Protecting what nature? The (mis)recognition of Sámi traditional knowledge in the Finnish Nature Conservation Act reform

Abstract: The importance of indigenous knowledges has been acknowledged in biodiversity conservation, but practical engagement with them in decision-making is still lacking. In this thesis, I study this contradiction in the context of Finland and the indigenous Sámi. By conducting a case study on how Sámi traditional knowledge (STK) is addressed in the ongoing Nature Conservation Act reform, I politicize Finnish biodiversity conservation and expose dynamics of Sámi (mis)recognition. Based on a content analysis of policy documents and expert interviews, I find that although the law reform is characterized as progressive, it is only a first step towards recognizing STK in Finnish legislation and as such inadequate. Through a critical analysis of political ecology, I argue that Sámi recognition is only possible if the difference of the Sámi worldview is taken seriously and STK is appreciated as valid knowledge. This must translate into concrete practices to incorporate Sámi perspectives into decision-making.