Gällivare excursion

Around 30 participants joined the excursion from Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sveaskog Förvaltnings AB, Boliden, Holmen Skog AB, Formas, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC Sweden), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Priest salary assets in Luleå diocese, Ajtte museum, Sveaskog, Swedish Forest Agency, The National Confederation of Swedish Sami, Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag (LKAB), SCA Skog AB, Norlund Consult AB and Gällivare Sami village. The excursion was scheduled from 10:30 to 16:00. During that time, the group moved to different points in the experimental areas of the forest.   

Insightful discussions for practice

The excursion's theme was "Adapted forest measures for the creation of functional reindeer pastures and ecological compensation". The participants listened to several presentations and engaged in discussions related to this theme.

Emma Holmström, programme head of SLU Future Forest, presented how alternative forestry methods can create functional reindeer pastures and produce forest raw materials by analysing factors such as regeneration costs, basal area, average growth, land value, etc., of forestry. Then, Henrik von Stedingk  of FSC Sweden highlighted the integrated forestry management process between FSC Sverige-certified forestry companies and Sami villages. 

One cannot speak about forestry in the area without discussing the impacts of the Aitik mine on the surrounding forest ecosystems. Therefore, immediately after lunch, Mari Jönsson, researcher, SLU, presented the background, scope and some preliminary outcomes of the research project "Minedust", which aims to learn more about the effects of mine dust on forest biodiversity and ecosystems. 

Next, Prof. Joakim Hjältén, SLU, presented the research project "Den stora artflytten," which studies whether the species endangered due to the expansion of the Aitik mine can survive in the compensation areas. He described some of its outcomes, including positive and negative effects on biodiversity and other important facts. Mari Jönsson and Jörgen Sjögren, SLU, explained some results of more groups of organisms and further plans for the research.  

The excursion came to an end with a fruitful discussion on ecological compensation with the involvement of many participants based on their different experiences and ideas. 

Looking through diverse perspectives together

This Future Forest excursion in Gällivare paved the way for open discussions on the practical and research facts, concerns and views of forest management, reindeer pastures and ecological compensation by bringing different parties connected to Norrbotten in one place. It helped the group to look at the excursion's theme from different perspectives, discuss some practical suggestions forestry can incorporate and contemplate the diverse impacts on each party.