Climate Changes that Effect the Sami

The Sami indigenous people reside in the northern countries of Europe and are affected by harsh winters and scorching summers that forces them to adapt to the weather. The fluctuation of climates also affect Sami's reindeer, which is their main cattle. During winter, hard layers of ice cover vegetation, which prevents the reindeer from eating and during the summer, insects and melting of permafrost become stress factors towards them. A traditional adaptation strategy is used by the Sami's to adapt to these situations. Their strategy involves migrating and moving with the reindeer to different pastures that they have established, allowing them to avoid causalities to their people and reindeer. Due to recent globalization, the Sami's strategy of migrating is being disrupted by "infrastructures, fences, and national borders" which limits them from moving to different regions that they used to go during certain climate changes.
Source: http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/01/reindeer-herding-indigenous-people-and-climate-change/


Sami's herd of reindeer
Source:http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/washing-dishes-herding-reindeer/