Pasture access and adaptive capacity in reindeer herding districts in Nordland, Northern Norway. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Pasture access and adaptive capacity in reindeer herding districts in Nordland, Northern Norway. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)
- Main Title:
- Pasture access and adaptive capacity in reindeer herding districts in Nordland, Northern Norway
- Authors:
- Risvoll, Camilla
Hovelsrud, Grete Kaare - Abstract:
- Abstract: Resource access and livelihood flexibility have been identified in the literature as two critical determinants of adaptive capacity. This paper shows that these aspects play important roles in reindeer herding in Nordland County, Norway, in terms of resilience to changes in social-ecological systems. Throughout history, reindeer herders have been able to draw on a broad range of adaptation options, but increased pasture fragmentation and loss of grazing land increasingly affect herders' adaptability to weather variability and climate change impacts. Our analysis of empirical material from three adjacent reindeer herding districts illustrates the linkages between socio-economic and environmental exposure sensitivities, how the herders adapt by exploring patterns of differential adaptive capacity, and how adaptive capacity is impacted. Two socio-economic (pasture encroachment and insufficient human resources) and two environmental (locked pastures and predation) exposure sensitivities emerged as the most prominent affecting pasture access, which was the most critical factor for ensuring the adaptive capacity of reindeer herders. Flexibility to alternate between adaptation strategies was another important characteristic. Adapting to these exposure sensitivities engenders benefits and unintended negative consequences for the herders. The key components to adaptive capacity identified in this paper provide an evidence-based focus for management action by those seekingAbstract: Resource access and livelihood flexibility have been identified in the literature as two critical determinants of adaptive capacity. This paper shows that these aspects play important roles in reindeer herding in Nordland County, Norway, in terms of resilience to changes in social-ecological systems. Throughout history, reindeer herders have been able to draw on a broad range of adaptation options, but increased pasture fragmentation and loss of grazing land increasingly affect herders' adaptability to weather variability and climate change impacts. Our analysis of empirical material from three adjacent reindeer herding districts illustrates the linkages between socio-economic and environmental exposure sensitivities, how the herders adapt by exploring patterns of differential adaptive capacity, and how adaptive capacity is impacted. Two socio-economic (pasture encroachment and insufficient human resources) and two environmental (locked pastures and predation) exposure sensitivities emerged as the most prominent affecting pasture access, which was the most critical factor for ensuring the adaptive capacity of reindeer herders. Flexibility to alternate between adaptation strategies was another important characteristic. Adapting to these exposure sensitivities engenders benefits and unintended negative consequences for the herders. The key components to adaptive capacity identified in this paper provide an evidence-based focus for management action by those seeking to improve resilience of socio-ecological systems at the community level. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Polar journal. Volume 6:Issue 1(2016)
- Journal:
- Polar journal
- Issue:
- Volume 6:Issue 1(2016)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 6, Issue 1 (2016)
- Year:
- 2016
- Volume:
- 6
- Issue:
- 1
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2016-0006-0001-0000
- Page Start:
- 87
- Page End:
- 111
- Publication Date:
- 2016-01-02
- Subjects:
- Climate change -- adaptive capacity -- reindeer herding -- Nordland County -- Norway
Polar regions -- Periodicals
Polar regions -- Research -- Periodicals
Antarctica -- Periodicals
Antarctica -- Research -- Periodicals
998 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rpol20 ↗
http://www.tandfonline.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1080/2154896X.2016.1173796 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 2154-896X
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 1079.xml