How will Poland’s new anti-migrant border wall impact the environment?
This article first appeared on the Notes from Poland news portal. Since summer last year, Poland’s border with Belarus has been the scene of a man-made migration crisis created by the Belarusian regime. In response, the Polish government has constructed a five-metre-high wall along around half of the frontier to stymie the flow of those […]
Our new paper: Badgers remain fearless in the face of simulated wolf presence near their setts
Badgers remain fearless in the face of simulated wolf presence near their setts. So suggests our new paper published today in the journal Ecology & Evolution. In this study we investigated whether badgers vary their denning behaviour after perceiving wolves near their setts. We wanted to explore whether the transient presence of wolves shapes badger […]
The tree communities of Białowieża Forest
As you pass through the ancient woods, take care to note how the scene changes: even a short walk can take you through several different forest types. Europe has transformed most forests so as to maximise their profitability – draining their soils, logging their trees, and planting monocultures of fast-growing conifers. By contrast, Białowieża has […]
Poland to restart logging in Białowieża Primeval Forest
Straddling the Polish-Belarussian border in northeastern Poland, Białowieża Forest is the last of the vast primeval forest that once stretched across the European lowlands. Strictly protected for centuries by royalty as a private hunting ground, it is now a living museum of ancient natural processes replete with species extinct elsewhere. Yet despite this special status, […]
Wolves in Białowieża Forest
How are the wolves in Białowieża Forest and where can they be found? These are the most common questions I get asked by visitors to the forest. The wolves here are some of the best studied in the world, making the answers to these questions lengthy but fascinating. In this article I’ll run you through […]
Where to find the best-preserved parts of Białowieża Primeval Forest
The past century of logging has transformed Białowieża Primeval Forest into a mosaic of natural and plantation forest. Fortunately there’s still plenty of natural (primeval) forest to see. But to find it, it’s critical that you know where to go. In this post I’ll briefly explain how this mosaic came about, and then how to […]
We recorded a bear in Białowieża Forest!
This beauty is the first bear ever filmed in Białowieża Forest. He stumbled onto one of our experimental plots last Friday. We’re over the moon as it’s the first bear documented in Białowieża Forest in over 50 years. Bears went extinct here at the end of the 19th century due to over-hunting. Apart from a […]
Six reasons why Białowieża Forest is so precious
Białowieża Primeval Forest has been described as Europe’s Serengeti or Great Barrier Reef.Yet in most circles, the forest remains little known outside Poland. This needs to change, for as long as it remains obscure, it’ll be over-logged and under-protected. This article will touch upon a few reasons for why the forest is so precious. 1. […]
The crazy management system of Białowieża Forest
Understanding Białowieża Forest’s crazy management system is essential knowledge for any visitor to to the forest. Not only will understanding the various zones help you find your way around, but it’ll help put the recent logging conflicts into context. (Basically, logging still occurs due to the lack of a national park over the whole forest […]
A brief tourist guide to Białowieża Forest
Białowieża Primeval Forest is one of Europe’s premiere natural wonders, and visitors are always eager to get stuck in and experience the forest’s prehistoric landscapes. But making the most out of a visit can be harder than many imagine. New arrivals often become bewildered, and begin asking, where are the special parts of the natural […]