Utredning Angående Rennäringens skydd mot vattenkraftens markexploatering

This legal investigation, conducted by Front Advokater for the Stockholm Environment Institute, analyzes the legal protections available to Swedish samebyar (Sami villages) against land exploitation for hydropower. It examines the historical context of hydropower development in northern Sweden, the fundamental rights of the Sami people, the current environmental permit process, and the implications of new legislation effective January 1, 2019, regarding the review of existing hydropower plants to establish modern environmental conditions.

• Historically, hydropower development in northern Sweden between 1910 and 1920 often ignored Sami land rights, treating areas as 'wilderness' and prioritizing state economic returns over reindeer husbandry.
• Reindeer husbandry rights are recognized as a non-time-limited usufructuary right based on immemorial use, which is constitutionally protected in Sweden similarly to property rights.
• Under the Environmental Code, areas of importance for reindeer husbandry should be protected as much as possible against measures that could significantly hinder the industry's operation, though this protection is not absolute.
• Samebyar are generally considered 'sakägare' (stakeholders/parties) in legal proceedings if a proposed hydropower activity is located within their reindeer husbandry area and may cause damage or inconvenience.
• In first-instance environmental court cases for new hydropower permits, the operator is required to pay the legal costs of the samebyar, regardless of the outcome.
• New legislation effective January 1, 2019, requires existing hydropower plants to undergo a review to establish modern environmental conditions, particularly if previous permits lacked environmental protections.
• The review process for modern environmental conditions is simplified compared to new permits, as it does not mandate an environmental impact assessment (EIA) or a formal consultation process (avgränsningssamråd).
• Unlike new permit cases, in the review process for modern environmental conditions, each party must bear their own legal costs, meaning samebyar are not reimbursed for their expenses.
• The National Plan for the review of hydropower, proposed in October 2019, suggests that the first applications for review be submitted by February 1, 2022, and the last by February 1, 2037.

APA

Wikland, C., Länta, L., & Mikaelsdotter, A. (2019). Utredning Angående Rennäringens skydd mot vattenkraftens markexploatering. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/utredning-rennäring-vattenkraft-2020-04-01.pdf

Chicago

Wikland, Camilla, Lisa Länta, and Amanda Mikaelsdotter. Utredning Angående Rennäringens skydd mot vattenkraftens markexploatering. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2019. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/utredning-rennäring-vattenkraft-2020-04-01.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wikland |first1=Camilla |last2=Länta |first2=Lisa |last3=Mikaelsdotter |first3=Amanda |title=Utredning Angående Rennäringens skydd mot vattenkraftens markexploatering |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=4 November 2019 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/utredning-rennäring-vattenkraft-2020-04-01.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wikland2019utredning, author = {Wikland, Camilla and Länta, Lisa and Mikaelsdotter, Amanda}, title = {{Utredning Angående Rennäringens skydd mot vattenkraftens markexploatering}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2019}, month = nov, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/utredning-rennäring-vattenkraft-2020-04-01.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }