Storlandet is just over 40,000 hectares in size, between Granlandet nature reserve and the Råne River in Gällivare and Boden.

Hanna Persson is a reindeer herder in Gällivare forest Sami village. She guides SVT Sápmi's reporter around the area.

"It feels like a disaster if there is a wind farm here. I don't know how you can conduct reindeer husbandry in the way we have conducted it in the middle of an industrial landscape," she says.

It is rich in hanging lichen in this forest. It is important for reindeer husbandry – especially now that climate change has made it increasingly difficult for reindeer to graze from the ground. In the past, they could more easily reach the pasture under the snow. But today, as winter weather alternates between rain and snow, the surface of the ground freezes more and more often and the pasture is hidden under the impenetrable ice.

Then the reindeer need the hanging lichen that grows in the trees. But it is only found in old untouched forest like this one.

A new round of consultations

Vattenfall has reduced the size of the investigation area since the last round of consultations three years ago. The wind farm has met with strong criticism and in order to find solutions, several consultations are being held with various stakeholders, the public and the two municipalities.

Vattenfall has reduced the area now, can you not consult on a solution?

"That's good, but it's a minimal reduction. Of course, we take part in the consultations. But it doesn't feel like it's on equal terms. They want to build and we should be careful," says Hanna Persson.

She continues:

"With the wind turbines, there is a lot of infrastructure in the form of roads and power lines. And all companies see their area separately, you do not see the big picture, but it is a park here, a park there and test drilling by mining companies. It is being pushed on from all sides.

Listening for the barks of reindeer

Hanna Persson has followed the reindeer in the forest since she was little. She stops the scooter and raises another concern, the sound. During the bare season, you can find the reindeer in the forest by listening for the reindeer that carry barks.

"How are we supposed to listen for the barks of 370 wind turbines that make noise?