Carl Österlin

Carl Österlin is a Research Fellow at SEI Headquarters – Rights and Equity Team, Resources, Rights and Development Division.

Carl’s research broadly focuses on landscape change and management of natural resources, often with a spatial perspective.  A particular research interest are impacts on traditional Sámi reindeer herding from climate change and natural resource extraction. His research often has a collaborative approach working together with, for example, reindeer herding communities. Carl’s research also engages in the debate on dilemmas and trade-offs relating to the concept of a green transition in the Arctic and European North.

Current research projects (CIA Sápmi – Formas) focus on development of climate impact assessments together with Sámi reindeer herding communities, as well as on critical assessments of discourses on ‘overstocking’ and ‘encroachments’ (Overstocking or Encroachments? – Formas) in the reindeer herding area of Sweden and Norway.

Carl has a background in geography, land use planning, GIS and systems analysis. Before joining SEI Carl worked as a researcher at the department of Physical Geography at Stockholm University. In addition to his research Carl has also lectured, supervised students and developed courses. He holds a PhD in Physical Geography and an MSc in Environmental Management and Physical Planning, both from the department of Physical Geography at Stockholm University.