The sounds of fighter jets in northern Finland have startled reindeer, disrupting the tranquility of the area. In May, Finland, along with Sweden and the UK, conducted large-scale military exercises, one of which took place at the Rovaniemi shooting range, Europe’s largest artillery training area and a crucial reindeer grazing zone.

The drills not only interfere with the reindeer's foraging activities but coincide with their breeding season, causing significant anxiety among herders. Finnish reindeer herder Poropdas stated, “Since Finland joined NATO, the number of military training days and the scale of exercises have dramatically increased, significantly impacting our activities, as we work in the same areas as the military.”

The unique terrain and seasonal variations at the Rovaniemi shooting range make it an ideal military training site. The military has established trenches and military equipment there, clearing forests and directly destroying reindeer food sources, known as lichen. Herders are increasingly worried, as climate change has already drastically altered the environment, making it difficult for reindeer to find food, now further compounded by human military activities.

Finnish reindeer herder Utaira noted, “The lichen pastures are continuously being destroyed, with off-road vehicles entering the area and tanks trampling our lichen fields. Additionally, if thousands of people come here to trample, it will put a tremendous burden on the lichen fields.”

Currently, Finland has 57 reindeer grazing areas, raising a total of 184,000 reindeer, accounting for 36% of the country's area. Among the over 4,300 reindeer herders, nearly 30% are from the indigenous Sámi community. Reindeer farming is a primary economic source for Sámi people and a vital symbol of their traditional culture.

Faced with the dual pressures of climate change and military activities, an increasing number of Finnish reindeer herders are shifting from natural pasturing to captivity, replacing natural lichen with artificial feed to maintain their farming practices. Balancing national security and the reindeer farming economy will be a challenge for the Finnish government moving forward.