Conflict resolution by participatory management: remote sensing and GIS as tools for communicating land-use needs for reindeer herding in northern Sweden.
When seeking to resolve complex land-management issues, geographical assessment of resources that are in short supply or in dispute can aid the communication of knowledge and the understanding among and between different stakeholders. In this paper, we illustrate how remote sensing and GIS can be used to gather and compile information regarding land-use activities and patterns among reindeer herders and other land users (forestry, mining, tourism, etc) in northern Sweden. The project represents a novel user-oriented effort largely based on the work carried out by the principal end user, i.e. the reindeer herders themselves. The basis for development of land-use plans for reindeer husbandry, was the following: to collect and digitally systemize traditional ecological and landscape knowledge of reindeer habitat use; to integrate this information with results from field inventories and satellite-based vegetation classifications; to map activities of other land users. The resulting land-use plans provide information that can facilitate consultation between the reindeer herders and other stakeholders and can facilitate operational work in reindeer management. This project can serve as a model for participatory involvement and planning, bringing indigenous knowledge and advanced remote-sensing techniques together in an interactive process.
Sandström
Per
P
Remote Sensing Laboratory, Department of Forest Resource Management and Geomatics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU, Umeå, Sweden. per.sandstrom@mso.umt.edu
Pahlén
Tina Granqvist
TG
Edenius
Lars
L
Tømmervik
Hans
H
Hagner
Olle
O
Hemberg
Leif
L
Olsson
Håkan
H
Baer
Karin
K
Stenlund
Thomas
T
Brandt
Lars Göran
LG
Egberth
Mikael
M
D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D003142:Communication; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003657:Decision Making; D004777:Environment; D016468:Forestry; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008906:Mining; D011340:Problem Solving; D011998:Recreation; D012053:Reindeer; D013548:Sweden