DOI: 10.5061/dryad.31zcrjdgh
title: Data from: Sámi knowledge and ecosystem-based adaptation strategies for managing pastures under threat from multiple land uses

description:  1.    Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) relies
 upon the capacity of ecosystems to buffer communities against the adverse
 impacts of climate change. Maintaining ecosystems that deliver critical
 services to communities can also provide co-benefits beyond adaptation,
 such as climate mitigation and protection of biological diversity and
 livelihoods. EbA has to a limited extent drawn upon indigenous-and local
 knowledge (ILK) for defining critical services and for implementing EbA in
 decision-making. This is a paradox given that the primary focus of EbA is
 to enable communities to adapt to climate change. 2.   
   The purpose of this study was to elucidate EbA strategies that
 take into account the knowledge of Sámi reindeer herders about pastures in
 tundra regions. We first examined what constitutes critical services as
 perceived by Sámi reindeer herders through a synthesis of data and
 literature. We thereafter used content analysis of 91 land use cases from
 2010-2018 to investigate to what extent the herders’ knowledge and maps
 over seasonal pastures and migratory routes are used in local
 decision-making. Finally, we propose EbA strategies of relevance to Sámi
 communities and pastoral communities elsewhere. 3.   
   Our analysis revealed that reindeer herders and organizations
 representing their interests perceived threats from green energy
 development, tourism, recreation, public road construction and powerlines.
 These threats included the loss of key habitats and the loss of
 connectivity for migration between seasonal pastures. Herders’ knowledge
 is incorporated through participatory tools to protect the ecosystems and
 services crucial for herders, but multiple competing land uses result in
 incremental loss of pastures regardless.  4.   
   Synthesis and application. Pastoralists need access to diverse
 resources on seasonal pastures and the ability to move between pastures
 when snow, ice, rainfall and the timing of critical service supplies
 changes. Drawing on herders’ knowledge to elicit EbA strategies is vital
 for buffering the adverse effects of climate change. EbA that incorporates
 indigenous perspectives cannot purely rely on co-benefit approaches.
 Fundamental trade-offs exist between adaptation needs and other land uses,
 such as infrastructure, tourism and green energy development
description: This dataset derives from content analysis of 91 land use cases
 from 2010-2018 in Troms County in northern Norway that has generated
 conflicts with Sámi pastoralists. Reindeer herders and organizations
 representing their interests can comment, appeal and veto to land use
 plans affecting their seasonal pastures or migratory routes, thereby
 providing additional knowledge about their specific needs into
 decision-making. For each of the land use cases we coded the seasonal
 pastures, migratory routes affected, and the type of land development
 initiative to which the case belonged. We also recorded perceived
 cumulative impacts, the perceived quality of the maps used for land use
 plans, and whether the information pertaining to the case was sufficient
 for making an informed decision.