Pulju: Project & Wilderness
Pulju wilderness area
The Pulju Wilderness Area is a significant 56,351-hectare Natura 2000 protected area in Northern Finland, located within the municipalities of Kittilä (70%) and Enontekiö (30%). The area represents a unique transition zone between the northern forest wilderness of Kittilä and the sparse timberline forests of Enontekiö (ELY Centre, 2023).
The landscape is dominated by large wetlands, numerous hills, and flat fells, with the highest being Puljutunturi in the southern part, rising to 471.5 meters above sea level. The area is particularly significant as a conservation site for boreal alpine nature, combining fell heaths, mountain birch forests, and the northernmost natural forests and aapa mires (Metsähallitus, 2018).
Photo: Marja Rauhala
The main objectives of establishing the wilderness area are to preserve its wilderness character and to safeguard Sámi culture and traditional livelihoods. The area is important for reindeer husbandry and is used by the Näkkälä, Kyrö, and Kuivasalmi reindeer herding cooperatives. The Enontekiö portion is part of the Sámi homeland (Metsähallitus, 2018).
The Pulju Wilderness Area is classified as a remote zone, meaning that visitors are not actively directed to the area and no new service infrastructure is being built. The area has only a few hiking structures, such as wilderness huts, an earth lodge, and a lean-to shelter, which are maintained in usable condition (Metsähallitus, 2018).
Kuva: Sanna Sukuvaara, 2025
The area's significant natural values include diverse bird life with several endangered and rare species. Special mention goes to the arctic fox, which is present in the alpine part of the area. The area also contains important protected habitat types, such as boreal natural forests, aapa mires, and fell heaths (ELY Centre, 2023).
In 2024, the area's natural values have faced new challenges in the form of mineral exploration projects. These projects have raised concerns among local residents and environmentalists, as their implementation could significantly impact the area's natural values, water systems, and local livelihoods such as reindeer herding and tourism (Lapin Kansa, 2024).
Photo: Nordic Resources 2025
Pulju procet
The Pulju Project is a large mineral exploration project in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt, covering a 240 square kilometer area. Nordic Resources' exploration area is located in a geologically similar region to Anglo American's significant Sakatti copper-nickel-PGE deposit. The project's primary goal is to explore and potentially exploit nickel ore deposits.
A significant mineral reserve has been discovered, comprising 133 million tons of ore containing 0.21% nickel and 0.01% cobalt. The total production potential is estimated to be much larger, ranging from 275-415 million tons of ore. The company currently holds exploration rights over 46 square kilometers and plans to continue mineral exploration through deep drilling up to 1,500 meters in depth. Particularly promising deposits have been observed in the Hotinvaara area, where previous studies have shown significant nickel concentrations.
Photo: Drilling tracks at Hotinvaara, 2024
Potential Environmental Impacts
Nature and Biodiversity
The implementation of the Pulju Project as a mining operation would cause significant environmental impacts in the area. The project would endanger the pristine ecosystem of the Pulju wilderness area and threaten endangered species, including the Arctic fox and several rare bird species. Mining activities would negatively affect protected habitat types, such as boreal natural forests and aapa mires, the preservation of which has been a key objective of the area's protection.
Water System Effects
Mining would pose a significant risk to the water quality of the Ounasjoki River and its tributaries. This would particularly threaten the ongoing salmon restoration project and could impact the area's fish populations more broadly. Additionally, mining would likely affect groundwater quality and quantity, with far-reaching consequences for the region's ecosystems.
Social and Economic Impacts
Mining would bring significant harm to reindeer herding and other traditional livelihoods. Particularly concerning is the project's impact on traditional Sámi livelihoods and culture, as the area is part of the traditional Sámi homeland. The tourism industry's operating conditions would be significantly weakened as the area's pristine wilderness character would change. Local residents' living environment would undergo fundamental changes affecting both livelihoods and quality of life.
Long-term Effects
After mining operations cease, the area would be left with significant environmental risks and waste challenges. Landscape changes would be permanent, with no guarantees of ecosystem restoration. Mining would affect future generations' opportunities to utilize the area for both traditional livelihoods and recreational purposes. Particularly alarming is that many of these impacts would be practically irreversible.
Klikkaa tästä ja aloita kirjoittamaan. Ipsum quia dolor sit amet consectetur adipisci velit sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem ut.
Photo: Pulju Wilderness area from Hotinvaara, 2024
Summary
The Pulju Project represents a significant mining venture with considerable economic potential. Simultaneously, it poses a serious threat to the area's natural values and traditional livelihoods. The project's location near multiple protected areas makes it especially problematic from an environmental perspective. The impacts of mining would extend across a wide area and would be partially irreversible.
Especially concerning is the project's location in a wilderness area protected by special legislation, and its potential effects on the Ounasjoki River ecosystem and regional tourism. Reconciling mining operations with nature conservation and traditional livelihoods in this area appears extremely challenging. The project's progression would require a thorough environmental impact assessment and extensive societal dialogue about the area's future.