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Action Alert: Save Bialowieza Forest, Europe's Last Primeval Temperate Forest
Ask the Polish government to stop exploitation of the ancient Bialowieza forest, preserve the whole complex as a national park, and end permanently extensive logging that threatens Europe's last remnant old-growth northern temperate forests
By
Forests.org, a project of Ecological Internet
-
January 6, 2008
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1.) Inform Yourself
NOTE: This is a protest, not a petition, sending emails to many real decision makers on matters vital to the Earth.
Caption:
If Europe's can't or won't protect Bialowieza Forest -- their last primeval temperate forest -- no one can; and all the world's forests, climate and biosphere are doomed (link)
Situated on the Polish/Belarussian border, the Bialowieza Forest is a
priceless relic of lowland European forests, a place where the last fragments of
primeval temperate old-growth forest on the Central European lowland have
survived. It is home to many species extinct elsewhere including the European
Bison, the largest terrestrial mammal of Europe; and also contains lynx, wolves
and other threatened wildlife and plants. Yet approximately 90% of the forest
remains unprotected.
This ancient forest cathedral is an unparalleled living museum, offering Europe
and the world a window into the past. In Bialowieza, we can still observe how
European temperate forest ecosystems functioned without human interference. The
forest's huge old trees -- with spruce as tall as 55 meters, and oaks 40 meters
tall -- inspire all generations. If humanity deserves our scientific name of
sapiens (reasonable) man, preservation of these unique qualities for the future
should be an issue of the highest priority. This vital part of European and
global historical/cultural heritage must not be lost, so we campaign yet again
on the issue.
The forest had been protected as a royal hunting ground for centuries, and it
was only after World War I that large-scale commercial logging began. The
Bialowieza National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, yet protects only
about 10% of the area, while commercial cutting continues in the rest. These 80
years of exploitative timber extraction have had a dramatic effect on the
unprotected forests, as the share of old-growth stands has dropped to less than
20%. There is no justifiable explanation for ravaging this invaluable fragment
of wilderness for the interest of just one generation. All ancient, primary
forest stands will soon be gone, and the last European primeval forest will be
only history.
The future of Bialowieza Forest lies in the hands of the Polish government which
has the legal and financial means to arrest the devastation and to preserve the
forest for the future. For many years environmental NGOs, scientists, concerned
citizens in Poland and abroad have asked successive Polish governments to
protect the forest, asking them to ban cutting of old growth and for enlargement
of the Bialowieza National Park to protect the whole forest complex. Until now
there has been little success. After the autumn elections Poland has a new
government, so Ecological Internet is trying anew. Please help influence Polish politicians by sending the protest email below.
Sample Email Sent
Please act to make Bialowieza Forest a national park
Dear Prime Minister Tusk,
I am gravely concerned with the fate of Bialowieza Forest
-- the last temperate old growth forest in Central Europe
that lies largely within Poland -- and I am writing to ask
for your personal intervention to grant the area the
strictest protections from further logging, and permanent
preserved status as a national park.
Bialowieza Forest is home to many species that are extinct
elsewhere, is vitally important for regional ecosystems
and ecological sustainablity, and is one of very few
places in Europe where 3.5 billion years of evolutionary
processes continue relatively intact.
In recent years the area's remaining primary forests'
protections and ecological condition have severely
deteriorated. Centuries old oaks and other ancient trees
continue to be cut for timber, new roads are being opened,
and only a small fragment has protection as a national
park. A strong decline in species that are dependent on
old growth and standing dead wood has already been
documented.
Continuing ecological destruction has grave implications
for your country's ecosystems -- not only forests and
biodiversity, but also climate and water. It is vital for
your nation's, Europe's and the world's ecological
sustainability that the entire forest complex including
all remaining old-growth be protected from further
logging, and preserved as an ecological blueprint for the
restoration of European natural ecosystems.
Poland has an obligation to care for its natural and
national heritage. The Bialowieza Forest is a treasure and
should be treated with the care reserved for such places.
There is no justifiable explanation for ravaging this
invaluable fragment of wilderness in the interest of one
generation. If Poland cannot protect its last wild nature
from logging, how can we expect the rest of the world to
do so?
It is my greatest hope, that you, Sir, as the Prime
Minister of Poland, will show outstanding leadership and
1) immediately stop the destruction taking place in the
Bialowieza Forest, instantly halting further logging of
old growth and conversion of relict stands into commercial
plantations, 2) declare the entire Bialowieza Forest a
national park, thus ensuring that this unique jewel of
nature will be preserved for future generations.
Thank you for your time and assistance. Your political
legacy, and Poland's ecological sustainability and
international standing, depend upon doing the right thing.
I am waiting to hear from you as quickly as possible. The
whole world is watching.
Sincerely,
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