Finalised Projects of the Partner Organisations

Lappish livelihoods –project (Lappilaiset elinkeinot -hanke)

This project focused on reindeer herding and salmon (in Finnish). Regarding reindeer, the aim of the project was to diminish the amount of damage caused by large carnivore.

The project was administrated by the Lapland Regional Council. It lasted from 1.6.2013-1.6.2015.

Reindeer Geographical Information System (GIS) (Porot-paikkatieto -hanke)

The project collected information on reindeer herding work and areas of activities in 22 different reindeer herding cooperative. These areas were located in Rovaniemi and Eastern Lapland. There was also analysis made of the effects of land usage.

The information gathered can be used in the planning and guiding of land usage projects.

The main funding came from EU regional funds. The project was administrated by Finnish Environment Institute. It was conducted in 2012-2014.

iPORO communications project (iPORO-tiedotushanke)

The aim of the project was to develop the digital services and training. The project was divided into three sections

• Production of electric materials and sharing them in an easily accessible way
• Long distance access trials – video conferences etc.

This was to bring new digital assistance close to the herders and familiarise them with it.

The project was funded by the EU Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and administrated by Lapland Vocational College. It was conducted between 1.2.2013-31.12.2014.

Reindeer herders’ wellbeing, networks and developing occupational health care –project (Poronhoitajien hyvinvointiverkostojen ja työterveyshuollon kehittäminen –hanke)

The project aimed to support the wellbeing and occupational health care of reindeer herders. It aimed to help reindeer herders to meet different kind problems arising from the threats to the livelihoods. The project involved mainly training herders, chosen contact persons and health care professionals on different issues.

The project was administrated by the Lapland School of Applied Sciences and it was funded by the EU. It was conducted between 1.1.2013-31.12.2014.

Reindeer herding as a source of livelihoods in Finland and Sweden (Poronhoito elinkeinona Suomessa ja Ruotsissa –esiselvitys)

This project aimed to produce information on all the different factors influencing reindeer herding, but also on what effect reindeer herding has to the surrounding society. The project produced background information to evaluate the significance of the herding.  The project proceeded well and it was estimated that the total turnover of the reindeer herding in Sweden and Finland was 1.3 billion Euros and it employs 15 000 people.

It was also estimated that when 10 000 reindeer are killed by large carnivore, around 70-90 chances for employment are lost.

The project was funded mainly by Interreg IV:A Nord. It was administrated by Pajala Utveckling and it was conducted between 1.1.2014-30.9.2014.

PORUTAKU-project

This project focussed on the best practices of feeding, winter farming and transportation of live reindeer. The information produced in the project has been passed on in visits to farms, themed trainings and in the website www.porotaku.fi (in Finnish). The development work has been documented to best practices of f.e. transporting and feeding reindeer.

The project was funded from the EU Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and administrated by Lapland School of Applied Sciences. It was conducted between 1.3.2011-30.6.2014.

Reindeer-large carnivores and salmon – project (Poro-peto & lohi –hanke)

This project created tight cooperation between the authorities and others stakeholders. It influenced on the national politics on large carnivores and implementation of it as well as created connections to Sweden amongst others. The cooperation aimed to enhance the knowledge within the EU regarding to the situation in the North with large carnivores.

The project was administrated from Lapland Regional Council and funded from Interreg III A North-program. It was conducted between 1.4.2012-31.5.2013.

Kainuu and Koillismaa large carnivore –projects

In between 2009-2014 there were three projects conducted in the Kainuu and Koillismaa areas. The projects were a continuation to the work done since 2004 in the area. The main concern was the growing populations of large carnivores and the problems they have caused.

Large carnivores region –project (Petoseutu-hanke)

This project built methods for searching cascades and observation of large carnivores. There was also a broad scientific analysis on the damages of the large carnivores and a report on the reindeer collar markets.

Information on large carnivores –project (Petotieto-hanke)

This project enhanced the cooperation between research on large carnivores, local people and different stakeholders to produce and share information on large carnivores. It also increased Nordic cooperation. The project produced two guides called “Preventing damages of the large carnivores” and “Large carnivore and nature”. The latter was aimed for the public and was translated to four different languages (in English).

The effects of the large carnivores, and monitoring and preventing their damages  – project (Maasuurpetojen vaikutukset, seuranta ja vahinkojen ennaltaehkäisy –hanke)

The project further encouraged the use of collars and geographical information technology. It also pointed the clear advantages of these new technologies to reindeer herding. The project provided field testing opportunities for developers to create new innovations and applications.

The project continued to develop new ways to use dogs and promoted their abilities in shepherding. It also evaluated the situation amongst herders and their future in the Kainuu and Koillismaa areas, where the large carnivores have caused most damages. This preliminary study was made by the Lapland University.

The project was funded by EU Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and it was conducted between 1.3.2001-31.5.2014.

From a waste to useful products  – making use of animal originated side products – project (Jätteestä hyötykäyttöön – eläinperäisten sivutuotteiden hyödyntäminen –hanke)

This project aimed to tackle the large amount animal originated waste that is created whilst slaughtering reindeer. It has not been used before, but the growing pet food industry gives out good opportunities to develop new products.

The project focussed on examining how to gather the side products from slaughter houses. It also considered product development and developing technologies related to it. The project made networks between different stakeholders and created bases for business.

The project was administrated by the municipality of Salla. It was funded by EU Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and conducted between 1.11.2010-31.12.2013.

Project developing reindeer farm tourism

There were four projects in 2006-2012, focussing on developing tourism in reindeer farms. These projects were administrated by Lapland University. These continued the work made in Association’s projects in 2002-2006.

Succeeding in reindeer farm tourism 1 and 2 – projects (Porotilamatkailun menestyksen eväät 1 ja 2 –hankkeet)

These projects evaluated the companies already working on the business, interviewed key stakeholders of these companies and studied the existing quality programmes of small businesses. The focus was particularly on the quality and how important it is from the business idea through to the service chain.

The project formulated quality tools for the use of the companies and made a self-assessment model. These were put in trial in 25 companies that participated to the project.

Reindeer farm tourism – quality makes good results – project (Porotilamatkailu –laadulla tulosta –hanke)

This project continued the work done in the previous project. It gave training for the companies about quality issues and the participants created their own quality standards.

Reindeer farm tourism – communication project (Porotilamatkailun tiedotushanke)

This was a short project in 2012 that focussed on informing about the results that were achieved in the reindeer farm tourism projects since 2002.

These four projects were funded by the EU. Two latter from the EU Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Building local identity with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) –status products (Nimisuojatuotteet alueellista identiteeettiä rakentamassa –hanke)

This project gathered actors nationally to promote the Finnish Protected Designation of Origin –products and find new products. The project created a specialist network to Finland and the PDO-status was made more known to the wider public. Different kind of workshops and events increased the interest and companies contacted the project. Hence new products are prepared for applying the PDO-status. Getting the PDO-status can be useful for the companies and their markets nationally and internationally.

The project was administrated by the Ruralia Institute of the Helsinki University. It was partly funded by the Agency of Rural Affairs.

Reindeer husbandry and different learning environments -project (Porotalousyrittämisen erilaiset oppimisympäristöt –hanke)

This project organised over 30 short courses for reindeer herders to enhance their knowledge on specific issues. When enough participants were enrolled to the course, they were conducted close to the herders. This made it easier to participate and hence increased the numbers of attendees. Overall the reindeer herders participated to several hundred training days, so the model was very successful.

The project was funded by the European Social Fund. The last project was conducted between 1.6.2009-30.6.2012.