Photo credit: Lawrence Hislop, https://www.grida.no/resources/2014
From the tundra to the cloud
Sámi reindeer herders map climate change
The Climate Change Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CITE) project co-developed a digital tool with Sámi reindeer herders to document observations of changing land, climate and ecosystems. As MÁRET J. HEATTA writes, by combining herders’ knowledge with scientific data, the tool strengthens decision-making, biodiversity stewardship, and adaptation strategies—ultimately supporting Sámi livelihoods and fostering resilience to climate and environmental change across Sápmi.
The land is changing. Sámi reindeer herders, whose lives and culture are tied to the rhythms of the seasons and the movements of their herds, hope their way of life will continue to thrive. Yet as the climate warms, weather grows less predictable, and multiple pressures intensify, Sámi worries deepen and the question becomes urgent: How can reindeer husbandry—and the relationships to land and animals that are at its centre—continue in ways that reflect Sámi culture and values?
Climate change is reshaping life across Sápmi. Warmer winters, sudden thaws, refreezing ice, shifting vegetation and unpredictable snow directly affect reindeers’ health and ability to undertake seasonal migrations. Together with threats from competing land uses, these pressures create mounting challenges for Sámi reindeer herders. Each community experiences these changes differently, making it difficult to predict local impacts or find simple solutions.
Co-creating a digital tool with reindeer herders
The Climate Change Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CITE) project is a co-creative initiative between Sámi reindeer herders and researchers in northern Sápmi to address climate change and biodiversity impacts on reindeer herding.
Regular dialogue allowed the project design to adapt to reindeer herders’ needs and schedules, respecting their seasonal demands and building trust among participants. Running from 2022 to 2024, the project resulted in an open-access mapping tool by and for herders to record their observations. The data remain owned by the herders, and the project stands as an example of embracing flexibility and successfully weaving knowledge systems.
© Tor Even Mathisen, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 via Flickr.com
For generations, herders have carried deep knowledge about how environmental conditions influence reindeer survival and well-being. This knowledge is closely tied to culture, land and values, but has rarely been documented in ways that connect with scientific data. As a result, much of what herders know is missing from broader conversations on climate adaptation.
To close this gap, Sámi reindeer herders and researchers came together in the CITE project, funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, to codesign a digital tool.
The tool allows herding communities to systematically record their observations and experiences of environmental change and competing land use. Designed to be simple and practical for everyday use, the tool is available in several Sámi and Nordic languages as well as English and has been tested in pilot areas across Sápmi and refined using feedback from the test group.
These observations are combined with scientific data to create a fuller picture of how climate change is unfolding on the ground. Herders have observed that shifting seasons bring a range of challenges, from ice crusts that block access to grazing to unstable snow and ice conditions that disrupt herding and travel. These patterns mirror scientific projections of shorter winters, later snow and more frequent freeze-thaw events.
A key benefit of merging herders’ knowledge with scientific tools is that it empowers Indigenous communities, helps clarify how policies affect livelihoods, and creates context-sensitive solutions grounded in local landscapes.
Compounding pressures
Scientific studies also show that the growing season is lengthening, allowing plants more time to grow. This may push tree lines and shrubs northward and higher up mountains, threatening Arctic biodiversity. It also allows new animal and insect species to migrate into the area, potentially carrying unfamiliar diseases.
Forestry, wind power, mining, tourism and expanding infrastructure reduce grazing resources, fragment areas, and create barriers to moving with the herds.
—Máret J Heatta, Project leader, Arctic Environmental Unit of the Saami Council
Herders, too, are noticing these shifts on the land. They observe that the vegetation is changing, with tree lines moving upwards into tundra landscapes. They are reporting concerns about alien species and diseases as well as the increasing presence of predators—all of which adds pressure to reindeer survival and herding. The flexibility to use and move through the land in response to the shifting weather conditions is greatly diminished by other land uses. Forestry, wind power, mining, tourism and expanding infrastructure reduce grazing resources, fragment areas, and create barriers to moving with the herds. At the same time, growing predator populations add stress and losses. All these pressures are acting simultaneously, forcing difficult choices.
Reindeer herders’ knowledge and observations are crucial for understanding climate impacts, but without the protection of grazing lands, the ability to adapt and sustain Sámi reindeer husbandry is at risk.
Safeguarding both the land and Indigenous knowledge is essential for ensuring that reindeer herding—and the culture, livelihoods and values embodied in it—can continue to endure for future generations.
