Mountain birch forests in the northern areas of Sápmi, the Saami homeland, serve as pastures for semi-domesticated reindeer. Recent reindeer management of the area has, to date, proceeded with little involvement of reindeer herders or their knowledge. To get more in-depth understanding of recent changes, we present together herders’ knowledge and scientific knowledge concerning the impacts of herbivory and climate change on mountain birch forests in three Saami communities in Norway and in Finland. Most of the herders interviewed reported changes in weather during the preceding decades. Herders agreed that the canopy and understorey of mountain birch forests have changed. The observed transformations in the quality of pastures have increased the financial costs of reindeer husbandry. Our study demonstrates that herders have practical knowledge of the present state and recent changes of birch forests, and of the responses of reindeer caused by these. This knowledge generally coincides with scientific knowledge. We call for better integration of knowledge systems and a better protocol for co-production of knowledge as it relates to more adaptive future reindeer management regimes. Such integration will facilitate understanding of cultural adaptation within rapidly changing social-ecological systems in which sustainable reindeer husbandry continues to be an important livelihood.

中文翻译：

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山地白桦林和驯鹿管理的变化：比较北芬诺斯坎迪亚萨普米的不同知识系统

萨米人故乡萨普米北部地区的山地白桦林是半驯化驯鹿的牧场。迄今为止，该地区最近的驯鹿管理几乎没有驯鹿牧民或他们的知识参与。为了更深入地了解最近的变化，我们将在挪威和芬兰的三个萨米人社区中展示牧民关于食草和气候变化对山地白桦林影响的知识和科学知识。大多数接受采访的牧民都报告了过去几十年的天气变化。牧民一致认为，山地白桦林的林冠和林下已经发生了变化。观察到的牧场质量变化增加了驯鹿饲养的财务成本。我们的研究表明，牧民对白桦林的现状和近期变化，以及由此引起的驯鹿反应有实际的了解。这种知识通常与科学知识相吻合。我们呼吁更好地整合知识系统和更好的知识共同生产协议，因为它与更具适应性的未来驯鹿管理制度有关。这种整合将有助于理解快速变化的社会生态系统中的文化适应，在这些系统中，可持续驯鹿畜牧业仍然是重要的生计。我们呼吁更好地整合知识系统和更好的知识共同生产协议，因为它与更具适应性的未来驯鹿管理制度有关。这种整合将有助于理解快速变化的社会生态系统中的文化适应，在这些系统中，可持续驯鹿畜牧业仍然是重要的生计。我们呼吁更好地整合知识系统和更好的知识共同生产协议，因为它与更具适应性的未来驯鹿管理制度有关。这种整合将有助于理解快速变化的社会生态系统中的文化适应，在这些系统中，可持续驯鹿畜牧业仍然是重要的生计。