New land lease agreement in Jämtland/Härjedalen

On December 12, 2023, the County Administrative Board of Jämtland County approved the Swedish Tourist Association's application for a renewed land lease in the western Jämtland mountains and parts of Härjedalen. The new lease agreement for STF's mountain stations and cabins on state-owned reindeer grazing land aligns with the application submitted by STF after discussions with the relevant Sami communities and the County Administrative Board. With this new agreement in place, the mountain cabins and stations were able to open as planned for the winter season in late February 2024.

On September 1, 2023, the Swedish Tourist Association submitted an application for a new lease agreement for three mountain stations and five mountain cabins on state-owned land in the western Jämtland mountains and parts of Härjedalen. The previous agreement, which expires on December 31, 2023, had been terminated by the County Administrative Board of Jämtland.

To secure a new land-use agreement, STF had to make changes following the County Administrative Board’s assessment that the extent of STF’s operations in the area has significantly disrupted reindeer herding. The new agreement has now been signed, and STF will continue to provide accommodation, self-catering facilities, and shops for hikers and skiers. However, starting in 2024, we will close the restaurant at Blåhammaren (and at Sylarna and Helags in 2028), reduce the number of beds at Sylarna and Blåhammaren, adjust opening hours, and phase out the Gåsen cabin site. Details of these changes can be found in the list below. These measures aim to minimize disturbances to the reindeer and contribute to the sustainable development of the area, while continuing to make nature experiences accessible. By taking responsibility and adapting our operations, we aim to ensure sustainable access to the mountains for outdoor recreation in the long term.

As a nonprofit organization with 228,000 members, we want to clearly demonstrate our values and let our purpose-driven compass guide us. In 2022, STF’s national assembly decided to amend the organization’s purpose clause and adopt a new visionary goal aimed at 2030. This goal emphasizes STF’s commitment to driving sustainable transitions in tourism and outdoor recreation.

The situation in Jämtland is unique and cannot be compared to the rest of the Swedish mountain range. Here, a web of trails crisscrosses the mountains, making it difficult for the reindeer to find undisturbed areas for grazing and calving. In Jämtland/Härjedalen, four of STF’s eight independently operated mountain stations are located, all within a single Sami community’s reindeer grazing area. STF built its first mountain cabin in the Jämtland mountains over 130 years ago to facilitate outdoor recreation. Today, we are taking responsibility by stepping back from the development of recent years and refocusing on the mission outlined by law, ensuring a sustainable outdoor life for at least another 130 years.

Historically, STF has unfortunately been poor at maintaining the dialogues necessary for mutual respect and cooperation. We have not been sufficiently attentive to the needs of reindeer herding, but we look forward to continuing the dialogue we have now begun. Through the changes we are implementing, we aim to create the conditions for effective collaboration in the mountains. These measures are designed to reduce disturbances and promote sustainable development of the mountain environment, primarily by lowering visitor pressure in specific areas and reducing the number of transports. While STF does not control all factors that impact reindeer, as an organization, we are committed to addressing what is within our control, regardless of what others may or may not do.

STF’s new land-use agreement for Jämtland and parts of Härjedalen, effective January 1, 2024, introduces the following changes compared to the previous agreement:

The opening periods for STF mountain stations and cabins in Jämtland and Härjedalen will be adjusted to minimize disturbance during particularly sensitive periods, such as calving.

Mountain stations and cabins in areas without road access (Sylarna, Blåhammaren, Helags, Vålåstugan, Stensdalen, Anaris, Lunndörren, and Fältjägaren) will remain open during winter from mid-February as before. However, they will close when the snowmobile ban takes effect in late April (currently April 19).
Summer openings will begin on July 1, except for STF Sylarna Mountain Station, which will open on July 15. They will remain open until early October, as before.

STF Gåsen Mountain Cabin is closing in order to create a larger area around the Bunnerfjällen mountains where reindeer—especially their calves—can have a chance to be undisturbed. This will mean fewer people moving through the area, resulting in less wear and less disturbance.

One of the buildings at the cabin site will be transferred to the Handölsdalen Sami community, as otherwise it would need to be demolished and the debris transported away, which would be costly for the association. The future of the other buildings has not yet been decided. According to an agreement with the County Administrative Board, they must be removed by 2026, and we are currently exploring the possibility of relocating the cabins to another site.

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, together with the County Administrative Board of Jämtland County, is responsible for trails and mountain safety in the area. Göran Gabling, Deputy Head of the Nature Conservation Unit at the County Administrative Board of Jämtland County, states:
“To ensure mountain safety during this winter, the County Administrative Board has arranged for a small emergency shelter to remain at the site. This is a temporary solution to ensure that information about the change has been widely communicated.”

This shelter is intended for emergencies only. If you plan to visit the area, you need to bring a tent, supplies, and have mountain experience. The area is suitable for visitors who prefer few encounters with others and who can take full responsibility for their own safety.

See the map below with safety information from the County Administrative Board of Jämtland.
Click on the map to view it in a larger format.

At STF Blåhammaren Mountain Station, we are closing the restaurant and reducing the number of beds to a total of 30 (a reduction by half). The shop and self-catering kitchen will remain, meaning it will still be possible to hike the Jämtland Triangle with a lighter pack, as you can buy food and prepare it on site.

By closing the restaurant, we reduce the need for transport, and we expect fewer campers and day visitors to be drawn to this area without the restaurant.

The number of beds will be reduced by 25%, and the restaurant will close no later than 2028. The self-catering kitchen and shop will remain, ensuring that hikers on the Jämtland Triangle can still carry lighter packs by purchasing and preparing food on-site. This change will reduce transport needs and likely decrease the number of campers and day visitors without the restaurant’s presence.

At STF Sylarna Mountain Station, the number of beds will be reduced by 25%, and the restaurant will close by 2028 at the latest. The self-catering facilities and shop will remain, meaning it will still be possible to hike the Jämtland Triangle with a lighter pack, as you can buy food and prepare it on site.

This will reduce the need for transport, and we expect fewer campers and day visitors if the same restaurant offering is no longer available.

At STF Helags Mountain Station, the restaurant will close by 2028 at the latest. The self-catering facilities and shop will remain, meaning it will still be possible to buy provisions and prepare your own meals on site.

This will reduce the need for transport, and we expect fewer campers and day visitors if the same restaurant offering is no longer available.

For the mountain cabins Skedbro and Rogen in southern Härjedalen, the County Administrative Board approved STF’s new land use agreement on 4 July 2024. The new agreement is valid until 31 December 2028 and entails unchanged conditions regarding bed capacity, opening periods, and service levels compared to the previous agreement.

Ruvhten Sijte, the Sami community with reindeer grazing rights in the area, is in a highly vulnerable situation, having lost grazing land both in Norway and in Härjedalen, and facing fines each time their reindeer enter former grazing areas. Following dialogue with the Sami community, STF recognises the seriousness of their situation and has great understanding for it. We have communicated to authorities and the Government Offices that it is necessary to find a solution. However, it is important to emphasise that the state and the relevant authorities are responsible for supporting the Sami community and addressing issues related to lost grazing land.

According to both STF’s assessment and the decision by the County Administrative Board, our operations in the area do not constitute a significant disturbance to reindeer husbandry. We will continue to work with consideration and dialogue with Sami communities and local residents, striving to operate in harmony with wildlife, nature, and the people who live in the area.

From dialogue to approval

In 2021, the County Administrative Board signaled the need to renegotiate the agreement expiring at the end of 2023 with updated conditions. Since then, STF and the four affected Sami communities — Handölsdalen, Tåssåsen, Mittådalen, and Ruvhten Sijte – have engaged in discussions to shape the new terms to minimize disturbances to the reindeer.

STF’s member-elected board played a key role throughout the process. A strategic group within the board was established early on to outline the framework for dialogue and negotiation. The board addressed the issue at every meeting and appointed an operational task force to conduct the dialogue with the Sami communities. The task force included Peter Fredman from STF’s board, Carl Johan Ingeström (with extensive local knowledge from his time as site manager at STF Storulvån), and Maria Ros-Hjelm, STF’s Secretary General, who led the group. The group held several meetings and personal dialogues with the Sami communities, aiming to find a solution that promotes sustainable development in this highly valued but sensitive natural and cultural environment

Over the two years of negotiations, STF kept its members informed through newsletters, national assemblies, the website, and the member magazine Turist.

On December 12, 2023, the County Administrative Board of Jämtland County approved STF’s application for renewed land use in the western Jämtland mountains and parts of Härjedalen. The new lease agreement for STF’s mountain stations and cabins on state-owned reindeer grazing land aligns with the application submitted by STF after extensive dialogue with the Sami communities and the County Administrative Board.