”Renen får aldrig betesro”

The report documents the extensive and lasting impacts of the Boliden mine (operated 1976–1988) and the resulting road infrastructure on the Voernese sameby. Key findings highlight significant pasture loss, increased costs and workload for herders due to tourism and traffic, and the marginalization of Sámi knowledge in decision-making processes. The study argues that the state's failure to protect Sámi rights allows colonial exploitation of resources to persist, as evidenced by inadequate compensation and the ongoing pressure from new mining proposals by Vilhelmina Mineral.

• The Boliden mine caused extensive pasture loss, with the industrial area, dams, and mine hole estimated at approximately 3,000 hectares, forcing reindeer to be moved around the site at night during operation.
• The construction of the road (Z824/AC1067) in previously roadless territory has had impacts equal to or greater than the mine itself, creating a disturbance zone where reindeer avoid grazing during the open season (June 6 to October 15).
• Tourism and recreational activities enabled by the road cause significant stress to reindeer, particularly during calving, and lead to a loss of traditional Sámi knowledge as younger generations only experience a modified landscape.
• The sameby faces increased economic burdens, including higher costs for gathering and moving reindeer due to the need for helicopters and additional labor to navigate around the industrial area and road disturbances.
• The Swedish Geological Survey (SGU) left behind drill pipes and scrap iron from prospecting activities, which create dangerous working conditions for herders using snowmobiles and ATVs.
• The study challenges the political and industry narrative that mining and reindeer herding can coexist without significant impact, noting that such claims contradict the actual experiences of the affected sameby.
• The Swedish state's role is described as ambiguous and colonial, failing to provide adequate financial compensation for damages suffered in the 1960s and 70s and failing to protect Sámi rights in current legislation.

APA

Larsen, R. K., & Boström, M. (2022). ”Renen får aldrig betesro”. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sei-wp-boliden-voernese-sameby-klocker-larsen-13122022.pdf

Chicago

Larsen, Rasmus Kløcker, and Maria Boström. ”Renen får aldrig betesro”. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2022. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sei-wp-boliden-voernese-sameby-klocker-larsen-13122022.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Larsen |first1=Rasmus Kløcker |last2=Boström |first2=Maria |title=”Renen får aldrig betesro” |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=December 2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sei-wp-boliden-voernese-sameby-klocker-larsen-13122022.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{larsen2022renen, author = {Larsen, Rasmus Kløcker and Boström, Maria}, title = {{”Renen får aldrig betesro”}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sei-wp-boliden-voernese-sameby-klocker-larsen-13122022.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }