Reindeer management (RM) in northern Fennoscandia is an example of social-ecological systems (SESs) providing social, cultural, ecological, and economic values. Changing climate and pasture conditions and societal changes continue to transform the operational environment of RM. These key drivers, and resulting transformations including alternative SES states, have not been studied in detail before. Our comprehensive literature review and interviews with herders reveal that land use, climate change, and governance drive the emergence of SES tipping points. The basis of successful RM depends on the quantity and quality of pastures to secure animal fitness. However, intensive forestry, extreme weather, and predators constrain the availability of forage and suitable calving grounds. Maintaining RM by means of predation compensation mechanisms and regular supplementary winter feeding to adapt to changes brought about by land use and warming climate comprises an alternative system state. However, if negative impacts increase remarkably or rapidly and compensatory mechanisms become insufficient, long-term impacts on system identity, and even local collapses, are expected. Although some environmental and societal changes are perceived as pressures by herders, they can be beneficial for other livelihoods in the region. Therefore, our study raises questions for future studies on social justice, such as who has the right to decide what constitutes a desirable system state, or what collaborative efforts to maintain RM in Fennoscandia would entail. Our work is applicable also in other Arctic/sub-Arctic regions where nature-based livelihoods, such as small-scale forestry and agriculture, hunting, traditional fishing, and gathering are practiced.

芬诺斯坎迪亚北部的驯鹿管理（RM）是提供社会，文化，生态和经济价值的社会生态系统（SES）的一个示例。气候和牧场条件的变化以及社会的变化不断改变着RM的运行环境。之前尚未详细研究这些关键驱动因素以及由此产生的包括可选SES状态的转换。我们对牧民的综合文献回顾和访谈表明，土地利用，气候变化和治理推动了SES临界点的出现。成功的RM的基础取决于牧场的数量和质量，以确保动物健康。但是，密集的林业，极端的天气和掠食者限制了草料和合适的产犊场的可用性。通过捕食补偿机制和定期补充冬季喂养以适应土地利用和气候变暖带来的变化来维持RM是一种替代性的系统状态。但是，如果负面影响显着或迅速增加并且补偿机制变得不充分，则预计会对系统标识产生长期影响，甚至导致局部崩溃。尽管某些环境和社会变化被牧民视为压力，但它们可能对该地区的其他生计有益。因此，我们的研究提出了关于社会正义的未来研究的问题，例如谁有权决定什么构成理想的系统状态，或者在芬诺斯坎迪亚需要进行哪些共同的努力来维持RM。