Reindeer herding is a major livelihood for Indigenous peoples of Sápmi and Northern Russia. Both colonization effects and modern land-use conversion have fragmented the landscape and reduced herding flexibility, whereas climate change effects require increased flexibility for coping. We have analyzed the practice of environmental impact analyses (EIA) for reindeer herding in Norway by legal analysis, a survey, cases studies and interviews. The legal analysis finds that the regulations provide reindeer herding some protection, but it is nevertheless to a large degree at the mercy of the relevant administration. Herder representatives mainly find the outcome of the EIAs mediocre and are not satisfied with neither inclusion of herder knowledge nor evaluation of sum effects. Most herders find the main role of the EIAs to be vehicles of getting plans confirmed. Preliminary findings from case studies and interviews are: Though many EIAs include and present herder knowledge satisfactory, some investigators lack sufficient competence while others are not sufficiently independent of their principals. We recommend the establishment of a public register of EIA investigators and that reindeer herding districts get a formal right of prior approval of investigators. In addition law and regulation improvements should be considered.
