Although the Polish government insists it is following a European Union court ruling that ordered a stop to logging in the Bialowieza forest, it continues to cut trees — for the purpose of "public safety."
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/V. Gera
Advertisement
Poland has reacted coolly to a warning it must immediately stop logging in the forest, admitting that it wants to avoid fines but also claiming its actions are entirely lawful.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ), based in Luxembourg, said on Monday that the country will be fined €100,000 ($118,000) per day if it does not stop large-scale logging in the ancient forest, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Jan Szyszko, environment minister for Poland, was dismissive and unclear when asked whether the government would follow the order. When questioned during a conference, he simply replied: "Why are you talking about logging?" Meanwhile, speaking to radio Wnet, he claimed the government "100 percent" fulfills the tribunal's recommendations.
The minister said there is no risk Poland will have to pay the fine, as it already observes EU law and the court's decision. He reiterated that any tree-cutting actions in Bialowieza are for the safety of visitors.
The EU had said: "Poland must immediately cease its active forest management operations in the Bialowieza Forest, except in exceptional cases where they are strictly necessary to ensure public safety."
#SaveBialowieza forest in Poland
03:18
This browser does not support the video element.
Poland's actions hinge on interpretation of the word "necessary" — Szyszko considers the term "logging" to be an unsuitable description of actions in Bialowieza. Instead, the ministry has referred to "sanitary cutting" or "actions taken."
The government has argued that its actions would help stop an unprecedented bark beetle outbreak that harms spruce trees. It would also ensure the safety of people strolling in the forest, where trees have been weakened, the government previously said.
This stance is fiercely disputed by activists, who have been in an ongoing battle with the government since it decided to triple the amount of logging allowed in the Bialowieza forest in March 2016.
This month, Polish police detained 22 people "for disturbing the peace" after they staged a sit-in at Poland's forest management agency. Police were also accused of using force to remove up to 50 protestors, some of whom had chained themselves to a gate.
Katarzyna Jagiello, from Greenpeace, told reporters in front of the ministry's building on Tuesday that trees from the Bialowieza Forest continued to be "logged, taken away and sold."
But Poland's Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski countered to radio RMF that the government does want to avoid losing money. "We will be doing everything to avoid the fines," he said.
ayp/sad (AP, Reuters, AFP)
Bialowieza forest: Polish treasure gets chopped down
The forest is a World Heritage Site, home to European bison and woodpeckers. Some trees are several centuries old. Still, the Polish government continues to log there
Image: picture-alliance/NurPhoto/M. Luczniewski
Pest control - or profit?
In March 2016, the Polish government decided to triple the amount of logging allowed in the Bialowieza forest. Since then, at least 10,000 trees have been felled. The government says the reason for the deforestation was to fight an infestation of bark beetles. But scientists say the insects only affect conifers. Critics say pest control is just a cover for those who stand to benefit economically.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/W. Radwanski
The alleged 'baddie'
The bark beetle loves to eat spruce, which is known as the queen of the conifers. But scientists say we shouldn't fell spruce trees, even if they're infected with beetles. They provide a habitat for worms, insects and fungi, and the dead tree trunks are used as nesting sites by woodpeckers.
Image: Imago/S. Schellhorn
A large scale operation
The Bialowieza forest spans Poland and Belarus. 35 percent of the forest on the Polish side of the border is made up of protected national parks and nature reserves. The government says logging only happens in cultivated areas, rather than natural old-growth forest. But activists say the clearance is far more extensive.
Image: picture-alliance/AA/O.Marques
Last of its kind
The European bison is the last surviving species of wild cattle on the continent - and the Bialowieza forest is home to Europe’s largest free-roaming herd. As early as 1795, the Russian Tsar put the area under strict protection. Poachers were even sentenced to death by poisoning.
Image: imago
Colorful inhabitant
The Syrian woodpecker is one of 1,200 animal species living in the forest. Originally from the Middle East, it arrived in Europe around a century ago with a taste for cherries and nuts.
For hundreds of years, the 150,000-hectare forest was left in peace. And it should stay that way, environmentalists say. The Polish government has closed off the logging area in an attempt to avoid disturbances from activists. And police and forest management security personnel supervise any protests to make sure activists don't chain themselves to the machinery.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/K. Maj
A warning from the EU
The clearing of Bialowieza forest has also become an issue outside of Poland. Recently, activists in Berlin protested against it. Now even the EU is getting involved, warning that logging activity may be added to the ongoing EU treaty violation proceedings against Poland if the country doesn't stick to the commission's deforestation ban.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Zinken
Trees are friends
This young man's method of protesting won't get him into trouble. But seven other activists have arrested after interfering with wood harvesters. They face penalties and imprisonment due to a "breach of the peace".
