The Sapmi Region of Tundra, Northern Europe

Question 1

What are the social challenges that the Sami people face?

Answer 1

Young Sami people would rather abandon the culture for prospects of education and employment opportunities.
Traditions are threatened because ageing communities cannot pass traditions on

Question 2

What are the economic challenges that the Sami people face?

Answer 2

Sami people who wish to carry on with traditional industry such as fishing, hunting and small-scale agriculture cannot because of the competition with commercial industries. Happens to the extent where only 10% of the Sami people rely solely on one form of work.

Question 3

What are the environmental challenges that the Sami people face?

Answer 3

Lakes, rivers and marshes makes long distance travelling difficult
Rivers have been dammed for hydroelectricity production; frozen lakes can no longer be used to walk the reindeer to new grazing land

Question 4

How have the Sami people adapted to cold environments?

Answer 4

Limiting their impact on and protecting the natural resources around them.
Low fertility levels.

Question 5

How have the Sami people impacted the environment?

Answer 5

Overgrazing of lichens

Reindeer damaging the forest ecosystem

Question 6

How is climate change effecting the Sami people?

Answer 6

Warmer winters with less snow would reduce the amount of lichen for grazing
Warmer winters means fewer frozen lakes - limited movement to grazing grounds
Slow to adjust to the rapid changes in seasonal patterns
Warmer summers = more insects, reindeer waste energy dealing with insect harrasment