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Research, Policy and Practice

Table 3 Administrative levels and areas of responsibility in reindeer governance and management (adapted from Fedreheim 2013)

From: Trade-offs in pastoral governance in Norway: Challenges for biodiversity and adaptation

Level

Responsible agency

Areas of responsibility

International

International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples

• Safeguarding the rights of the persons, institutions, property, labour, cultures and environment of the Sámi people

State

Ministry of Agriculture and Food

• Policy development

• Reindeer Herding Act

• Reindeer Herding Agreement

• Appeals court for the Norwegian Reindeer Husbandry Boarda

Norwegian Agriculture Agencyb

• Executive work

• Secretariat for the Norwegian Reindeer Husbandry Board

Norwegian Reindeer Husbandry Boardc

• Appeals court for decisions taken in the reindeer departments

Regional

County Governors’ Department of Agriculture and Foodd

• Control the Siidas and act as expert councils over controversies

• Give exemptions from grazing rules

• Approve husbandry rules, decide grazing times

• Consider subsidy applications

Local

89 reindeer districts across the country

• Manage internal affairs

• Decide on land-use plans

• Predict reindeer numbers

Siida e with Siida-shares

• Practical management

• Participate in organizations, boards and meetings

  1. aReindriftsstyret
  2. bLandbruksdirektoratet. Replaced the former Norwegian Reindeer Husbandry Administration from July 1st, 2014
  3. cIts seven members are appointed by the Ministry (four) and the Sámi Parliament (three)
  4. dNew from January 1st 2014. Then six reindeer herding area boards were removed, and their tasks were given to the County Governor’s Department of Agriculture
  5. eOne or several groups of reindeer owners, understood as families. A person holds a siida-share