WILD Sápmi
Sámi reindeer herders are defending the forest and the climate, and they urgently need allies.
The History
For centuries, people and nature have coexisted in the far north of the world where the most important terrestrial carbon sink – the boreal forest – also flourished. But the advent of industrialized timber extraction has changed the land in detrimental ways to biodiversity and the climate. Sámi reindeer herders defend the forest to ensure enough lichen persists to feed their reindeer. But their efforts enough are not alone and they need conservationists from around the world to support them in the defense of boreal old growth trees.
OUR GOAL
Zero old growth deforestation in Sápmi (the traditional territory of the Sámi People) by 2030 or sooner.
What’s at stake
Sweden is eradicating old-growth forest at a rate 6-7x faster than the destruction of the Amazon. Sámi reindeer herders are the most dedicated advocates of the old growth trees, but without international support they confront enormous odds. WILD Sápmi is partnering with Sámi communities to capacitate successful grassroots efforts to defend the forest.
Boreal Forest
Reindeer
Lichen
Protecting Indigenous Sámi rights means safeguarding the heart of Sápmi and honoring a way of life deeply connected to the land. When we fight for our rights, we stand for the right of all Indigenous Peoples to live with dignity, respect, and sovereignty.
Many don’t realize that Sámi reindeer herders are probably the most effective and dedicated protectors of old growth trees because their herds depend on them for their survival. By defending and empowering Sámi lifeways we are leveraging existing knowledge and expertise to mount a more effective defense of the forest and Earth’s climate.
Visualizing The Facts
Methods
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Community organizing, international advocacy at the IUCN and the UN, forest monitor training and biodiversity monitoring.
Area
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Sápmi is an area of nearly 400,000 square km spread across the northern reaches of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and parts of Russia. WILD Sápmi is operating pilot initiatives in Sweden and seeking additional grassroots partners and international funders to scale up the work.
Climate impact
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One hectare of boreal forests stores approximately 100 tons of carbon. That is equivalent to the annual emissions of 20 cars. WILD Sápmi’s work impacts hundreds of thousands of hectares of reindeer herding districts, all of which confront the imminent threat of deforestation by forestry companies.
Culture
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WILD believes that global culture must transform if we are to address the root cause of ecological collapse caused by humanity’s broken relationship with nature. Traditional cultures, like the Sámi, offer a blueprint of ritual, beliefs, practice, and formal and informal institutions that could be a guide for how civilization writ-large can change. By allying with traditional culture we not only defend the frontline defenders of biodiversity and climate, we also defend lifeways that are generally more sustainable and lower impact that our own.
Will you become an ally to the Sámi defending the boreal forest?
STAY UP TO DATE
WILD SÁPMI: A New Alliance to Defend Old Growth Press Release
WILD.org expands its 50+ year legacy of ecosystem protection by partnering with Sámi reindeer herders to defend Sweden’s old growth boreal forests and support Indigenous stewardship.
Swedish Forest Company SCA’s Exit from FSC Certification
Swedish forest company, SCA, is leaving the Forest Stewardship Council—undermining Indigenous rights, climate action, and opening the door to ecological harm.
Protecting the Sápmi Forest
Boreal forests are the largest land-based carbon sink yet Sweden is deforesting its old growth trees at a faster rate than the deforestation of the Amazon.