Comparison of co-existing forestry and reindeer husbandry value chains in northern Sweden

Abstract

Forestry in Mala, northern Sweden, coexists with other land uses. Reindeer husbandry is in the area for centuries and requires large areas of grazing land. Competing land uses may threaten the Mala Sami village. The aim of the study was to evaluate increased consideration in forest management towards 1) reindeer husbandry, 2) nature and 3) a combination of the two. These scenarios were compared with forest management as it was in 2009. Results indicate that all three scenarios lead to a decrease in annual harvesting volumes of 0.2 to 0.4 million m(3). Forest industry dominated the economic viability in the area. Forest management adapted to the needs of reindeer husbandry resulted in less potential for yearly harvest, employment and profits from forest industry. On the other hand, it led to an increase in growing stock and consequently the potential for carbon sequestration over time. Indeed the increased sequestration would compensate for all fossil emissions of carbon from the Forest Wood Chain (FWC). The nature scenario had minor effects on economic result and on the emissions of fossil carbon. The combined scenario gave a reduced economic performance for the FWC. A scenario based on forest management accommodating the needs of reindeer husbandry gave the best economic result for the reindeer chain, due to high survival rate of the reindeer. However the economic importance of reindeer husbandry in the region was small compared to the FWC. Results from scenario analysis could serve as a platform for mutual understanding between stakeholders.

Keywords

agroforestry; carbon sequestration; global warming potential; gross value added; employment; ToSIA

Published in

Silva Fennica
2016, volume: 50, number: 1, article number: 1384
Publisher: FINNISH SOC FOREST SCIENCE-NATURAL RESOURCES INST FINLAND

SLU Authors

• Berg, Staffan

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Valinger, Erik

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lind, Torgny

  • Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG8 Decent work and economic growth
SDG13 Climate action

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.1384

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/75954