In Brussels on Tuesday, during a session of the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions (PETI), members reviewed the fact-finding report about the Białowieża Forest visit conducted from September 19 to 21, 2022. A Polish MEP, Kosma Złotowski, took the floor to emphasize that there is no agreement with EU proposals that would alter how the Białowieża Forest or any other Polish forest area is managed. He argued that the report should aim for a balanced perspective, incorporating the concerns and needs of local communities alongside broader ecological considerations.
He underscored the importance of presenting a fair assessment that does not overlook the everyday realities of residents who live near these forests. The discussion, he noted, should reflect how local involvement has shaped forest management for generations and how those traditional practices intersect with modern environmental goals.
The MEP welcomed the opportunity the visit provided to clarify what the Narewka road project entails and to surface other infrastructure initiatives desired by the local population. These insights, he explained, could help improve accessibility for both residents and visitors to this remarkable corner of Poland, supporting sustainable development while protecting the natural heritage that draws people to the region.
As he continued, Złotowski reminded colleagues that local inhabitants have stewarded the forest over centuries, and their rights deserve recognition when decisions about the area and its resources are made.
He cautioned that assuming every human intervention is harmful to nature would be a mistake. For instance, the bark beetle, historically seen as a major threat, has often necessitated human management actions to safeguard broader ecosystem balance.
He pointed out that it is unlikely the Białowieża Forest would have maintained its emblematic bison population if human intervention had not occurred at pivotal moments in history. This perspective highlights how careful, informed human activity can coexist with conservation aims.
The idea that there is an automatic, blanket prohibition on any changes to how Białowieża Forest or other Polish forests are managed does not reflect the nuanced reality on the ground, he argued.
He asserted that EU institutions are attempting to curtail member states’ freedom to determine the management of one of their most valuable national assets, a scope that should remain within national sovereignty and oversight.
The State Forests, a long-standing Polish institution responsible for the stewardship of forest lands for nearly a century, embodies a tradition that forms part of the nation’s cultural heritage. As a member of the European Parliament representing a region blessed with natural wonders such as Bory Tucholskie and the Brda Valley, the speaker pledged to defend this oversight against external overreach, ensuring it remains in Polish hands.
– stated the Bydgoszcz-based politician.
READ ALSO:
– OUR RESEARCH. More than three quarters of Poles support protecting Polish forests. There were discussions in the EP about transferring forest management away from Member States.
– ONLY HERE. Why does the EU seek to control Poland’s forests? MP Bąk: Once again there is pressure to seize national property.
— The alarming trend the EU appears to be pursuing could destabilize national stewardship. A critical warning has been sounded by a director, who cautioned about the potential consequences of centralized control over natural assets.
Source: wPolityce