Unesco still defends the Polish Bialowieza forest, a World Heritage Site, which is in danger of being destroyed by the Polish government
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himUnesco still defends the Polish forest of Bialowieza, world heritage of humanity, which is in danger of being destroyed by the government of Poland.
Yesterday, at its annual session, UNESCO further urged Poland to put aside its intention to destroy it. In fact, it is threatened by the deforestation plan of the Polish government.
La bialowieza forest it is located on the border between Poland and Belarus and is made up of various primeval forests, which have never seen the hand of man since the last ice age. Conifers also grow here, covering a total area of 141.885 hectares. Located in the watershed of the Baltic and Black Seas,
"This cross-border property is exceptional for the opportunities it offers for the conservation of biodiversity," says UNESCO.
He also lives in the forest the largest population of European bison, an iconic species. The eastern border, between Poland and Belarus, boasts one unique variety of plants and animals.
The plan, authorized by the Polish government, began in May last year and has since attracted concern from environmental groups, scientists and the European Union.
For this reason, UNESCO has been keeping an eye on Poland's work for some time. But now comes a strong invitation:
"Unesco strongly urges Poland to immediately stop the extraction of wood in ancient forests", said the World Heritage Committee from Krakow, where the annual Unesco session took place.
For its part, Poland defends itself by explaining that the primeval forest should not be a UNESCO natural heritage site.
The Polish Minister for the Environment, Jan Szyszko, harshly criticized by associations for having given the green light to the clearing of this natural wonder, on Wednesday 21 June he said that the forest must be "stripped" of the title that prohibits human intervention.
The Polish government said it has cleared the logging to contain the damage caused by an infestation that hit the fir trees and to prevent forest fires.
But environmental activistsi claim that the government's explanation is used as a cover for it commercial exploitation of ancient forests.
For its part, the European Commission has imposed a ultimatum to the Polish authorities at the end of April, inviting them to abandon the plan, under penalty of being summoned by the European Court of Justice.
#Bialowieza is Poland’s most important #forest for biodiversity preservation. @UNESCO calls for stop to logging: https://t.co/I0Kabgdbg2 pic.twitter.com/AvIrnnOdTU
— Fern (@Fern_NGO) July 5, 2017
Environmental associations praised Unesco's statement:
"This vote encourages us to continue our fight," Krzysztof Cibor of Greenpeace told AFP. "We have no illusions: this does not mean that the saws will stop tomorrow in Bialowieza, but one day it will happen, I hope as soon as possible".
Natural processes and biodiversity must be protected in #Bialowieza
Forest #UNESCO urges Poland to stop #logging! Success at#41whc pic.twitter.com/1yF4GuJ33I
- Greenpeace Polska (@Greenpeace_PL) July 5, 2017
Unesco said it will send a monitoring mission to Bialowieza.
READ also:
- DESPITE THE PROTESTS, POLAND TAKES DOWN THE PRIMORDIAL FOREST OF EUROPE (PETITION)
- THIS IS HOW THE OLDEST PRIMORDIAL FOREST IN POLAND DIES
Let's cross our fingers and hope that this splendid natural creature can continue to live undisturbed, as it has done for millennia, in spite of the ferocity and greed of man.
Francesca Mancuso
