Vogel des Jahres
German Bird of the Year 2001
BIALOWIEZA FOREST PETITION
from Jerzy Dyczkowski
Vogel des Jahres
German Bird of the Year 2001
Dear European Birders
Bialowieza Forest (Puszcza Bialowieska) in Poland is threatened by logging and tree-felling operations. The National Park protects only 18% of the forest. The rest is open to forest operations.
The Minister of Environment in Poland has recently signed the most needed decision about extending the National Park, which would cover the whole area of the forest. However, the project requires the acceptance of the Polish Government. The foresters and local people lobbied by them are a pressure group that demands suspending the protection project until undefined future.
The goal is to issue a complete logging ban immediately and to make the whole of Bialowieza Forest a national park. Some temporary decisions were made, which were cancelled soon after the public campaign had stopped. Only as the national park covering the entire area can Bialowieza Forest be protected permanently. The proposed national park would be open for local citizens.
The Polish Society for Protection of Birds (OTOP) asks to send letters to the media and to the Polish Government, developing people's awareness of the situation and supporting the protection of Bialowieza Forest. Below is a draft petition to Prime Minister of Poland, Jerzy Buzek. Please, persist in your effort until the whole area of Bialowieza Forest is protected as the national park!
More details about Bialowieza and its protection can be obtained at the OTOP address:
Ogolnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptakow,
skr. 335, 89 958 Gdansk 50,
tel./fax (22) 58 341 26 93,
Best regards,
Jerzy Dyczkowski
PETITION:
(send to: premier@kprm.gov.pl )
Prof. Jerzy Buzek
The Prime Minister of Poland
AL. Ujazdowskie 1/3,
00 583 Warszawa
Poland
fax: 0 22 628 68 46
Mail for the Prime Minister
THE PROTECTION OF BIALOWIEZA FOREST
Dear Prime Minister,
I would like to express my concern over the situation of the last remaining area of unspoilt primeval forest in Europe - Bialowieza Forest (Puszcz Bialowieska). Because of its biodiversity, Bialowieza Forest occupies an unique position and value worldwide. The area of the primeval forest that has survived up to now is a refuge for many rare species of plants and animals. It is also an internationally important area of bird protection.
Bialowieza Forest is one of few places where ecological and evolutionary processes that have been taking place for millions of years have never ceased.The area of such exceptional importance, as a World Heritage Site, deserves the highest form of protection - as a National Park.
In the light of the above, continuing the tree-felling and logging operations in over 80% of the forest area, and treating the last parts of ancient forests as a source of timber, is one of the most environmentally destructive enterprises in Europe. Such actions have a negative effect on the international reputation of Poland.
As a European citizen concerned with preservation of the common natural heritage I appeal to the Polish Government to:
1. IMPLEMENT THE DECISION FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE PROHIBITION OF TREE-FELLING AND LOGGING IN THE BIALOWIEZA FOREST.
2. APPROVE THE PROTECTION OF THE WHOLE OF BIALOWIEZA FOREST AS A NATIONAL PARK.
I remain,
Yours sincerely,
Name & Surname, Address
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