Białowieża Forest

An ancient lowland forest spanning Poland and Belarus, containing remnants of primeval European woodland and the world’s largest free-living population of European bison.

Old-growth forest: A forest with long ecological continuity and structures shaped by centuries of growth and disturbance. Białowieża is one of Europe’s largest surviving examples of this forest type.
Windthrow: The uprooting or breaking of trees by wind. Windthrow creates canopy gaps and dead wood in the forest.
Białowieża National Park: A protected area in northeastern Poland that preserves part of Białowieża Forest. Its strictly protected core safeguards some of the forest’s least altered habitats.
European bison conservation: Efforts to protect and restore European bison populations and their habitats. Białowieża is a central stronghold for the species’ recovery.
Passive forest management: A management approach that limits intervention and allows natural ecological processes to proceed. It is proposed as an alternative to cutting trees affected by disturbance.
European bison: The largest living land mammal in Europe, once nearly extinct in the wild. Its recovery and free-ranging herds are among the forest’s defining features.
Bark beetle: A group of beetles whose larvae feed beneath tree bark, sometimes killing host trees. Spruce bark beetle outbreaks have intensified disputes over intervention in the forest.
Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park: A national park in Belarus that protects the eastern part of Białowieża Forest. It protects the forest across the border from Poland’s national park.
Natura 2000: The European Union’s network of protected areas for threatened species and habitats. The forest’s Polish areas are included in this conservation network.
Active forest management: A management approach that intervenes through actions such as planting, thinning, or removing trees. Supporters argue intervention can protect particular habitats or reduce risks.

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