168
7
In the late 1990s, there were some winters with difficult snow and ice conditions.
This meant that reindeer could not access pastures through deep snow and ice, and
the consequence was starvation. This received much attention in Norwegian media,
and the overgrazing narrative was further fuelled. Several researchers supported this
narrative, and it has also until recently been shared by all the political parties in the
Norwegian Parliament (Benjaminsen et al. 2016).
This lack of achievement of results frustrates many politicians. Parliamentary
debates on the issue reflect a recurring resignation that those involved in reindeer
husbandry do not understand how serious the situation is. For instance, in the debate
of November 30, 2000, Minister of Agriculture at the time, Bjarne Håkon Hansen,
expressed this frustration:
» What concerns me is the fact that when I meet with the reindeer husbandry groups
and discuss the reality, and insist that if something does not happen to the number of reindeer, there will be the risk of permanent destruction of grazing areas,
then my perception of reality is on a completely different level than their perception of reality. It is not a grazing problem, insists the Norwegian Association of
Reindeer Herders, it is a predator problem, it is a land-use issue, and there have
been some special natural conditions that have resulted in the pastures becoming
“locked”. But it is not a grazing problem - there are adequate pasture resources.
It is clear that this assembly and I can take responsibility, and we can use the law
to provide us with the tools to first fix a maximum number of reindeer per district,
and then go further to put in place legislation that gives us the opportunity to fix
a maximum number of reindeer per production unit. I think this is the only way
to ensure that one will obtain a decrease in the number of reindeer. But we also
know that the industry, represented by the Norwegian Association of Reindeer
Herders and the Sámi Parliament, are in disagreement with this. Then, we face
such a serious problem that to some extent, I actually feel incapable of acting.
In June 2000, the Government asked the Norwegian Parliament to establish a maximum number of reindeer for each district. In December the same year, the Ministry
of Agriculture followed this up by asking the Reindeer Management Board, which is
an office under the Ministry, to implement this measure. Based on a commissioned
study, the highest number of reindeer for West Finnmark was set at 64,300 animals.
This is the biggest reindeer herding area and also seen by the government as the most
troublesome. The proposed number was adopted by the Reindeer Management
Board in 2002. In 2005, however, the number of animals reached around 91,000 in
West Finnmark. This was the topic of the parliamentary debate on June 14, 2005
where several members of parliament across the political spectrum pointed out that
the voluntary reduction of reindeer numbers clearly did not work, and argued for
forced reductions.
Hence, there is a political alliance to reduce the number of reindeer in Finnmark.
Reindeer husbandry is not treated as a business, but as an activity where outdated
ideology and attitudes continue to live (Reinert 2006). While record production in
any other agricultural activity would be subject to celebration, high production of
reindeer is viewed as a problem (Reinert 2006).
Chapter 7 · Pastoralists and the State
7
In the late 1990s, there were some winters with difficult snow and ice conditions.
This meant that reindeer could not access pastures through deep snow and ice, and
the consequence was starvation. This received much attention in Norwegian media,
and the overgrazing narrative was further fuelled. Several researchers supported this
narrative, and it has also until recently been shared by all the political parties in the
Norwegian Parliament (Benjaminsen et al. 2016).
This lack of achievement of results frustrates many politicians. Parliamentary
debates on the issue reflect a recurring resignation that those involved in reindeer
husbandry do not understand how serious the situation is. For instance, in the debate
of November 30, 2000, Minister of Agriculture at the time, Bjarne Håkon Hansen,
expressed this frustration:
» What concerns me is the fact that when I meet with the reindeer husbandry groups
and discuss the reality, and insist that if something does not happen to the number of reindeer, there will be the risk of permanent destruction of grazing areas,
then my perception of reality is on a completely different level than their perception of reality. It is not a grazing problem, insists the Norwegian Association of
Reindeer Herders, it is a predator problem, it is a land-use issue, and there have
been some special natural conditions that have resulted in the pastures becoming
“locked”. But it is not a grazing problem - there are adequate pasture resources.
It is clear that this assembly and I can take responsibility, and we can use the law
to provide us with the tools to first fix a maximum number of reindeer per district,
and then go further to put in place legislation that gives us the opportunity to fix
a maximum number of reindeer per production unit. I think this is the only way
to ensure that one will obtain a decrease in the number of reindeer. But we also
know that the industry, represented by the Norwegian Association of Reindeer
Herders and the Sámi Parliament, are in disagreement with this. Then, we face
such a serious problem that to some extent, I actually feel incapable of acting.
In June 2000, the Government asked the Norwegian Parliament to establish a maximum number of reindeer for each district. In December the same year, the Ministry
of Agriculture followed this up by asking the Reindeer Management Board, which is
an office under the Ministry, to implement this measure. Based on a commissioned
study, the highest number of reindeer for West Finnmark was set at 64,300 animals.
This is the biggest reindeer herding area and also seen by the government as the most
troublesome. The proposed number was adopted by the Reindeer Management
Board in 2002. In 2005, however, the number of animals reached around 91,000 in
West Finnmark. This was the topic of the parliamentary debate on June 14, 2005
where several members of parliament across the political spectrum pointed out that
the voluntary reduction of reindeer numbers clearly did not work, and argued for
forced reductions.
Hence, there is a political alliance to reduce the number of reindeer in Finnmark.
Reindeer husbandry is not treated as a business, but as an activity where outdated
ideology and attitudes continue to live (Reinert 2006). While record production in
any other agricultural activity would be subject to celebration, high production of
reindeer is viewed as a problem (Reinert 2006).
Chapter 7 · Pastoralists and the State