Table 1 Examples of ecosystem services (see Constanza et al. 1997; De Groot et al. 2002; MA 2005; Stenger et al. 2009) and indicators used in our case study

Supporting:

Soil formation, primary production, nutrient cycling

Regulating

Population and keystone species control through trophic-dynamic relations, stabilising species balance.

-Balance between wolves, reindeer, wild forest reindeer, and moose.

Enhancing the reproduction of important species by suitable living and reproduction habitats.

-Estimation of the predator / wolf densities in the reindeer pastures and habitats.

The availability of prey animals for predators.

Improving species resistance to disturbances e.g. by maintaining gene pools and viability of species populations.

-Ability of wolves to move across borders and exchange genes with different sub-populations.

-Estimation whether the number of wolves will increase or decrease.

Provisioning

Primary production of extractable, which are utilised in hunting, gathering, herding, berry picking etc.

-Estimation of number of reindeer that ecosystem sustains.

-Estimation about the amount of lichen reindeer can utilise.

Sociocultural

-The availability of assumingly attractive landscapes and activities within those.

Environments and landscapes that support ecotourism, recreation and outdoor activities.

Existence of utilisable or otherwise valued species.

-The availability of assumingly attractive species (e.g. predators, but also reindeer).