Reindeer grazing forests being logged in 2004 in Inari, North Finland, Sámi area: Taimenjärvi, Nellim

Logging plan of Metsähallitus includes both old-growth forests and other forests significant for reindeer herding.

Area code in maps prepared by reindeer herders and NGOs: Inari 33, Keskinen Talvilaidunalue. Precise location: Taimenjarvi, close to the village of Nellim. Logging in the area is scheduled for spring 2004. The forests around Taimenjärvi are located in larger area named Keskinen talvilaidunalue, which stands for "central winter grazing area".

Because of earlier selective logging in this forest area, not all of the forests around Taimenjärvi are old-growth forests. However, they have significance for the reindeer herding as such.

	According to the reindeer herders, the forests in Taimenjärvi should not be logged because: "- winter grazing areas are already badly fragmented by logging. There are no other areas even nearby where the reindeer could be settled in late wintertime (in spring) - there is a good ground lichen population in the area, and some tree hanging lichen too - the sharply outlined slopes make it possible for the reindeer to dig the lichen from the ground also in seasons with heavy snow cover - the area is located under 5 kilometres from the round-up-fence of Martinjärvi. It is easy to take the herd in there."

For more information on the relation between reindeer herding livelihood and PEFC- certified forestry in Finland, see the >>> Anything Goes -report, Conflicts between forestry and reindeer herding -section