Norwegian Reindeer Herders Fighting Windmills
South-sami reindeer herding may come to an end on the Fosen peninsula if the proposed windmill park is built. (Photo: Lawrence Hislop/Grid Arendal)
Reindeer herders in Trøndelag, Norway, are taking the construction of a planned windmill park to court, claiming it will eradicate south-sami reindeer herding in the region for the indefinite future. The 10-day long trail starts today.
Reindeer herders in Trøndelag, Norway, are taking the construction of a planned windmill park to court, claiming it will eradicate south-sami reindeer herding in the region for the indefinite future. The 10-day long trail starts today.
Fosen Vind wants to build what is to become Europe’s largest windmill park on the Fosen peninsula just north of Trondheim, Norway, according to NRK (Norwegian only). In February 2016, the project encompassing a total of six wind parks and totaling about 300 windmills was announced. The project cost estimate lies at 11 billion Norwegian kroner (appr. 1.3 billion US dollars).
Local reindeer herders have opposed the project vehemently, arguing that it will devastate up to a third of the reindeer grazing areas on the peninsula and effectively lead to forced abandoning of a reindeer herding lifestyle for many families in the area – forever.
Today, the case commences before the Planning and Building Court of Assessment. It is scheduled to last for ten days and will include on-site inspections as well as regular court proceedings.