The Tsiuttajoki conservation area, an old forest on a sandy soil enlivened with its waterways, lies in two parts. The oldest section is the most significant, this primeval Tsiuttajoki forest of approximately 80 hectares being acquired with donations from a fund-raising campaign of the Pelimetsä project(link is external). The younger section, which is made up of approximately 40 hectares, is located slightly apart from the old section by Lake Tsiuttajärvi, including a long shoreline into the lake and its delta.

The primeval Tsiuttajoki forest is to be found in the wilderness north of Lake Inari close to the edge of an unbroken pine forest. The area is labelled by ancient pines and includes a number of ponds and puddles. Through the deal about this site, the foundation and the donors also wanted to raise awareness about the significance of the last remaining wilds of Lapland and their great need for protection.

Pelimetsä is a nature conservation project arranged by the Finnish Game Developers’ Association with many influential people and enterprises working in the field behind it. The sum donated by Pelimetsä during the first stage in 2020 – a total of almost 500 000 euros – is the largest single donation given to the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation, excluding wills.