”De kör över en ändå…” Konsekvenser av gruvan i Kaunisvaara för Muonio sameby

The report details how the Kaunisvaara mine, operated by Northland Resources and later Kaunis Iron, has caused extensive land loss, disrupted reindeer migration and health, and induced psychological stress for the Muonio reindeer herding district. It highlights a significant gap between the 'moderate' impacts predicted during licensing and the actual severe consequences, noting that the district has received no financial compensation since 2012. The study also examines the systemic failure of Swedish legislation to protect Sámi rights, leaving the district marginalized in decision-making and forced into unsuccessful negotiations with mining companies.

• The actual consequences for the Muonio reindeer herding district far exceed the 'moderate' impacts predicted in the original project application by Northland Resources.
• The mine has caused significant land loss and displacement; while the industrial area covers approximately 1,300 hectares, the actual loss is much larger due to 'disturbance zones' where reindeer avoid the area, often staying at least 5 to 15 kilometers away.
• Mining operations have disrupted the reindeer's annual cycle, forcing animals to move to autumn and winter lands prematurely, which leads to overgrazing and degradation of those pastures.
• The health and physical condition of the reindeer have declined due to the loss of nutrient-rich summer pastures, resulting in lower slaughter weights and direct economic losses for herders.
• The mine has caused severe social and psychological distress, including reports of trauma, mental health collapse, and threats of violence or murder from other local inhabitants who support the mine's employment opportunities.
• Traditional Sámi knowledge is being eroded because the disruption of old grazing patterns renders ancestral knowledge of the land obsolete, and herders are increasingly forced toward 'farm reindeer husbandry' via supplementary feeding.
• The Muonio reindeer herding district has received no financial compensation for economic losses or damages since the mine opened in 2012, as the environmental permit lacked specific conditions for damage regulation and Kaunis Iron made no commitment to pay.
• The district was forced into direct negotiations with Northland Resources and Kaunis Iron due to a lack of trust in Swedish courts and government authorities, and a perceived lack of legal protection for Sámi rights in mining cases.
• The licensing process was marked by democratic deficits, including potential undue influence from local politicians in Norrbotten within the Finnish-Swedish Transboundary River Commission.
• Current operations deviate significantly from the original permits, specifically regarding the switch from rail to truck transport and the lowering of groundwater by 16 meters, which has damaged critical calving lands.

APA

Larsen, R. K., & Boström, M. (2022). ”De kör över en ändå…” Konsekvenser av gruvan i Kaunisvaara för Muonio sameby. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/sei-wp-gruvan-muonio-sameby-klocker-larsen-131222.pdf

Chicago

Larsen, Rasmus Kløcker, and Maria Boström. ”De kör över en ändå…” Konsekvenser av gruvan i Kaunisvaara för Muonio sameby. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2022. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/sei-wp-gruvan-muonio-sameby-klocker-larsen-131222.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Larsen |first1=Rasmus Kløcker |last2=Boström |first2=Maria |title=”De kör över en ändå…” Konsekvenser av gruvan i Kaunisvaara för Muonio sameby |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=December 2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/sei-wp-gruvan-muonio-sameby-klocker-larsen-131222.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{larsen2022ver, author = {Larsen, Rasmus Kløcker and Boström, Maria}, title = {{”De kör över en ändå…” Konsekvenser av gruvan i Kaunisvaara för Muonio sameby}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/sei-wp-gruvan-muonio-sameby-klocker-larsen-131222.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }