Reindeer husbandry by the Sami had for a long time developed in interaction with climatic and social changes. How this took place, how it is happening today and what may be expected to happen in future will be investigated in a project at Umeå University.
Research Council Formas, Swedish Space Board and Swedish Research Council have allocated MSEK 8.4 to an interdisciplinary project comprising ecologists, historians and political scientists. The allocated funds will be used to employ four postgraduate students and one post-doc researcher in what is similar to a small researcher training institute with common courses.
In the project, a study will be made of what effect hydroelectric construction has had on reindeer husbandry, how today's forestry practices affect reindeer husbandry, and how the Sami population have been influenced by different climate changes. One important study will examine future strategies for the sustainable adaptation of Sami reindeer husbandry to changes.