Boreal forests in northern Fennoscandia are critical for carbon sequestration and the survival of reindeer herds. However, decades of rotation forestry have degraded these ecosystems, reducing the lichen growth essential for Sámi pastoralism and lowering the land's overall carbon storage capacity. New restoration strategies, including high-intensity thinning and prescribed burning, aim to balance commercial wood production with ecological health. These efforts align with EU nature restoration laws to protect biodiversity and maintain indigenous land rights while increasing the resilience of northern forests against climate change.
