Koitajoki Watershed

Restoration Landscapes | Finland

Reviving ecosystems and cultural traditions in southeast Finland.

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Project Overview

The Koitajoki Watershed in southeast Finland is a vast network of peatlands, lakes, rivers and boreal forests that supports species such as whitefish, golden eagle and the world’s only landlocked Atlantic salmon. The area is also rich in cultural history. It is the birthplace of the Kalevala oral poetry tradition, which forms Finland’s founding myth and national epic, and home to a unique fishing tradition called river seining, with high cultural and ecological significance.

Despite its ecological and cultural importance, the watershed has been degraded by hydropower dams, extensive logging, mining and peatland drainage. The Koitajoki project is restoring ecological connectivity and function across this unique catchment, creating aquatic and forest corridors and re-wetting extensive areas of boreal peatland to benefit biodiversity, carbon storage and water quality.

Project location:

Koitajoki River Basin, Finland

Lead partner:

Snowchange Cooperative

Grant duration:

Ongoing since 2022

Landscape size:

650,000 ha

Key habitats:

Peatlands, rivers, lakes, small streams, taiga boreal forest areas

Focal species:

Lake-bound Atlantic salmon, brown trout, grayling, whitefish, golden eagle, rock ptarmigan, Lobaria pulmonaria (a large epiphytic lichen), Sphagnum aongstroemii, northern pintail, wood sandpiper

Ecosystem services:

Carbon sequestration, water purification, flood mitigation, cultural heritage, local livelihoods

Why this place matters

Koitajoki retains large tracts of old-growth forest, undisturbed mires and pristine lakes that serve as refuges for wildlife like reindeer.

The Koitajoki River Basin forms part of a cross-border river system between Finland and Russia, containing some of the most ecologically and culturally significant habitats in the boreal biome. Peatlands and floodplain forests act as carbon sinks, while lakes and rivers provide vital spawning areas for fish species and habitats for threatened birds and mammals.

However, the watershed has been heavily altered by the construction of three hydroelectric power plants that diverted sections of the lower river and blocked salmon migration routes. Extensive peatland drainage for forestry and industry has further damaged the hydrology, while logging and mining have fragmented forests and polluted waterways.

Despite these pressures, Koitajoki retains large tracts of old-growth forest, undisturbed mires and pristine lakes that serve as refuges for wildlife. Local communities are strongly connected to this landscape and support restoration efforts aimed at bringing ecological and cultural renewal to the region.

Action on the ground

The project is restoring the hydrology and habitats of the Koitajoki Watershed to improve biodiversity, climate resilience and community wellbeing.

Establishing ecological corridors that connect boreal forest areas and aquatic habitats.

Engaging residents in the transition towards sustainable land use and stewardship.

Revitalising river systems by adding gravel to spawning grounds and placing timber and rocks to improve flow and habitat complexity.

Removing barriers to fish migration and initiating discussions to explore future dam removal.

of drained peatlands have been rewetted to restore natural water levels, improve biodiversity, and capture carbon.

Restoring forest ecosystems by increasing deadwood, enhancing structural diversity and removing invasive species.

Establishing ecological corridors that connect boreal forest areas and aquatic habitats.

Monitoring highlights

The project team monitors a range of indicators covering topics ranging from ecological recovery to economic impacts and community engagement. This helps to inform adaptive management.