Sammendrag
In Norway, both reindeer herders and sheep farmers base their meat
production on natural outfield (utmark) pastures during the summer. In winter,
most of the sheep are housed and fed indoors, while the reindeer survive on outfield
pastures the whole year. During the last few decades, the losses of both sheep and
reindeer to protected carnivores has increased in several areas in Norway. In this
article, we focus on reindeer herding in the Troms and Nordland reindeer grazing
area (reinbeiteområde). Due to large losses of reindeer calves, during the period
from their birth in spring until late autumn, several reindeer herding districts hardly
have any animals for slaughter. This has a very negative impact on both the economy
and the cultural way of life. This article also discusses the reasons why it is difficult
to document/prove who or what is responsible for the losses of reindeer calves. It is
difficult to get permission to cull extra-active predators if the politically determined
quota in each management region is not fulfilled. Documenting the correct number
of predators inside each management region is therefore very important for reindeer herding and sheep farming. This has led to criticism and demonstrations by
reindeer herders and sheep farmers. Norwegian predator policy formally builds on
differentiated management. However, external review reveals that the management model builds on erroneous assumptions. Further, international law also requires
that the burden created by predators does not unduly affect indigenous culture. The
authors conclude that there is a need for extensive reforms in predator management
in Norway.
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