Six reasons why Białowieża Forest is so precious
Site Guide General Information Six reasons the forest is so precious Why this patch of lowland Poland is one of the most important wild places left in Europe. 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 […]
The crazy management system of Białowieża Forest
Site Guide General Information The forest management system How Białowieża is divided, managed and argued over — the politics behind the trees. Understanding Białowieża Forest’s crazy management system is essential for any visitor to the forest. One would expect a natural wonder like this to be protected in its entirety as a national park. However, […]
A brief tourist guide to Białowieża Forest
Site Guide Getting Started A brief tourist overview What to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in the 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 […]
10 Reasons to visit Białowieża Forest
Site Guide General Information Ten reasons to visit The case for making the journey — biodiversity, history, landscape and the unexpected. Białowieża Forest is a special place. It is one of Europe’s natural wonders – a primeval landscape and biodiversity hotspot. Here’s 10 reasons why you should choose it for your next adventure. It’s the […]
The story of the bison of Białowieża Forest
Site Guide Plants & Animals The story of the European bison How the European bison went from extinction in the wild to roaming the forest once more. Europe’s biggest animal once roamed Europe’s vast primeval landscapes from Russia to Spain. But over the past millenium, the expanding human population drove its precipitous decline. People cut […]
The Scientific Consensus Against Logging
Similarly to the worldwide narrative amongst climate deniers, the Polish government like to portray the scientific community as lacking consensus on the recent expansion of logging in Białowieża Forest. Simply put, this does not face up to scrutiny. The scale of opposition to the logging has become overwhelming, and there is a consensus: logging in […]
A selection of mushrooms in Białowieża Forest
Frequently asked questions Are there good mushrooms to pick in Białowieża Forest? Białowieża Forest is exceptional for fungi, with hundreds of species recorded — many dependent on the ancient deadwood that characterises old-growth forest. Autumn (September–October) is peak season for edible species. Some areas of the forest are open for personal foraging. What makes Białowieża […]
The story and science behind the legal battle to save Europe’s last primeval forest
Site Guide History & Conservation The 2017 logging conflict How a chainsaw standoff put Białowieża on the front pages of the world’s media. Białowieża Forest in northeastern Poland 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 […]
Białowieża Protest Walk
The whole of Białowieża Primeval Forest should be a national park. Today we walked through the forest to protest against the government’s illegal logging. People came from all over Poland, and all walks of life to show their support for enlarging the national park. With the latest opinion polls showing that 2/3rds of Polish society […]