Evolution of ecosystem services in the frame of pastoral functional categories A study case in Swedish Lapland

Romain Courault (1, 2, 3) , Marianne Cohen (4, 2)

1 SU - Sorbonne Université
2 UP4 UFR GA - Université Paris-Sorbonne - Paris 4 - UFR Géographie et Aménagement
3 ENeC - Espaces, Nature et Culture
4 ENeC - Espaces, Nature et Culture

Ecosystem services represent a useful tool to manage human – environment systems, (Vihervaara, Kumpula et al., 2010). In polar environments where global warming has stronger effects on socioecosystems (ACIA, 2004; WG1, IPCC, 2014), taking account of local knowledge, culture and production represent an urgent matter (WG2, IPCC, 2014; Maynard, Oskal et al. in Gutman, Reissell (eds), 2010). In northern Europe, reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) is a keystone specie, particularly important for landscapes ecological functioning, structure, and for pastoral systems resilience (Forbes, Kumpula, 2009). The aims of the study are both methodological and thematic: by re-using the classification of ecosystem services that Vihervaara, Kumpula et al. (2010) proposed, we seek firstly to map ecosystem services (supporting, provisioning, regulating, cultural services), as some could be named in the northern Saami language. Secondly we survey how ecosystem services of the Gabna reindeer herders’ community (roughly stretching between Riksgränsen and Kiruna, ~150 km, Norrbotten county, Sweden) evolved along time (from 1990, 2000 to 2017). Using literature (Klein, 1990, Inga, 2006, 2007, Roturier et al., 2009, Lavrillier (ed) 2017) and field information (mainly floristic surveys), we use saami pastoral categories of vegetation according to their provisioning or cultural ecosystem services. Landsat imagery is processed all along the study (land cover classification using saami terminologies and comparatively the EUNIS habitat classification), as well as floristic datasets (physiognomy, floristic communities) to create a supervised terrain classification with remote sensing techniques. First results show that slight differences (in surface units) are noticed between saami terminologies and EUNIS habitat classification to express ecosystem services. Results stay scale-dependent according to the spatial unit (entire community, seasonal pastures…). A progressive, but important decrease in ecosystem services within the Gabna community borders is recorded, explainable by (a) forestry intensification for winter pastures (b) mining and touristic activities intensification (c) loss of palatable vegetation in summer / effects of plant competition. The use of local terminologies in the frame of pastoralist landscape conservation applied to a survey in environmental sciences opened to a holistic integration. This raised the importance of local stakeholders (herders, law makers, scientists) as co-researchers in nature conservation studies.

Domaines: Géographie; Milieux et Changements globaux; Environnement et Société; Biodiversité et Ecologie; Ecosystèmes; Bioclimatologie

Romain Courault, Marianne Cohen. Evolution of ecosystem services in the frame of pastoral functional categories A study case in Swedish Lapland. Royal Geographical Society - Institute of British Geographers Annual International Conference 2019, Aug 2019, London, United Kingdom. ⟨halshs-02282349⟩