim of this study was to investigate the current presence of IKC and potential associations between IKC and supplementary feeding through an online questionnaire survey, distributed among reindeer herders in Norway and Sweden in 2021. RESULTS Seventy-six reindeer herders (33 from Norway and 43 from Sweden) responded to the questionnaire, representing 6% and 4% of the registered reindeer herding groups in Norway and Sweden, respectively. Infectious keratoconjunctivitis was common, with 54 (71%) of the 76 herders that responded having observed clinical signs during the past 10 years. These signs were mainly observed as increased lacrimation, causing "wet cheeks", but also as keratitis and conjunctivitis. Autumn and winter were the seasons in which IKC was observed most. The herders reported several measures, such as slaughter and isolation of affected reindeer, to counteract the spread of disease. The herding year 2019/2020 was associated with reports of outbreaks of IKC in herds as well as being the herding year where most herders (80%) had performed supplementary feeding. A significant association was found between IKC and feeding performed in an enclosure (odds ratio = 15.20), while feeding on free-range areas had a non-significant, negative, relationship with the appearance of IKC outbreaks (odds ratio = 0.29). Finally, there was a trend in the data suggesting that IKC affected calves especially. CONCLUSIONS Infectious keratoconjunctivitis is a common disease, mainly observed in winter and autumn. It usually has mild to moderately severe clinical signs. Our results imply that IKC is associated with stress and feeding situations and that calves might be more susceptible than adults, however, this needs to be confirmed with further studies, preferably at an individual animal level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karin Wallin Philippot
- Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jerome Baron
- Department of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Javier Sánchez Romano
- Vascular Biology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Heidi Rautiainen
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jenny Frössling
- Department of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 532 23, Skara, Sweden
| | - Ingebjørg Helena Nymo
- Research Group Food Safety and Animal Health, The Norwegian Veterinary Institute, 9016, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ylva Persson
- Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Omazic
- Department of Chemistry, Environment and Feed Hygiene, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Morten Tryland
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480, Koppang, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pekkarinen A, Rasmus S, Kumpula J, Tahvonen O. Winter condition variability decreases the economic sustainability of reindeer husbandry. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2719. [PMID: 36380453 PMCID: PMC10078097 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Wild and semidomesticated reindeer are one of the key species in Arctic and subarctic areas, and their population dynamics are closely tied to winter conditions. Difficult snow conditions have been found to decrease the calving success and survivability of reindeer, but the economic effects of variation in winter conditions on reindeer husbandry have not been studied. In this study, we combine state-of-the-art economic-ecological modeling with the analysis of annual reindeer management reports from Finland. These contain local knowledge of herding communities. We quantify the occurrence probabilities of different types of winters from annual management reports and analyze the effects of this variation in winter conditions on reindeer husbandry using an age- and sex-structured bioeconomic reindeer-lichen model. Our results show that difficult winters decrease the net revenues of reindeer husbandry. However, they also protect lichen pastures from grazing, thereby increasing future net revenues. Nonetheless, our solutions show that the variability of winter conditions overall decrease the net income of herders compared to constant winter conditions. Low lichen biomass appears to make reindeer management more sensitive to the effects of difficult winter conditions. We also found that it is economically sensible to use supplementary feeding during difficult winters, but the net revenues still decrease compared to average winters because of the high feeding costs. Overall, our analysis suggests that the increasing variability of winter conditions due to climate change will decrease net revenues in reindeer husbandry. This decrease will still occur even if the most extreme effects of climate change do not occur. This study shows that combining a state-of-the-art bioeconomic model and practitioner knowledge can bring compatible insights, ideas, results, and a bottom-up perspective to the discussion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antti‐Juhani Pekkarinen
- Natural Resources Institute FinlandHelsinkiFinland
- Department of Forest SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Sirpa Rasmus
- Arctic CentreUniversity of LaplandRovaniemiFinland
| | | | - Olli Tahvonen
- Department of Forest SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ocobock C, Turunen M, Soppela P, Rasmus S. The impact of winter warming and more frequent icing events on reindeer herder occupational safety, health, and wellbeing. Am J Hum Biol 2023; 35:e23790. [PMID: 36638266 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Northern Finland, like the rest of the Arctic, has experienced increases in mean annual temperature, the number of winter rains, the number of thaw-freeze days, the number of extremely warm weather events, and a shortened snow season. These changes have produced numerous problems for reindeer herders whose livelihoods rely on a healthy ecosystem with predictable weather patterns. METHODS We performed a scoping literature review to assess how climate change induced extreme weather has negatively impacted reindeer herding as well as the health and wellbeing of reindeer herders. RESULTS Late snow cover negatively impacts reindeer herding through a more widely dispersed herd that increases the work to gather reindeer, leads to reduced calf weight, and results in less meat for sale. This increased labor, especially in extreme cold conditions, can also negatively impact reindeer herder health. Icing due to thaw-freeze and rain-on-snow events makes it impossible for reindeer to dig through the snow to access lichens, increasing the need for reindeer herders to keep the herd in winter enclosures and provide supplemental feed. CONCLUSION Climate change induced weather events such as late snow cover and icing increase reindeer herder efforts and expenses, put their livelihood at risk, and put their health at risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cara Ocobock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.,Eck Institute for Global Health, Institute for Educational Initiatives, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Minna Turunen
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Päivi Soppela
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Sirpa Rasmus
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland.,Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bartczak A, Kaczmarek H, Badocha M, Krzemiński M, Tyszkowski S. Measured and predicted freeze-thaw days frequencies in climate change conditions in central Poland. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12153. [PMID: 34754616 PMCID: PMC8555500 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The rate of progression of geomorphological phenomena is greatly influenced by freeze-thaw processes. In the face of air temperature increasing over the past few decades, a question of the future impact of these processes arises, notably in the temperate and cold climate zones. Using the mean, maximum and minimum daily air temperature data in the period 1951–2018 obtained from three weather stations located in the vicinity of Jeziorsko reservoir (central Poland), we have determined the mathematical correlation, described with a polynomial function, between the mean monthly air temperature and the monthly number of freeze-thaw days (FTD). A freeze-thaw day is a day when the maximum air temperature is above 0 °C while the minimum air temperature equals or is below this threshold. The number of FTDs within the study area averaged 64–71 and demonstrated a downward trend of 2–4 FTDs/10 years. The study period (1951–2018), includes a clearly marked distinct sub-period (1991–2018), when the reservoir was in operation, which experienced 58–68 FTDs. Considering the assumed rise in temperature, one should expect a further, though slightly slower, decline in the future number of FTDs. Depending on the accepted model of the temperature increase, which for the area of Poland (Central Europe) in the perspective of 30 years oscillates between +1.1 to +1.3 °C, the number of FTDs within the study area is expected to decline by −4.5 to −5.3 FTD, i.e. 6–7% and 5.4–5.5 FTD i.e. 8–9% respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arkadiusz Bartczak
- Department of Environmental Resources and Geohazards, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Polish Academy of Sciences, Toruń, Poland
| | - Halina Kaczmarek
- Department of Landscape Geography, Institute of Geography, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Michał Badocha
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Michał Krzemiński
- Institute of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Applied Physics and Mathematics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Sebastian Tyszkowski
- Department of Environmental Resources and Geohazards, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Toruń, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
The Impact of Climate Change on the Food (In)security of the Siberian Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic: Environmental and Health Risks. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13052561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Climate change represents a global challenge that impacts the environment, traditional lifestyle and health of the Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic zone of Western Siberia and threatens their food security. Reindeer are an important food source for this population since reindeer herding products are used as traditional nutrition and effective preventive means and remedies for adapting to the cold and geomagnetic activity in the High North. Longer off-season periods, high summer and winter temperatures, melting ice, and forest and tundra fires have a significant impact on the trampling and degradation of reindeer pastures. These effects may lead to massive reindeer losses and changes in the traditional diet of the Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic, which result in increases in the prevalence of respiratory diseases, overweight and hypertension. This study applied a multidisciplinary approach based on ecological and medical research methods with the inclusion of socioeconomic analysis. The primary sources included data on the longitudinal dynamics of air temperature as a climate change indicator and reindeer livestock populations (1936–2018), consumption of reindeer products and physiological impacts on the Yamal Indigenous population collected during expeditions to the Arctic zone of Western Siberia in 2012–2018.
Collapse
|
8
|
Stark S, Ylänne H, Kumpula J. Recent changes in mountain birch forest structure and understory vegetation depend on the seasonal timing of reindeer grazing. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sari Stark
- Arctic Centre University of Lapland Rovaniemi Finland
| | - Henni Ylänne
- Arctic Centre University of Lapland Rovaniemi Finland
- Department of Ecology and Genetics University of Oulu Oulu Finland
| | - Jouko Kumpula
- Natural Resource Institute Finland (Luke)Inari Station Inari Finland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Project ReiGN: Reindeer Husbandry in a Globalizing North–Resilience, Adaptations and Pathways for Actions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-52324-4_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
|