Condition, Potential Recovery Rate, and Productivity of Lichen (<i>Cladonia</i> spp.) Ranges in the Finnish Reindeer Management Area

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The focus of the work was to investigate dependency between reindeer density and lichen (Cladonia spp.) ranges in the Finnish semidomesticated reindeer management area. Secondly, we formed a model on the recovery rate of ungrazed woodland lichen ranges (29 sites) after forest fires to evaluate the potential productivity and time needed for Finnish lichen ranges to recover at optimal production. During 1974 -95, 59% of the variation in mean semidomesticated reindeer density (range: 0.7-3.0 reindeer/km 2 of the total land area) among the reindeer herding districts in Finland was explained by the proportion of land area covered by lichen ranges in these districts. Reindeer densities were highest in the districts where lichen ranges covered 20% to 30% of the area. Reindeer density on the total land area did not explain the condition of lichen ranges, but 58% of the condition was explained by the reindeer density on the lichen ranges. A condition level for lichen ranges of 1000 kg dry matter per hectare (d.m./ha) of lichen biomass can be considered adequate to ensure survival of reindeer and continued production of lichen. To maintain this level within the sedentary Finnish grazing system, winter reindeer densities on lichen ranges must remain below 5-7 reindeer/km 2 . According to our model, the maximum amount of living lichen in the woodland lichen stand at the climax stage is on average about 7000 kg d.m./ha. The maximum annual yield of lichen (175 kg d.m./ha) is produced by lichen stands that contain 2600-2800 kg d.m./ha of living lichen. Using our model and our 1995 -96 data, we calculated that the average lichen biomass on lichen ranges in the Finnish reindeer management districts was 13.0% of this optimum, and the average lichen production was 36% of the possible maximum annual yield. Our model indicates that the Finnish lichen ranges would have to remain ungrazed for an average of 18 years to recover to maximum production levels. However, the average time needed for the lichen ranges to recover to the level of 1000 kg lichen d.m./ha, would be only about 7 years.Key words: Rangifer, reindeer, Cladonia, lichen, pastures, condition, recovery, productivity RÉSUMÉ. Ces travaux portent tout d'abord sur l'étude de la dépendance existant entre la densité du renne et les grands pâturages de lichen (Cladonia spp.) dans le secteur finlandais de gestion du renne semi-domestique. Ensuite, on a conçu un modèle en se fondant sur le taux de récupération, après des incendies de forêt, d'étendues naturelles (29 emplacements) de lichen forestier non pâturées, en vue d'évaluer la productivité potentielle et le temps nécessaire aux grands pâturages de lichen finlandais pour récupérer à une production optimale. De 1974 à 1995, 59 p. cent de la variation dans la densité moyenne du renne semi-domestique (fourchette de 0,7 à 3,0 renne/km 2 de superficie totale des terres), parmi les districts où se trouvent les troupeaux de rennes en Finlande, s'expliquaient par la proportion du territoire qui était couvert par des pâturage...

Use and abuse of reindeer range

“…Karenlampi et al 1975). A calculated maximum dry mass production of reindeer lichens in northern Finland is 175 kg ha-1 yr-1, or 0.06 g per gram lichen and year (Kumpula et al 2000). These fi gures are in accordance with those presented in another study in the same area (den Herder et al 2003), and predictions in the North Swedish mountain region , Eriksson 1984a.…”

Carbon accumulation in Finland's forests 1922–2004 – an estimate obtained by combination of forest inventory data with modelling of biomass, litter and soil

“…14 Rough estimation that the litter fall equals the annual biomass production [12,23,57,64]. 15 Rough estimation that the litter fall equals the annual biomass production [24,39]. 16 Rough estimation that the litter fall equals the annual biomass production [12,49,54].…”

Applying a synthetic approach to the resilience of Finnish reindeer herding as a changing livelihood

“…Conversely, winter pastures, ground lichens, and arboreal lichens renew slowly . In pasture research, ecologically and economically sustainable reindeer herding is often considered as depending on grazing pressure (reindeer/km 2 ), especially on the winter pastures, which are considered to be the ecologically limiting factor for reindeer husbandry (Kumpula et al 2000, Helle and Kojola 2006. As a consequence of a narrow view focused exclusively on grazing pressure, reindeer herders are sometimes accused in public discussions of overgrazing ).…”