Infrastructure, Effects on reindeer behaviour experiences from Finland Alfred Colpaert Department of Geography and Historical Studies University of Eastern Finland
Research history Pasture inventory 1995 Land use questions 2000 Effects of Infrastructure 2005 Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Reindeer research Jouko Kumpula Marja Anttonen Timo Kumpula Ari Tanskanen
Finnish reindeer herd 1960-2009 summer winter
Landsat TM 1987 satellite image Finnish Norwegian border Norway Finland
Pasture classification
Change in forest landscape Grid cells(0,5 x 0,5 km) with at least 40 % mature or old growth forest. 1995 N = 71 000 2005 N = 57 197 Change19 %
GPS tracking of reindeer Research districts Reindeer position with GPS-collar 1-3 times / day (8 hour interval) Ivalo, 1999-2002 29 female reindeer 11 000 locations Oraniemi, 2003-2006 40 female reindeer 25 000 locations
GPS locations and yearly habitat (MCP) Ivalo district 1999-2002
Infrastructure Point - house Line - road Area- camping
Study of impact of infrastructure We studied seven forms of infrastructure Build up areas Buildings Main roads Forest roads Skiing trails Snowmobile tracks Gold digging areas We tested buffers of 100, 400 and 1500 meter around the infrastructure (2500 m for population centers).
Method We used the Aebisher s Compositional Analysis On two spatial scales Home range selection Within home range selection Three seasonal periods Early winter (Nov Jan) Late winter (Feb April) Summer autumn (May Oct)
Effects of infrastructure Building stage traffic, noise, dust. High level of disturbance. Period of adjustment, regeneration of vegetation and landscape. Possible spreading of infrastructure. Increasing levels of disturbance. Habitat loss and fragmentation. Combined effects of different infrastructure. Functional habitat loss
Disturbance Effects can be measured up to 1500 meter. Differences between season. Differences between vegetation zones.
Photos : Jouko Kumpula
Infrastructure forming networks, fragmenting and reducing pasture value Map: Gold digging areas, Saariselkä area (Metsähallitus 2004)
Infrastructure Home range selection Avoidance distance (m) Potential area affected (% of the land area) Within-home-range selection Avoidance Potential area distance (m) affected (% of the land area) Early winter: Population centres 2500 5,2 2500* 5,2 Buildings 1500 13,8 400 2,5 Main roads 1500 14,2 1500 14,2 roads ** 0 0 0 0 Snowmobile tracks 1500 13,3 0 0 Skiing trails 0 0 0 0 Gold digging areas 0 0 0 0 Total area affected 27,5 (709,6 km 2 ) 16,9 (436,2 km 2 ) Late winter: Population centres 2500 5,2 2500* 5,2 Buildings 1500 13,8 0 0 Main roads 1500 14,2 100 1,0 roads 0 0 0 0 Snowmobile tracks 1500 13,3 1500 13,3 Skiing trails 1500 8,3 1500* 8,3 Gold digging areas 1500 11,9 0 0 Total area affected 39,0 (1004,5 km 2 ) 20,3 (524,0 km 2 ) Summer-autumn: Population centres 2500 5,2 2500 5,2 Buildings 1500 13,8 400 2,5 Main roads 1500 14,2 100 1,0 roads 0 0 0 0 Snowmobile tracks 0 0 0 0 Skiing trails 0 0 0 0 Gold digging areas 1500 11,9 0 0 Total area affected 30,7 (790,3 km 2 ) 7,2 (185,8 km 2 )
Infrastructure coverage- and influence areas
Ivalo infrastructure
Infrastructure, coverage and affected area.
Mudd usjä rven paliskun ta In arijärvi Pa atsjoe n paliskunta Ivalo district N ellim Ha mmastun tu rin paliskun ta Ivalo Ke väjärvi Tsa rm itu nturin eräma a Indeksia rvo (malli 3, kesä) -3 Grid map indicating usability of pasture in relation to natural and human conditions (Määttä, M. 2004) -2-1 Törm änen 0 1 2 3 Tie t Ha mma stun turin erä maa 0 10 20 Saariselkä U rho Kekkosen kansallispu isto Lapin paliskunta ³ km Maria Määttä Maantieteen laitos Ou lun yliopisto 7.10.20 04 GPS locations Summer index Mudd usjä rven paliskun ta Pa atsjoe n paliskunta In arijärvi N ellim Ha mmastun tu rin paliskun ta Ke väjärvi Tsa rm itu nturin eräma a In deksia rvo (malli 1, talvi) Ivalo -3-2 -1 Törm änen 0 1 2 3 Tie t Ha mma stun turin erä maa 0 10 20 km Saariselkä U rho Kekkosen kansallispu isto Lapin paliskunta ³ Maria Määttä Maantieteen laitos Ou lun yliopisto 7.10.20 04 Winter index
Mining New Kevitsa Ni ja Cu open pit mine, Sodankylä. Mine needs new bridge, road and power line. http://yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/2009/07/kevitsan_kaivosyhtio_painostettiin_sopimukseen_852529.html?o rigin=rss
Kevitsa Mining area 14.8 km 2 500 m buffer 8.7 km 2
Tracking period 2003-2006
Caribou Wind Farm, Quebec, Canada http://www.renewbl.com/2009/12/21/gdf-suez-began-commercial-operation-at-caribou-wind-park.html
Conclusions There is no green energy. Development should be concentrated Restrict infrastructure spreading. Optimize not only for profit, but also for landscape and environment. Fair compensation
References Kumpula, J., Colpaert, A. & Anttonen, M. 2007: Does forest harvesting and linear infrastructure change the usability value of pastureland for semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). Annales Zoologici Fennici 44: 161-178. Kumpula, J & Colpaert, A. 2007: Snow conditions and usability value of pastureland for semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in northern boreal forest area. Rangifer 27 (1): 25-39. Kumpula, J., Colpaert, A. & Tanskanen, A. 2008: Porojen laidunten valinta muuttuneessa metsä- ja maisemarakenteessa Keski- Lapissa. Suomen Riista 54: 69-82. Anttonen, M., Kumpula, J. & Colpaert, A.: Range selection by semidomesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in relation to infrastructure and human activity in boreal forest environment, northern Finland. Manuscript
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