Definition and evaluation of the concept of “grazing peace” in reindeer in relation to disturbances (REINPEACE)
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Short summary
The aim of the project is to define and evaluate reindeer grazing peace in relation to disturbances.
Arctic and subarctic regions are extensively affected by climate change, along with increasing land-use competition. Reindeer husbandry, which is central to Indigenous Sámi culture, is based on the ability of reindeer to utilize available pastures. To use these pastures, reindeer must be able to graze and ruminate undisturbed. Reindeer herders refer to this as “grazing peace.” Grazing peace is fundamental for optimal pasture use and sustainable reindeer husbandry.
By combining knowledge from reindeer herders with GPS and activity data from reindeer, the project will investigate:
- How grazing peace can be defined and how it is manifested in reindeer behaviour
- How grazing peace can be quantified in relation to reindeer behaviour
- How disturbances affect the fine-scale behaviour of reindeer
The project aims to increase knowledge of reindeer behaviour in order to assess their foraging success and their ability to utilize natural pastures in relation to disturbances. By integrating herders’ knowledge with sensor technology, this approach enables a more precise analysis of how much and where reindeer graze, and the identification of periods characterized by the presence or absence of grazing peace.