Tematisk naturregnskap for villrein | Vurdering av mulige innretninger

Bjørkvoll, E. & Hansen, B.B. 2025. Tematisk naturregnskap for villrein. Vurdering av mulige innretninger. NINA Rapport 2550. Norsk institutt for naturforskning. Mangel på helhetlig arealforvaltning av villreinfjellet, med utbygging og fragmentering av leveområdene, er kanskje den viktigste årsaken til den negative utviklingen for villreinen. Stortinget har derfor sluttet seg til et mål om helhetlig og restriktiv arealforvaltning i villreinfjellet for å bedre tilstanden. For å styrke kunnskapen om leveområdene og endringer i arealbruk og økosystemtjenester, har Stortinget støttet regjeringens ønske om et tematisk naturregnskap for villrein. Det har blitt understreket at et slikt naturregnskap må bli et nyttig verktøy for kommunene i deres arealforvaltning. Vi foreslår her hvordan et tematisk naturregnskap for villrein kan utvikles. Med utgangspunkt i FN sin standard for naturregnskap (SEEA EA), foreslår vi ulike innretninger. Vi vurderer hvordan ulike elementer kan kobles sammen, og hvordan arbeidet kan samordnes med annet arbeid med naturregnskap, kvalitetsnorm for villrein, regionale planer for villrein, naturindeks, overvåking og forskning. Vi peker på data- og kunnskapsmangler, og anslår kostnader knyttet til etablering og drift. Vi foreslår at naturregnskapet bygges opp av fire delregnskaper; et arealregnskap og delregnskaper for leveområdets tilstand, populasjonens tilstand og forsyning og bruk av økosystemtjenester knyttet til villrein. Med utgangspunkt i eksisterende datagrunnlag og i kvalitetsnormen, bør det lages tematiske naturregnskap for hvert villreinområde, og i noen tilfeller delområde. For hvert villreinområde bør arealregnskapet og regnskapet for leveområdets tilstand lages på kommunenivå, for bruk i kommunenes arealplanlegging. Regnskapet bør så godt som mulig beregnes tilbake i tid, og oppdateringen bør synkroniseres med kvalitetsnormen, dvs. hvert fjerde år. Variablene for tilstand leveområder og tilstand populasjon bør være samordnet og identiske med måleparameterne i kvalitetsnormen. Sistnevnte bør revideres med tanke på dette, i en felles prosess. Kvalitetsnormen vil da bestå av de to delregnskapene, med klassifisering som tidligere. Vi anbefaler at regnskapsområdet inkluderer både villreinområdet og en randsone som omslutter villreinområdet. Dette fordi arealforvaltning utenfor villreinområdet indirekte vil kunne påvirke tilstanden til leveområdet og populasjonen. Slike randsoner må vurderes nærmere, men vi beskriver kort ulike utfordringer og løsninger, blant annet forvaltningssonen i regionale planer for villrein. Å ikke inkludere randsone i regnskapsområdet anser vi som problematisk, siden regnskapet da ikke vil synliggjøre arealendringer utenfor villreinområdet med indirekte effekter på tilstanden til leveområdet og populasjonen. Det vil også ha stor forvaltningsverdi å beregne tematiske naturregnskap på høyere geografisk nivå, for eksempel for Norge eller for hver av de åtte områdene med regionale planer for villrein. Dette bør lages ved å vekte og aggregere delregnskapene. Vi diskuterer også skalering av tilstandsvariabler og bruk av data som ikke er tilgjengelig eller inkludert i vår anbefaling. Vår anbefalte innretning er tilpassa de godt overvåka villreinbestandene (i praksis nasjonale villreinområder), med de beste data og høyeste forvaltningsprioritet. Vi er ikke kjent med at det tidligere har blitt utviklet tilsvarende tematiske naturregnskap for enkeltarter, verken nasjonalt eller internasjonalt. Uansett innretning er forutsetningene for tematiske naturregnskap for villrein gode. Villrein har lenge vært gjenstand for kartlegging og overvåking, og med innføring av kvalitetsnormen og utvikling av bestandsmodeller og habitatmodeller, er datagrunnlaget omfattende. Med økt fokus på arealregnskap i Norge de seinere år, får vi også stadig mer kunnskap om leveområdene og nærliggende arealer. Etableringsfasen vil kreve avveininger som bør koordineres med kvalitetsnormen, andre naturregnskap og strategien for videre nasjonal villreinforvaltning.

Bjørkvoll, E. & Hansen, B.B. 2025. Thematic Ecosystem Accounting for Wild Reindeer: Possible Approaches. NINA Report 2550. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. One significant cause of negative trends for wild reindeer populations in Norway is lack of comprehensive land management policies for their habitats, which are subject to increased disturbances and fragmentation. The Parliament aims to address this by establishing thematic ecosystem accounting for wild reindeer, improving knowledge on habitats and changes in land use and ecosystem services. It has been emphasized that such a system must become a useful tool for municipalities in their land-use planning. This report proposes how a thematic ecosystem accounting system for wild reindeer can be developed. Based on the UN’s framework for ecosystem accounting (SEEA EA), we suggest various approaches. We evaluate how different elements of the accounts can be interconnected and how the work can be aligned with other efforts, such as other nature accounting, the quality norm for wild reindeer, regional plans, the Nature Index, monitoring, and research. We highlight gaps in data and knowledge and estimate costs associated with establishment and operation of the system. We propose that the system consists of four sub-accounts: an account for ecosystem extent and sub-accounts for habitat condition, population condition, and supply and use of ecosystem services related to wild reindeer. Using existing data and the quality norm, thematic nature accounts should be created for each reindeer area and, in some cases, sub-areas. For each reindeer area, the account for ecosystem extent and the habitat condition account should be developed at the municipal level for use in land-use planning. The accounts should be calculated retroactively as far as possible, and updates should be synchronized with the quality norm (i.e. every four years). The variables for habitat and population condition should be harmonized and ideally identical to the parameters in the quality norm. The latter should be revised accordingly in a joint process. The quality norm would then consist of the two sub-accounts, with classification as before. We recommend that the accounting area includes both the wild reindeer area and a buffer zone surrounding it. This approach accounts for the fact that land management outside the wild reindeer area may indirectly affect the condition of the habitat and population. These buffer zones require further evaluation, but we briefly describe various challenges and solutions, including management zones in regional wild reindeer plans. Excluding the buffer zone from the accounting area would be problematic, as it would fail to capture land-use changes outside the wild reindeer area that indirectly affect habitat and population conditions. The management value of calculating the thematic ecosystem account also at higher geographical levels, such as for Norway or for each of the eight wild reindeer regions with regional plans, would be significant. These accounts should be created by weighting and aggregating the sub-accounts. We also discuss scaling of condition variables and use of data not currently available or included in our recommendations. Our proposed approach is tailored to the well-monitored populations (primarily national wild reindeer areas) with the best data and highest management priority. To our knowledge, such thematic nature accounts for single species have not previously been developed, either nationally or internationally. Regardless of the chosen approach, the prerequisites are largely in place. Wild reindeer have long been subject of mapping and monitoring, and with the quality norm and the development of population models and habitat models, the data foundation is extensive. With the increasing focus on land-use accounts in Norway in recent years, we are also gaining more knowledge about habitats and adjacent areas. The establishment phase will require trade-offs that should be coordinated with the quality norm, other ecosystem accounts, and the strategy for future national wild reindeer management.

Bjørkvoll, E. & Hansen, B.B. 2025. Thematic Ecosystem Accounting for Wild Reindeer: Possible Approaches. NINA Report 2550. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. One significant cause of negative trends for wild reindeer populations in Norway is lack of comprehensive land management policies for their habitats, which are subject to increased disturbances and fragmentation. The Parliament aims to address this by establishing thematic ecosystem accounting for wild reindeer, improving knowledge on habitats and changes in land use and ecosystem services. It has been emphasized that such a system must become a useful tool for municipalities in their land-use planning. This report proposes how a thematic ecosystem accounting system for wild reindeer can be developed. Based on the UN’s framework for ecosystem accounting (SEEA EA), we suggest various approaches. We evaluate how different elements of the accounts can be interconnected and how the work can be aligned with other efforts, such as other nature accounting, the quality norm for wild reindeer, regional plans, the Nature Index, monitoring, and research. We highlight gaps in data and knowledge and estimate costs associated with establishment and operation of the system. We propose that the system consists of four sub-accounts: an account for ecosystem extent and sub-accounts for habitat condition, population condition, and supply and use of ecosystem services related to wild reindeer. Using existing data and the quality norm, thematic nature accounts should be created for each reindeer area and, in some cases, sub-areas. For each reindeer area, the account for ecosystem extent and the habitat condition account should be developed at the municipal level for use in land-use planning. The accounts should be calculated retroactively as far as possible, and updates should be synchronized with the quality norm (i.e. every four years). The variables for habitat and population condition should be harmonized and ideally identical to the parameters in the quality norm. The latter should be revised accordingly in a joint process. The quality norm would then consist of the two sub-accounts, with classification as before. We recommend that the accounting area includes both the wild reindeer area and a buffer zone surrounding it. This approach accounts for the fact that land management outside the wild reindeer area may indirectly affect the condition of the habitat and population. These buffer zones require further evaluation, but we briefly describe various challenges and solutions, including management zones in regional wild reindeer plans. Excluding the buffer zone from the accounting area would be problematic, as it would fail to capture land-use changes outside the wild reindeer area that indirectly affect habitat and population conditions. The management value of calculating the thematic ecosystem account also at higher geographical levels, such as for Norway or for each of the eight wild reindeer regions with regional plans, would be significant. These accounts should be created by weighting and aggregating the sub-accounts. We also discuss scaling of condition variables and use of data not currently available or included in our recommendations. Our proposed approach is tailored to the well-monitored populations (primarily national wild reindeer areas) with the best data and highest management priority. To our knowledge, such thematic nature accounts for single species have not previously been developed, either nationally or internationally. Regardless of the chosen approach, the prerequisites are largely in place. Wild reindeer have long been subject of mapping and monitoring, and with the quality norm and the development of population models and habitat models, the data foundation is extensive. With the increasing focus on land-use accounts in Norway in recent years, we are also gaining more knowledge about habitats and adjacent areas. The establishment phase will require trade-offs that should be coordinated with the quality norm, other ecosystem accounts, and the strategy for future national wild reindeer management.

Miljødirektoratet: M-2914|2025