Title: SAAMI REINDEER PASTORALISM AS AN INDIGENOUS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM- THE CASE OF TUORPON AND SIRKAS, 1760-1860
Abstract: This paper examines Saami reindeer pastoralism as an indigenous resource man- agement system in Tuorpon and Sirkas, northern Sweden, between 1760 and 1860. Ecolog- ical instability of reindeer herding, human population decline, competition over pastures, accumulation of reindeer, and external influences are considered. Changing Saami land rights during the period, origin of the land use system, and relations between land use and structure of the pastoralist suda are discussed. It is maintained that the expanding reindeer pastoralism was tied down by property rights rules of the pre-pastoralist society as upheld by the Swedish courts. This led to an unflexible adaptation to different labor, grazing, and herding requirements increasing the general ecological instability of reindeer herding. In conclusion, doubts are cast on the validity of two currently held general models of pastoral land use- the tragedy of the commons model and the ecosystem maintenance model.
Publication Year: 2015
Publication Date: 2015-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 4
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot