High mountain ecosystems and landscape degradation in northern Norway

The influence of reindeer pasturing on high mountain ecosystems in northern Norway was investigated using a landscape-ecological analysis. The most vi sible impacts of overgrazing are On the vegetation. In addition, soils and humus have been changed due to morphodynamic processes induced to a large e xtent by reindeer pasturing. Degradation of the high mountain landscapes wi thin the last 30 years is described on 3 spatial levels: large-scale effect s at specific localities, linear effects along reindeer fences, and small-s cale effects on the altitudinal zonation of entire mountain systems. The st ructure of the ecosystem ha changed completely due to reindeer pasturing, w hich has resulted in landscape degradation under great pasturing pressure. The processes that influence the ecosystem as a function of different pastu re intensities are described and show a complex correlation and interaction between the ecofactors. These include destruction of vegetation cover, red uction of roof density, erosion of humus and mineral soil horizons, reducti on of soil moisture and soil stability, and changes in plant species compos ition. On the whole, degradation leads to a depression of the altitudinal b elts, indicated by the new organization of the ecosystems. It can be conclu ded that reindeer herding at current levels is a destructive form of land u se in the northern Norwegian high mountains and hence is not sustainable. T he author believes that destruction of the natural environment could be rev ersed, although this is not to be expected.