Sámi traditional ecological knowledge as a guide to science: snow, ice and reindeer pasture facing climate change

Abstract

Scientific studies of challenges of climate change could be improved by including other sources of knowledge, such as traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in this case relating to the Sámi. This study focuses on local variations in snow and ice conditions, effects of the first durable snow, and long term changes in snow and ice conditions as pre-requisites for understanding potential future changes. Firstly, we characterised snow types and profiles based on Sámi categories and measured their density and hardness. Regression analysis showed that density can explain much of the variation in hardness, while snow depth was not significantly correlated with hardness. Secondly, we found that whether it is dry/cold or warm/wet around the fall of the first durable snow is, according to Sámi reindeer herders, crucial information for forecasting winter grazing conditions, but this has had limited focus within science. Thirdly, elderly herders’ observations of changes in snow and ice conditions by ‘reading nature’ can aid reinterpretation of meteorological data by introducing researchers to alternative perspectives. In conclusion we found remarkable agreement between scientific measurements and Sámi terminology. We also learnt that TEK/science cooperation has much potential for climate change studies, though time and resources are needed to bridge the gap between knowledge systems. In particular, TEK attention to shifts in nature can be a useful guide for science.

The Changing Face of Arctic Snow Cover: A Synthesis of Observed and Projected Changes

“…Snow depth and SWE are more difficult to monitor due to their high spatial variability, large gaps in the in situ observing networks, and difficulties in monitoring from satellites. The indigenous peoples of the Arctic have a profound knowledge of changing snow conditions of practical importance for survival, which has been passed from generation to generation, and the Sáme observe snow stratigraphy that is important for reindeer access to vegetation (Riseth et al 2010).…”

“…Also, most of their observations relate to changes in snow structure and their impacts on the mobility of reindeer and reindeer herders as well as access to vegetation. Observations on snow cover by the Sámi from northern Sweden highlight recent increases in ice crusts and in some areas snow accumulation, with statements such as ''all valleys were snow free during (reindeer) calving in the 1930s'', ''terrain elements that determined animal movements in the summer are now snow covered: reindeer now find new passes and roam over a wider area'', ''snow-covered areas and snow patches persist longer into the summer in high mountain areas'', and ''rapid thaws created problems when moving to summer grazing areas in 1938-1940'' (Riseth et al 2010). Many of these observations match or add to nearby climate station monitoring, particularly for the period up to the 1990s (Callaghan et al 2010).…”

Observed cold season changes in a Fennoscandian fell area over the past three decades

“…In Fennoscandia, reindeer herding has been relatively well adapted to various snow and weather conditions in environments with snow cover for seven or more months per year (Riseth et al 2010;Vuojala-Magga et al 2011). During the winter season, reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) feed mainly on ground-growing lichens (mainly Cladina spp.…”

Multi-Decadal Changes in Snow Characteristics in Sub-Arctic Sweden

“…It is also possible that some very hard snow layers were missed in the two-week intervals between observations of the snow stratigraphy at the ASRS. Using, e.g., a penetrometer on a daily basis may capture changes in snow layer hardness during the winter in much better detail (Riseth et al 2010).…”

“…Ice crusts within the snowpack or at ground level may also result in the starvation and death of Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-011-0164-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. semi-domesticated reindeer Rangifer tarandus (Heggberget et al 2002;Riseth et al 2010).…”