Home > Maps > Reindeer herding districts in Finland

Map Facts

In Finland about 123 000 km2, approximately 33% of the surface of the country, is designated for reindeer herding. The area is divided into the Special Reindeer Herding Area and the Reindeer Herding Area. In the special Reindeer Herding Area, reindeer herding should be prioritised and given special attention in issues related to encroachment. Reindeer husbandry is practiced through a system of reindeer herding districts (paliskunta – bálgosat). There are 54 districts. 13 of these districts are so called Sámi districts, located in the area of theon Sámi homeland. In Finland anyone living permanently in the municipality to which the reindeer district belongs, and who is a citizen of the European Union, has the right to own reindeer – unlike the situations pertaining in Norway and Sweden such persons do not have to be Sámi. However the person must be approved as a member by a reindeer herding district.

Map ID: 0858b

The map in Finnish

The map in Norwegian

The map in Saami

Designer/Cartographer
Johanna Roto

Data source
Paliskuntain yhdistys; situation as 2/2014

Published 24 February 2015

Access the map