WELCOME TO THE BIAŁOWIEŻA NATIONAL PARK
Brief Description of Białowieża National Park
The Białowieża Forest is one of my favourite places in Poland. This extraordinary national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. It gained this status because it is one of the few remaining primary forests in Europe.
The natural lowland forest is found in North-East Poland on the Polish and Belarussian border. It covers about 150 000 hectares of which 10 500 hectares are protected. The forest takes its name from the small village it surrounds: Białowieża (“White Tower”.)
It is called a primeval forest because it has old growth and little human interference. The trees are native to this place and were not planted by man.
We can actually use many superlatives to describe this place!
Let’s get into it!
- It’s the oldest of the 23 national parks in Poland.
- It is one of Europe’s best preserved natural parks.
- It has the largest population of free-roaming European bisons in the world. Besides, the bison happens to be the biggest European land mammal!
- Its park hosts the oldest building in Białowieża.
- The forest has one of the richest biodiversity in Europe.
As if that wasn’t enough, you can find thousands of plant and animal species in this mixed forest that is full of coniferous and deciduous trees. Oak trees, spruce trees, hornbeams and pine trees are quite numerous there. This flora is essential for preserving the climate because it absorbs a lot of carbon compared to younger forests.
In Białowieża National Park, you will also find many dead trees that are either standing or on the ground. This wood is not removed as it serves as a precious natural habitat for different types of fungi, moss, lichens and insects such as beetles. The decaying fallen leaves and snags provide valuable nutrients for new growth.
Apart from the European bison, the other mammals that you can find here are deer, lynxes and wolves.
Impressive, isn’t it?
Would you like to know the history of this park?
Below is a detailed timeline:
- 14th century: The forest was known to be the property of King Władysław II Jagiełło.
- 1538: A law prohibited poaching of the bison. The death penalty was the punishment for the crime.
- 1541: The forest became a royal hunting reserve and was thus protected.
- 1639: The “Białowieża royal forest decree” by King Vladislaus IV granted freedom to the peasants who lived in the forest. The freed peasants became royal foresters, working for the king to preserve the forest. Other benefits included no taxes.
- 18th century: Poland was partitioned by the Russian Empire, the Habsburg Monarchy and the Kingdom of Prussia. Hence, the Polish state disappeared for 123 years. The freed foresters became serfs again working for the Russian nobility and generals. The forest was no longer protected so poaching of the bison resumed.
- 1801: Tsar Alexander I had the brilliant idea of reintroducing the reserve. He employed a few peasants to protect the forest and its bisons. This was an excellent measure because the number of bisons rose to 700 about 30 years later.
- 1860: Tsar Alexander II decided to protect the bison officially. With this decree, the bison’s natural predators such as wolves, lynxes and bears were killed.
- 1912: This year recorded the last Russian royal visit.
- 1915: The forest was seized by Germans and all the bisons were killed by 1919.
- 1921: The forest became a protected reserve again.
- 1923: Only 54 European bisons remained in world zoos. Poland had lost its bison population during the war
- 1929: 4 bisons were reintroduced in the Białowieża National Park. Small herd of 4 bisons reintroduced in Poland. The number rose to 16 bisons in 1939.
- World War II: Tragedy struck again when Germans reseized the forest again. Mass executions of Polish people and Soviets occurred in the forest. The bison was under threat again.
- 1947: The Białowieza National Park reopened and regained its status of protected natural site.
- 1979: The UNESCO named it as a World Heritage Site.
- 2012 and 2015: Attack of the bark beetle on spruce trees prompts massive logging of trees. Almost 500 000 trees have been infected so far. This spurred vicious protests from environmentalists who maintain that the forest should be left untampered by humans.
Further Exploration: Białowieża National Park: Amazing Sights in One of the Last Primeval Forests in Europe
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About the Author
Thandi Ngwira Gatignol is the founder of Learn English With Africa. She was born on June 11th, 1981 in Blantyre, Malawi. When she was 19, she left her country of birth for France. She currently lives with her two daughters and husband in Poland.
Thandi holds a Bachelor’s degree in English studies obtained at the Université Paris X Nanterre in France and a Certificate in Journalism from Malawi. She has taught English as a French Ministry of Education certified teacher both in France and in Poland. She speaks six languages fluently, including French, Polish and Italian. She is now learning German and Spanish. Salt No More is her debut novel and you can find her other books here on the website or on Amazon.
Blog Article: Białowieża National Park: Amazing Sights in One of the Last Primeval Forests in Europe (A2-B2) © Learn English With Africa, March 2023
