ABSTRACT
There is considerable geographical overlap between areas set aside for nature conservation and Indigenous peoples’ lands, and the social, economic and political consequences of protected areas have often been extensive for Indigenous peoples. The same is true in Sápmi. In Norway, Sweden and Finland, environmental governance and management has historically been largely centralised, with low levels of local influence and control. In line with global trends, the countries’ environmental policies are moving towards collaborative models as a preferred arrangement for environmental management and are increasingly considering Sámi rights to influence over the governance and management of land and natural resources in Sápmi. However, mechanisms to ensure Sámi influence in conservation governance and management differ considerably between the countries. Moreover, collaborative conservation governance and management arrangements do not always deliver the positive social outcomes expected. In this chapter, we discuss the intersection of conservation and Sámi rights on the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish sides of Sápmi, with a particular focus on collaborative arrangements and the ways in which discourses on conservation, collaboration and Indigenous peoples shape conditions for Sámi agency in relation to the governance and management of landscapes for environmental protection.
