173
7
Furthermore, Monmonier (1991) adds that ‘most propaganda maps are little more
than cartoons’ (p. 113). In particular, one should be suspicious when contrasting
hues are used to demonstrate differences in intensity on choropleth maps.
. Figure 7.3 is a lucid example of a map that has been simplified to the level of a
cartoon and used as scientific evidence in the Norwegian state’s political propaganda
to reduce Sámi reindeer pastoralism to a minimum (Benjaminsen 2020).
Nevertheless, the ecological monitoring carried out by the Norwegian Institute
of Nature Research (NINA) since 1998 is the most reliable empirical research available on the impact of reindeer populations on the winter pastures in Finnmark.
Results from the first comparative analysis (1998–2005) show that lichen cover had a
marked increase from 1998 to 2005, from an average of 18.3% to 27.6% (Gaare et al.
2006). Additionally, the thickness of the lichen layers increased from an average of
22 mm to 28 mm during the same period. Gaare et al. (2006: 5) conclude that ‘today
climate factors appear to be determinant for the continued development of the balance between reindeer and the pastures’. It is interesting to note that this conclusion
and the positive increase in pastures in Finnmark occurred at the same time as the
reindeer population of West Finnmark increased between 2000/2001 and 2005
(. Fig. 7.4).
The second analysis based on the monitoring of pastures expands the time series
until 2010 concluding that, during the period 2005–2010, there had been an overall
decline in lichen coverage from 27.1% to 24.5% as well as a change in the average
40,000
1 9 8 0
1 9 8 1
1 9 8 2
1 9 8 3
1 9 8 4
1 9 8 5
1 9 8 6
1 9 8 7
1 9 8 8
1 9 8 9
1 9 9 0
1 9 9 1
1 9 9 2
1 9 9 3
1 9 9 4
1 9 9 5
1 9 9 6
1 9 9 7
1 9 9 8
1 9 9 9
2 0 0 0
2 0 0 1
2 0 0 2
2 0 0 3
2 0 0 4
2 0 0 5
2 0 0 6
2 0 0 7
2 0 0 8
2 0 0 9
2 0 1 0
2 0 1 1
2 0 1 2
2 0 1 3
2 0 1 4
2 0 1 5
2 0 1 6
2 0 1 7
60,000
80,000
1,00,000
1,20,000
. Fig. 7.4 Reindeer numbers in Western Finnmark, 1980–2017. (Source: Marin et al. 2020)
7.1 · Debates About Overgrazing
7
Furthermore, Monmonier (1991) adds that ‘most propaganda maps are little more
than cartoons’ (p. 113). In particular, one should be suspicious when contrasting
hues are used to demonstrate differences in intensity on choropleth maps.
. Figure 7.3 is a lucid example of a map that has been simplified to the level of a
cartoon and used as scientific evidence in the Norwegian state’s political propaganda
to reduce Sámi reindeer pastoralism to a minimum (Benjaminsen 2020).
Nevertheless, the ecological monitoring carried out by the Norwegian Institute
of Nature Research (NINA) since 1998 is the most reliable empirical research available on the impact of reindeer populations on the winter pastures in Finnmark.
Results from the first comparative analysis (1998–2005) show that lichen cover had a
marked increase from 1998 to 2005, from an average of 18.3% to 27.6% (Gaare et al.
2006). Additionally, the thickness of the lichen layers increased from an average of
22 mm to 28 mm during the same period. Gaare et al. (2006: 5) conclude that ‘today
climate factors appear to be determinant for the continued development of the balance between reindeer and the pastures’. It is interesting to note that this conclusion
and the positive increase in pastures in Finnmark occurred at the same time as the
reindeer population of West Finnmark increased between 2000/2001 and 2005
(. Fig. 7.4).
The second analysis based on the monitoring of pastures expands the time series
until 2010 concluding that, during the period 2005–2010, there had been an overall
decline in lichen coverage from 27.1% to 24.5% as well as a change in the average
40,000
1 9 8 0
1 9 8 1
1 9 8 2
1 9 8 3
1 9 8 4
1 9 8 5
1 9 8 6
1 9 8 7
1 9 8 8
1 9 8 9
1 9 9 0
1 9 9 1
1 9 9 2
1 9 9 3
1 9 9 4
1 9 9 5
1 9 9 6
1 9 9 7
1 9 9 8
1 9 9 9
2 0 0 0
2 0 0 1
2 0 0 2
2 0 0 3
2 0 0 4
2 0 0 5
2 0 0 6
2 0 0 7
2 0 0 8
2 0 0 9
2 0 1 0
2 0 1 1
2 0 1 2
2 0 1 3
2 0 1 4
2 0 1 5
2 0 1 6
2 0 1 7
60,000
80,000
1,00,000
1,20,000
. Fig. 7.4 Reindeer numbers in Western Finnmark, 1980–2017. (Source: Marin et al. 2020)
7.1 · Debates About Overgrazing