EC begins proceedings against Poland regarding Bialowieza Forest
The European Commission on Thursday decided to launch proceedings against Poland in connection with the Environment Ministry's decision to increase logging in Bialowieza Forest (north-eastern Poland).
The Bialowieza Forest is a protected area being part of the Natura 2000 network. The Commission is in contact with the Polish authorities to make sure that any interference is in line with EU laws, EC spokesperson Enrico Brivio told a press conference in Brussels on Thursday.
The EC has launched the first stage of its procedure against Poland by sending a formal notice.
The EC is charging Poland with violating some of the regulations of the EU's Habitats Directive (directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) and Birds Directive (directive on the conservation of wild birds, both being key to the EU's Natura 2000 programme.
Since the plan to increase logging in the primeval forest could bring irreversible harm to biological diversity, the EC has given Polish authorities just one month to respond. Usually, the deadline is twice longer.
EC experts had recently visited Poland which also influenced Thursday's decision, according to the spokesperson.
The controversy around Bialowieza Forest erupted in late March, when the environment minister approved a tripling of logging from the area. The minister said at that time that the logging would not be carried out in the Bialowieza National Park and explained that the initiative would help curb infestation of the European spruce bark beetle that has destroyed massive numbers of trees.
Environmentalists claim that the infestation is a natural phenomenon and should not be interfered with.
The centuries-old 1,500-square-kilometre forest is on UNESCO's World Heritage list. (PAP)
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