Experts have now assessed all 24 wild reindeer areas in Norway. Only one is green, indicating good ecological conditions for wild reindeer. The largest challenges are apparent, but can new measures improve the bleak outlook for this important species?
Fragmented and degraded habitats are one of the biggest challenges for the wild reindeer. Photo: Olav Strand, NINA
International responsibility
The last viable populations of wild mountain living reindeer in Europe are only found in 24 more or less isolated areas in Southern Norway, putting a particular international responsibility to conserve this species on Norway. As a response to this, the Government decided in 2016 to initiate the development of an environmental quality standard for wild reindeer areas as a tool to safeguard the species. In 2023, an expert group led by NINA presented the last of two status reports of the wild reindeer areas according to the quality standard, where ecological standard is shown as good (green), medium (yellow) or red (bad).
Only one area is green
The basis for this classification is a set of quantitative indicators for (1) population performance, genetic diversity and health status, (2) available lichen resources, and (3) loss of seasonal habitat and connectivity.
Of the 24 areas assessed, only one area is classified as green, having good ecological conditions for wild reindeer. As many as 12 are classified as red, and 11 as yellow.
The greatest challenges are apparent, according to the reports:
- Reindeer areas are fragmented and the ecological quality has deteriorated due to combined effects of infrastructure such as roads, water reservoirs, holiday cabins, and tourism.
- Discovery of chronic wasting disease in two of the areas, Nordfjella and Hardangervidda.
- Small population size with low and decreasing genetic variation, in many areas.
More action, more knowledge
If the largest challenges are not addressed, it is not looking promising for the long-term viability of the wild reindeer, says head of the expert group and senior researcher at NINA, Christer Moe Rolandsen.
We have considerable knowledge of how hunting is used to manage population size and structure, and how challenges related to infrastructure development and human disturbance affect reindeer in many of the areas. We have, however, limited knowledge concerning the relative importance of other drivers, such as changing weather conditions, grazing conditions, parasites and diseases. Moreover, we need to increase our knowledge concerning the effects of climate change and how this interacts with other factors. Increased knowledge of these parameters will be important in order to recommend appropriate measures for improving conditions for the reindeer, he continues.
New White Paper, new hope
Based on the invaluable knowledge provided by the expert group, the Government presented on 5th April this year a new White Paper containing 50 measures as a an attemt to reverse the negative development of the wild reindeer. The goal is, by 2050, that none of the wild reindeer areas are classified as red, and, by 2100, all areas are classified as green.
New political attention to the long-term survival of the wild reindeer is much welcomed, says Rolandsen. However, it remains to see which of the 50 measures will be implemented, and to what extent this will improve conditions for the last wild mountain living reindeer in Europe, he concludes.
The colour codes red, yellow and green indicate whether an area is classified as bad, medium or good, respectively, according to the environmental quality standard. Figure: NINA
Contact: Christer Moe Rolandsen
Find out more about the classification system (summary in English): Environmental quality standard for wild reindeer
Read the reports (in Norwegian):
Classification of the 10 national wild reindeer areas according to the environmental quality standard
Classification of the 14 non-national wild reindeer areas according to the environmantal quality standard