Background Finland’s Lapland region contains numerous important but endangered natural habitats. The EU’s Natura 2000 programme designated 46 of them to be protected or restored to support biodiversity. The Simojoki river in southern Lapland is one area identified for conservation under the programme. It has survived in a near-natural state as one of Finland’s last undammed mid-size river systems. Most others have been harnessed for hydro-electric power. Its waters are characterised by being low in nutrients, with water levels varying greatly by seasons and freezing in winter. The river runs 193 km into the Gulf of Bothnia and contains rapids along 32 km of its course. It is popular with canoeists and fishermen. Important natural salmon habitats are found there and it is a breeding ground for trout, whitefish and river lamprey. The Simojoki’s eco-system has been threatened in several ways. Parts were cleared by the forestry industry in the 1940s, 50s and 60s to assist floating of logs, thus altering the flow and significantly impacting on the area’s biodiversity. The quality of the water has been harmed by scatterings of small housing settlements along the river banks and drainage of peatlands for extraction and of bogs for forestry. Objectives The Simojoki LIFE project was based around a restoration plan drafted in 2001 with financial support from the EU Structural Fund. The two municipalities in the river’s catchment area were involved as partners, as were the regional forestry centre and two peat producers. The objective was to rehabilitate the Simojoki and restore its favourable conservation status through ecological restoration and enhanced water-protection measures in the catchment area. A central aim was to improve educational and recreational use of the area and develop opportunities for tourism. As a member of the Water Framework Directive Working Group, the beneficiary also had the objective of using the Directive’s procedures to monitor ecological status for the first time in a Natura 2000 area in Finland. Experiences would be shared within the Working Group. The project aimed to encourage farmers to reduce pollution from agriculture, to monitor compliance of the forestry industry with pollution controls and to change these if necessary. It also hoped to identify new use for former peat areas and to address waste pollution from settlements. Results All the most important areas of the Simojoki were successfully restored. By the project end, the river’s ecological status was reported as “very good” . Salmon reproduction increased, and recreational use of the river increased bringing benefits to the local economy. Two pilot buffer zones were established to protect the waters from agricultural impact; and re-use options were drawn up for two peat-extraction areas. Project work began by mapping the river’s ecological status including hydrology, morphology, water quality, shore vegetation, bottom fauna, microhabitats and fish populations. The river was found to contain pearl mussels and these were included in considerations. Ecological improvement resulted in 61 rapids over 24.5 km being restored. Measures such as providing new spawning grounds through graveling, use of stones and creation of pools resulted in significant diversity of habitats. Particular focus was on salmon and trout, but work also helped other species groups such as water mosses and bottom fauna. Salmon reproduction increased immediately and results indicate the number of young salmon may increase by between 5 000 and 7 000 a year. Restoration of the rapids has greatly increased the area’s appeal to fishermen and canoeists. The World Flyfishing Championships were held there in 2007 and a river tourism guide was produced providing classification of the rapids for canoeists. Surveys of water-protection measures by the forestry industry discovered some major deficiencies including poor planning of filtration pools and lack of surface draining fields. The beneficiary and partners believed that education was crucial and organised a conference to disseminate findings to foresters. The mapping and improvement of waste-water management in scattered settlements presented a challenge. The project team talked to 40% of the 1 100 households not on mains waste-water drainage and found that 30% do not have any filtration system. By 2014, all waste water will have to be directed to tanks under local law. Two peat mining areas were studied to establish options for re-use after the extraction period – usually 20 years in Lapland. Soil samples were analysed and data collected showing the area before mining began. The resulting recommendations for re-use included re-humidification of mires, creation of wetlands and grasslands and use for game. The project also identified areas where the river could be protected from nutrient leakage from agriculture by use of buffer zones. Farmers in the pilot areas were encouraged to apply for economic support to introduce protection zones, although take-up of this possibility has been slow due largely to bureaucracy and inadequate compensation. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report, brochure and guide (see "Read more" section).