PROFILE OF THE PILOT REGIONS SORSELE AND STORUMAN SWEDEN
PopulationThere are 10,129 residents in the municipalities of Storuman and Sorsele, of which 6,934 live in Storuman and 3,195 in Sorsele. The population has steadily decreased since 1974, in Storuman by 15 % and in Sorsele by 21 %. By contrast to the overall decrease, however, the tourist towns of Tärnaby, Hemavan, Ammarnäs have been successful in maintaining a more or less stable population level. EmploymentThe public sector is the largest employer with about 40 % in both
municipalities. In 2000, 245 people were unemployed in
Storuman and
72 in Sorsele. Compared with the country at large, twice as many
people work within farming and forestry in Storuman and Sorsele.
Tourism has grown into a very Reindeer herding is an important business in the Ammarnäs area, involving more than one third of the population (about 115 people). The service industry is dependent both on reindeer herding and on tourism for its survival. Norwegian border trade is also significant, especially in recent times and mainly in the Tärnaby/Hemavan area. Nature and cultureThe pilot areas cover 9,000 km2, most of which is public land in the municipality of Sorsele. It is covered in snow for approximately 200 to 225 days a year and the average temperature is 0.3 C◦. There is a variety of landscapes; high mountain plateaux with glaciers, mountain coniferous woodlands, sub-alpine birch forests, mires, willow shrubs, steep slopes, lakes and rivers of different sizes. Both the natural resources and the Sami culture are unique and of high value. Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve is an important part of the pilot areas. The reserve is Sweden’s largest and one of the largest in Europe. Land use
Small game and moose hunting is carried out throughout the region. There are three main categories of hunters: the reindeer-herding Sami, mountain residents and tourists (mainly small game). When hunting licences are issued for use on public land, reindeer herding and the Sami’s own hunting must be considered. Hunting may be permitted if it can take place without being troublesome or intrusive on the Sami’s own hunting grounds. Finally, it should not disturb reindeer herding. The local fish includes some attractive species such as salmon trout, char, lake white fish and grayling. Traditionally, mountain fishing is considered to be very high quality and the individual fisherman must be experienced to be successful. Four categories of fishing can be identified in the region: fishing for household needs for members of the Sami villages, fishing for household needs for the local population, recreational fishing for the local population and recreational fishing for tourists. The different groups of fishermen compete for the fish. Recreational fishing is a significant leisure activity. The growing interest for mountain fishing has resulted in strong pressure on fishing rights’ owners to increase access for recreational fishing. Summer and winter trails cut through the pilot areas. Hikers use
some of them during the summer and autumn, while other trails are
used by cross country skiers and snowmobiles in the winter. A few
trails are used both during the summer and the winter. Downhill
skiing facilities are also well developed in the region, especially
in Tärnaby/Hemavan.
Riding snowmobiles is both a growing recreational sport and an important means for transport. There are basically no restrictions on operating snowmobiles in the mountains as long as the ground is snow-covered. Meanwhile, the national government has prohibited snowmobiles in several designated areas. Within these areas, the County Administration allows snowmobiles on specially marked trails. Snowmobile traffic affects the environment in several ways and careful planning is needed to address the increase in snowmobile traffic in the mountain region to minimise damage, while still being able to take advantage of its benefits. |
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The two pilot areas have much in common and are presented
together. 
