Last remaining relic of an ancient forest faces the axe

A bison in the Bialowieza Forest, a forest
 the Polish Government wants to log.

Warsaw: It is the last remaining relic of an ancient forest that stretched for millennia across the lowlands of Europe and Russia, a shadowy, mossy woodland where bison and lynx roam beneath towering oak trees up to 600 years old.

Conservationists believe the fate of the Bialowieza Forest, which straddles Poland and Belarus, is more threatened that at any time since the communist era due to a new Polish government plan for extensive logging in parts of the forest. The plan has pitted the government against environmentalists and many scientists, who are fighting to save the UNESCO world heritage site.

Seven environmental groups, including Greenpeace and WWF, have lodged a complaint with the European Commission hoping to prevent the large scale felling of trees, which is due to begin within days. Bialowieza has been declared a Natura 2000 site, meaning it is a protected area under European law. EU officials say they are working with the Polish authorities to ensure that any new interventions in the forest are in line with their regulations, but it's not yet clear what the result will be.

Read Vanessa Gera’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Logging to begin in last remaining European primeval forest.”

Words are cheap, plans are plentiful, but action demands more

W

ords are cheap and plans are plentiful, and easy, but action demands a different mindset.

Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott, has set out targets to reduce pollution on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

His plan, aimed at allaying UNESCO’s concerns for the reef that also criticised Australia’s lack of attention to climate change is discussed by The Guardian in the story - “Tony Abbott unveils plan to save Great Barrier Reef”.

Concern for the reef is widespread nationally and Australia’s apparent disregard for this world natural treasure has also generated international unease.