NORTH WIND LAPLAND: A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TOURISM COMPANY

NORTH WIND LAPLAND is a SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE COMPANY founded in 2025 by four local entrepreneurs from Ylläsjärvi. Each of us brings previous entrepreneurial experience, a strong background in the tourism industry, and—most importantly—a shared love for the village of Ylläsjärvi and the wider Ylläs area. 

We established North Wind Lapland to build on our strengths while staying true to our core values: respect for local traditions, a deep commitment to the environment, and an active social role in strengthening the Ylläsjärvi community.

As part of this commitment, we actively participate in projects that support the development and vitality of the village and reinvest profits and resources into village development. For us, tourism is not just a business—it is a way to give back to the place we call home.

Nestled at the foot of Fell Ylläs in Finnish Lapland, Ylläsjärvi is a small but vibrant village of about 400 inhabitants surrounded by lakes, marshlands, rivers and the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. Read more about the village at Ylläsjärvi webpage (webpages maintained by one of our owners, Johanna).

Giving Back to Lapland: Volunteering with North Wind Lapland in Ylläsjärvi

Our beautiful nature and local culture come with responsibilities. Clean lakes, healthy ecosystems, safe and well-maintained public spaces, and strong community ties are what make the village livable both for year-round residents and the many visitors who come. 

As a social entrepreneur rooted in Ylläsjärvi, North Wind Lapland takes on voluntary projects that preserve, restore, and build, generating both environmental benefit and social cohesion.

Here’s a closer look at one of the voluntary projects North Wind Lapland took part in last summer together with Ylläsjärvi Village Association:

One of the most ambitious and important parts of our voluntary work at North Wind Lapland is the restoration of Ylläsjärvi and its water catchment areas. While most of our waters are still exceptionally pure — many lakes and streams are drinkable straight from nature — decades of human activity, settlement, and construction have altered some of the smaller streams and ditches that flow into Ylläsjärvi. These changes have led to increased turbidity, humus loads, and sediment washing into the lake, slowly weakening its ecological state.

To address this, we have been working with environmental experts to map the Ylläsjärvi catchment area and identify the streams and inflows most in need of restoration. Based on these surveys, we are implementing several nature-based water treatment solutions:

• Filtration and sedimentation ponds in inflow ditches: We construct small ponds where water flowing into the lake can slow down. As the water rests, sediments and organic matter (humus) settle at the bottom rather than washing directly into the lake. This significantly improves the clarity and quality of water entering Ylläsjärvi. In the summer 2026 we will construct a new filtration pond close to our safari office.

• Biological filter bundles: In certain ditches, we install biological filter bundles made of natural materials, such as tied branches or brushwood. These bundles act like living filters, capturing particles, reducing humus levels, and supporting microbial processes that further clean the water before it reaches the lake.

• Targeted site restoration: Not every ditch needs intervention. That’s why we work with specialists to assess the entire catchment area, prioritize the most problematic inflows, and apply the right restoration method for each site. This makes our work both effective and sustainable.

• Conservation Fishing / Selective Harvest Fishing of Unwanted Species: We carry out conservation fishings, that is, selective fishing to remove certain fish species (often low-value or “nuisance” species, in Ylläsjärvi it means Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua) and Roach (Rutilus rutilus)) from the lake to improve the ecological balance. Removing species that disproportionately feed on plankton or compete with desirable fish helps reduce internal nutrient loading, supports healthier growth of aquatic plants, improves water clarity, and enhances the habitat for fish species valued by locals and anglers.

• Cutting / Harvesting of Aquatic Plants: Overgrowth of aquatic plants can sometimes choke parts of lakes, hinder boating, swimming, or natural shoreline processes. By carefully trimming or cutting excess aquatic vegetation, we help maintain open water where needed, ensure healthy plant diversity, and keep the lake usable and beautiful.

Together these measures make a meaningful difference. Cleaner inflow water means less sedimentation, clearer swimming areas, healthier fish stocks, and a more resilient aquatic ecosystem. Over time, such actions help restore Ylläsjärvi’s natural balance and ensure the lake remains an asset for both local people and visitors.

Beyond physical work, much volunteering is about being part of the governance and social structure of the village: organising meetings, representing community interests in municipal concerns, advocating for needed services or environmental protection, keeping channels open between residents, local government, and other entities. Especially Johanna - one of our owners - has a key role in improving the state of the lake & planning and financing new projects for the village.