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Voluntary protected areas around hydro plants

The properties around Vattenfall’s hydropower plants hold high biodiversity values as they are not impacted by operations.

Short facts

Sweden (Luleälven and Dalälven), Finland
Fairy slipper, moonwort, lady’s slipper, and witches cauldron
Preserve and manage biodiversity, enhance recreational values
Continuous

To protect rare and endangered species, Vattenfall has established voluntary protected areas with unique biodiversity values.

River and woods near Älvkarleby hydro power plant

There are four protected areas in northern Sweden along the river Luleälven and one along the river Dalälven called “Kungsådran Älvkarleby.” These areas host botanical species like the fairy slipper, moonwort, lady’s slipper, and witches cauldron.

The initiative aims to preserve biodiversity and enhance recreational values by improving access, putting up information signs, building a bird tower, and adding interpretive signs at path crossings to inform and guide visitors to the species that can be spotted along the walk.

At our largest power plant in Finland, Pamilo, located in the eastern part of the country, Vattenfall has protected approximately 485 hectares of land on islands in lake Koitere since 2001. The protection prevents tree felling and all forms of construction, but allows people to use the land for recreational purposes.

More about biodiversity

Biodiversity and nature protection are a priority at Vattenfall. It is one of the focus areas in our environmental policy and therefore also a central part in our environmental work.