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 Site Guide General Information Six Reasons Why Białowieża Forest Is So Precious Why this forest matters — and why it deserves far more attention than it gets. 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
Białowieża Site Guide General Information The Crazy Management System of Białowieża Forest Why Europe’s last primeval forest isn’t fully protected — and how to make sense of the patchwork of zones. Understanding Białowieża Forest’s crazy management system is essential for any visitor. One would expect a natural wonder like this to be protected in its […]
The best restaurants in Białowieża
Site Guide Getting Started Where to eat Where to eat in Białowieża village — from hearty Polish cooking to forest-foraged menus. Białowieża has a reasonable spread of restaurants for a village its size. Most serve hearty regional dishes — the standard is soup to start, then a main of meat, carbs and veg. Staples include […]
A brief tourist guide to Białowieża Forest
Białowieża 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 premier natural wonders, and visitors are always eager to get stuck in and experience the forest’s prehistoric landscapes. But making the […]
10 Reasons to visit Białowieża Forest
Białowieża Site Guide General Information Ten Reasons to Visit Białowieża Forest A primeval landscape and biodiversity hotspot — here’s why you should choose it for your next adventure. 1. It’s the last forest of its kind A vast jungle once covered Europe from the Atlantic Ocean to Russia. But over time, it was cleared to […]
The story of the bison of Białowieża Forest
Białowieża Site Guide Plants & Animals The Story of the European Bison How Europe’s largest land animal went from extinction in the wild to roaming the forest once more. The story of the European bison is perhaps the textbook example of how humans can both decimate and restore nature. Europe’s biggest animal once roamed vast […]
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 […]