County Administrative Board approves Kaunis Iron’s restoration work
15 January 2026, 09:21 CET
The restoration work is part of Condition 40 in Kaunis Iron’s environmental permit and covers the entire area affected by the mining operations. Together with the company Pelagia, Kaunis Iron has planned and carried out measures to improve natural habitats. Forest land near the mining area has been restored to wetlands to compensate for land used by the mine.
So far, Kaunis Iron has restored about 395 hectares of wetlands and forest. This represents a large share of all wetland restoration carried out by mining companies in Sweden.
“For the Tapuli mine, the requirement is to restore 139 hectares, but the work has been carried out on a much larger scale and now covers all restoration needs in the environmental permit,” says Lars Wallgren, Environmental Manager at Kaunis Iron.
Most of the work has been done by Kaunis Iron’s own staff. This has ensured good quality and also reduced costs.
“During the project, we have tested new ideas and methods, and we can already see positive results. We hope our work can inspire other restoration projects, both locally and across Sweden,” says Lars Wallgren.
Positive effects can already be seen. Water insects, plants, birds and mosses have returned to the restored areas, showing clear environmental benefits. Over the next few years, the wetlands are expected to develop even further. Even though the County Administrative Board has approved the work, restoration activities will continue.
“Next, Kaunis Iron will continue with follow-up and monitoring. This may include additional measures, such as clearing vegetation or adjusting water levels. In the future, we are also looking at options such as raising water levels in some areas or working with local sheep farmers to support natural grazing.”
The decision from the County Administrative Board is an important confirmation of the work completed. Restoring wetlands is an important part of Kaunis Iron’s goal to run a responsible and sustainable mining operation in the Tornedalen region.