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If Europe's can't or won't protect Bialowieza Forest -- their last primeval temperate forest -- no one can; and all the world's forests, climate and biosphere are doomed  (link)

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Please stop logging and protect, restore & expand Bialowieza Forest

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Mr. Andrzej Kraszewski, Minister of the Environment, The Republic of POLAND Dear Mr. Kraszewski, We are deeply concerned by reports that Bialowieza Primeval Forest in Poland is being damaged and exploited by overly intensive industrial forestry management. I am writing to request industrial primary forest logging end in the Bialowieza Forest, and the area be made into a National Park. This forest ecosystem is by far the best land-use of this magnificent ecosystem, and for the welfare of the peoples of your great nation. We support local demands that harvests be immediately and dramatically cut to 30,000 cubic metre/year, and believe this is a first step towards ending primary forest logging in Poland and protecting and restoring the whole Bialowieza Forest. Bialowieza Forest is the last natural forest on the European lowland. An iconic natural place for both Poland and Europe, the only of its kind. But only 17% of its Polish area has a national park status and the old forest itself is exploited by the forest industry, which highly endangers and in practice damages Bialowieza Forest’s natural values. Very often, these are the habitats of the priority species protected within the ecological network of protected areas in the European Union (Natura 2000) or the species from so called red lists of threatened species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). For several years different NGOs, universities, scientists and journalists have been raising the alarm that Bialowieza Forest is disappearing before our very eyes. The precious old tree stands have been cut and the populations of protected indicator species, like a three-toed woodpecker, have been decreasing in consequence. As an essentially intact ecosystem, this is one of the last models of European plant communities and wildlife populations. It's much more valuable use is as a protected area, for water cachment, and species preservation. The coalition of different expert groups, including Greenpeace, WWF, biologists from the universities, Polish Society for the Protection of Birds, has appealed that it is high time the Polish government eventually eliminate all primary forest logging in the Bialowieza Forest’s – you can start by decreasing the timber cutting rate to 30,000 m3 a year or less of logging - and enlarging Bialowieski National Park to cover the entire area of Bialowieza Forest. Poland has many times proved it can heroically fight to save its land and freedom. Now the state should prove it can save its most precious natural site from destruction caused by the foresters who are in fact a state service subordinate to you as the Minister of the Environment. With your one proper decision, with your one signature you could prove you are a responsible leader who cares of the nature and the society. We respectfully urge you to cut timber cutting dramatically with the intention of ending primary forest logging within a year and make all efforts possible to enlarge Bialowieski National Park to cover the entire area of Bialowieza Forest. You still can be the first Minister of the Environment to really save this priceless Polish and European treasure. The world is watching and expecting great things from you. Sincerely,

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