Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

To meet the increasing demand of renewable energy, Sweden aim to expand the onshore wind power production from 30 TWh today, to 80 TWh by 2040. Most wind power sites will be placed in Northern Sweden, which coincides with the reindeer husbandry area, where indigenous Sami have a legislated reindeer husbandry right. Several studies show that reindeer are negatively affected by wind power in terms avoidance and habitat selection within several kilometers from the wind power sites, hence reduces the availability of reindeer winter forage. In winter, reindeer rely heavily on ground and epiphytic lichen. Therefore, the aim with my analysis was to assess the spatial relationship between wind power sites and forest with ground and epiphytic lichen occurrence within the reindeer husbandry area, with three main research objectives: (1) Compare lichen occurrence within spatial scales of wind power sites relevant for reindeer behavior to the site and planning areas in the national wind strategy, (2) estimate the possible reduction of reindeer winter forage due to wind power expansion in Jämtland, Västernorrland, Västerbotten and Norrbotten, and (3) compare how wind power affect reindeer winter forage in the reindeer herding communities Vilhelmina Södra and Östra Kikkejaure today. All spatial analyses were done with a geographical information system.
My result showed that up to 12 % respective 14% of forest with high ground and epiphytic lichen occurrence are affected by wind power sites in the reindeer husbandry area today. Västernorrland has the largest proportion of reindeer forage impacted both today and in future scenarios, while Västerbotten is facing the largest change from the situation today. Reindeer forage was especially impacted within Östra Kikkejaure, where around 30% of all forests with high ground and epiphytic lichen occurrence is affected by wind power today. Consequently, even though the physical wind power sites occupy a rather small area, it indirectly affects a substantial proportion of the available forage within the reindeer husbandry area, with an even larger impact on a more local scale, hence threatening the survival of reindeer husbandry as we know it today. By quantifying reindeer winter forage affected by wind power, the analysis contributes important information that can improve the knowledge for a more sustainable landscape planning in the multifunctional landscape of today.