”Låt renen få igen landet som det var”

The report details the extensive negative impacts of the Boliden mine (operated 1976–1988) and the resulting road on the Vilhelmina Södra reindeer herding district. Key findings include significant land loss, the creation of large disturbance zones that far exceed state estimates, and ongoing disruptions from tourism. The study argues that the mining industry and reindeer herding cannot coexist without significant impact and highlights the failure of the Swedish state to protect Sámi rights or provide adequate compensation.

• The Boliden mine caused direct land loss estimated at approximately 3,000 hectares, and the subsequent attempts at revegetation have been largely unsuccessful, leaving a stony landscape with limited growth.
• There is a stark discrepancy between state-estimated disturbance zones and the actual experiences of the reindeer herding district; state experts assumed a 500-metre zone around the mine and 100 metres for the road, while the district experienced zones of up to 10 kilometres for the mine and 1.5 kilometres for the road.
• The road constructed for the mine opened previously roadless territory to mass tourism, leading to significant pasture loss, reduced reindeer health, and increased workloads and costs for herders.
• The mine and its infrastructure blocked natural east-west migration routes, forcing the herd to take longer, more difficult paths that exhaust the animals and require expensive assistance, such as helicopters.
• Mining activities led to the destruction of Sámi cultural heritage, including graves and ancient campsites, often without prior archaeological investigation.
• The cumulative pressure from the mine, tourism, forestry, and wind power has caused significant psychological stress, feelings of powerlessness, and concerns regarding the ability of Sámi youth to continue reindeer herding.
• The Swedish state's role is described as ambiguous and colonial, failing to protect Sámi rights and providing financial compensation in the 1960s and 70s that did not correspond to actual damages.
• The study concludes that the common political and public belief that mining and reindeer herding can coexist without significant impact is factually incorrect.
• Leftover infrastructure from state prospecting, specifically hundreds of iron pipes, creates a persistent occupational safety hazard for reindeer herders.

APA

Larsen, R. K., & Boström, M. (2022). ”Låt renen få igen landet som det var”. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sei-wp-gruvan-vilhemina-sameby-klocker-larsen-13122022.pdf

Chicago

Larsen, Rasmus Kløcker, and Maria Boström. ”Låt renen få igen landet som det var”. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2022. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sei-wp-gruvan-vilhemina-sameby-klocker-larsen-13122022.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Larsen |first1=Rasmus Kløcker |last2=Boström |first2=Maria |title=”Låt renen få igen landet som det var” |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=December 2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sei-wp-gruvan-vilhemina-sameby-klocker-larsen-13122022.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{larsen2022renen, author = {Larsen, Rasmus Kløcker and Boström, Maria}, title = {{”Låt renen få igen landet som det var”}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sei-wp-gruvan-vilhemina-sameby-klocker-larsen-13122022.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }