SCB Policy Blog

Bialowieza Forest is the last lowland primeval forest within the European Union. It is a unique biodiversity hotspot and a fascinating source of scientific knowledge. It represents a much needed ecological blue-print for the restoration of forests in Europe. In 2003, SCB’s European Section delivered a resolution concerning the preservation of the Bialowieza Forest to the Polish Minister of the Environment. In 2010, the Polish Minister of the Environment imposed a restriction on logging in Bialowieza Forest that limited timber extraction to an amount sufficient to support local needs as well as sustainable in safeguarding both the ecological and cultural uniqueness of this Polish, European and World Heritage Site. SCB-Europe recently sent a letter to the new Minister of the Environment, Marcin Korolec, encouraging the government to retain this limit and to avoid logging of the remaining old-growth.

SCB-Europe also recently joined with other SCB sections in issuing a declaration on sustainable forest management to mark the 2011 International Year Of Forests.

The United Nations has declared 2011 the International Year of Forests, in order to strengthen the conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations. In conjunction with the UN campaign, SCB has issued a declaration outlining twelve recommendations based on conservation science that can help further these goals. Read more…