State Secretary in the Ministry of Climate and the Environment, Aleksander Øren Heen (Sp), says that the government now needs to make road choices for the wild reindeer. – It is time for Norway as a nation to make some important choices for the critically endangered species. This spring saw the first quality standard for wild reindeer. The report showed that as many as six out of ten wild reindeer areas are not sustainable. BLODRAUD REPORT: This spring saw the first major quality standard for wild reindeer. It showed that six out of ten wild reindeer areas were not sustainable. Screenshot from the NINA report. Photo: Skjermdump / NINA It is rather unique that a specific species gets its own parliamentary message, but the government believes that a common political platform must now be in place for the red-listed species. – We saw in the quality standard that major measures are needed, not least related to area. To make the big measures, the government needs to have the Storting at its back, says Øren Heen. Must PRIORITIZE: Aleksander Øren Heen believes it is important to get the Storting to prioritize where the other interests in the mountains must give way to wild reindeer. Photo: Arne Sørenes / news Stricter regulation of cabin construction State Secretary Øren Heen says the biggest threat to wild reindeer is the constant reduction of their habitat. We humans use more and more of the wild reindeer’s habitat. Both roads, cabin construction, traffic and power development split up the wild reindeer’s habitat. – Among other things, we must have stricter regulation of cabin construction, and we probably also have to regulate traffic in some areas, says Øren Heen. Endre Lægreid is the leader of the Villreinrådet in Norway and believes that the building of cabins in the mountains has taken up all of the last fifty years. – There has been an enormous amount of cabin construction in the fringe zones, and this leads to large and important wild reindeer areas being lost. HOPE THAT THE POLITICIANS WILL COME TOGETHER: Endre Lægreid is the leader of the Wild Reindeer Council in Norway, and believes that the wild reindeer are safe from many points of view. Now he is asking the politicians to give the wild reindeer top priority in some areas. Photo: Arne Sørenes / news Lægreid says there have been wild reindeer in our mountains for 10,000 years, but if we want to have wild reindeer in our mountains in a hundred years, wise and quick choices must be made. – We would like all sectors and ministries to now agree that in some areas wild reindeer should have first priority. Aleksander Øren Heen believes that a report to the Storting will give the politicians a basis for making the right choices going forward, and that there will be clear priorities from the state on how important the wild reindeer are. – Something has to give way for the wild reindeer to have large and good habitats. So that is what we want with this message, that the Storting now steps in and makes some priorities between the many interests in the mountains. REGULAR TRAFFIC: The roundabouts were one of the six wild reindeer areas that came out the worst in the quality standard for wild reindeer. Now the government announces that there will probably be traffic restrictions in some areas for parts of the year. Photo: Even Lusæter / news Both quick and long-term measures In addition to the parliamentary report on wild reindeer, the government is also launching more direct measures in the areas with the worst condition. Reindeer area halved in 60 years – blame it on cabins and hikers – We are now coming up with six concrete action plans to improve the situation quickly in the worst areas, there is an urgency, so we are stepping in with quick measures to prevent the situation from getting worse. But Øren Heen does not think a total traffic ban is the way to go. – But we have had success with the conversion of hiking trails and the relocation of tourist cabins, and it is likely that we will continue along that track. Now the government has decided that we must have such a notification, and the work starts now. This will be a broad process in which we must involve both the municipality, the power industry, tourism and others in order to create a good future for wild reindeer in Norway.
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The government wants the Storting to participate in the new wild reindeer policy – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
