Cooperation forum for reindeer husbandry and wind power featured at Nordic reindeer husbandry conference

The Nordic Reindeer Husbandry Conference was held in Alta, Norway, on 12–14 February 2025. At the conference, Akordi’s leading expert Emma Luoma and the Association of Reindeer Herding Cooperatives’ special advisor Sanna Hast presented a joint article manuscript examining the process of building a cooperation forum between reindeer herding and the wind power industry facilitated by Akordi, and its importance for developing new coordination practices.

 

Emma’s thoughts on the conference:

The conference was a good reminder that the green transition is not just a promise of a better future for everyone. Renewable energy projects in reindeer herding areas are part of a historical continuum and reality in which the operating conditions and living environment of reindeer herding have been gradually eroded. There are many risks and challenges: the conference heard presentations on topics such as changes in grazing conditions caused by climate change, the accumulation of cumulative impacts and the inadequacy of their assessment, and the continuous disregard of empirical knowledge in routine planning practices. There is great concern about the future.

At the same time, the green transition is necessary and is progressing. So what should be done?

In Finland, the Association of Reindeer Herders, Suomen Uusiutuvat ry and Akordi have been working together for several years to find answers to this question. Step by step, a joint, neutral forum has been established between the reindeer herding and wind power sectors to examine difficult and critical issues. This cooperation has enabled necessary encounters and increased understanding of the impacts of wind power on reindeer herding and its practices. To support project operators, a guide to good practices for the planning and operation of wind power projects in reindeer herding areas has been produced, and the development of new operating methods has been initiated, for example to improve the quality of cumulative impact assessments.

Coordination is not always possible, and even when it is, it requires conscious effort, expertise and hard work. However, building such capacity is not always possible in established planning and project development processes; new, additional ways of developing the conditions for cooperation are needed. In my opinion, the cooperation forum that has been built on this is an important example and experience.

Thank you to all my fellow travellers for the enlightening days and to the conference organiser, NIBIO Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research.