NAME Bialowieza Forest

II (National Park)
Biosphere Reserve
Natural World Heritage Site - Criterion iii

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL PROVINCE 2.10.05 (Boreonemoral)

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION North east-central Poland on the border with Belarus in Bialostockie administrative region, 62km south-east of Bialystok and 190km north-east of Warsaw. The park is bounded by the Hwozna and Narewka Rivers to the north and west , respectively, Belovezhkaja Puscha National Park, Belarus to the east, and national forests to the south. The park's exact physical location is 52° 41' 55" - 52° 59' 15" N, 23° 43' 10" - 23° 56' 30" E.

DATE AND HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT First afforded protection as a forestry 'preservation' in 1921 and designated a national park in 1932. Internationally recognised as a Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme in 1976, and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 and was extended in 1999.

Bialowieza Forest forms a transboundary park with Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1992 and designated an international Biosphere Reserve the following year.

AREA 10,501ha., with 4,747ha designated as a Strict Nature Reserve. This is contiguous to Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park (87,600ha), Belarus, in the east. An extension of 5,186ha to the World Heritage area has been proposed, on the Polish side.

LAND TENURE State ownership

ALTITUDE 147m to 172m

PHYSICAL FEATURES Situated on the hydrological divide between the Baltic and Black Seas, and lies in the drainage basin of the River Narewka, a tributary of the Narew. Most of the water is drained by the River Orlowka, and the remainder by the Rivers Narewka and Hwozna. The area is covered by the central Poland glacial formation with deposits composed of deep sands, sands overlying clays (40%), and clays and loams overlying the Cretaceous bedrock (35%). Other major deposits are organogenic formations of peat and marshy peat which occur in river valleys and local depressions which often contain raised mire systems (Okolow, 1994).

CLIMATE Experiences a temperate continental cool climate, where mean annual precipitation is 641mm and mean annual temperature is 6.8° C. Average temperature in January is -4.7° C and in July 17.8° C. Snow cover persists for an average of 92 days per year (Okolow, 1994).

VEGETATION The national park is situated in the central part of an extensive forest complex (1,250 sq. km) with 113 plant associations in the Polish area of 57,000ha. This includes forest stands which show characteristics of primeval forest, a unique fragment of lowland natural forest in this part of Europe. Within the national park there are 20 forest associations, four communities of water plants, two shrub communities and 13 communities of peat bogs and meadows. Within the strict preservation area there are 632 species of vascular plant, constituting about 29% of the flora of Poland. All the major forest associations found in this part of Europe occur, some being represented by East European forms, such as Tilio-Carpinetum communities whilst others by Central European forms like Querco-Carpinetum. In addition to the 35 shrub species present, dominant tree species include Picea abies, P. silvestris, Carpinus betulus, Tilia cordata, Alnus glutinosa, Quercus robur, Acer platanoides, Fraxinus excelsior, Betula pubescens, B. verrucosa and Populus tremula . There is an absence of beech, yew and larch.

Brushwood associations on the peat soils are composed mainly of Salix cinerea, Betula humilis and Pinus silvestris. Meadow associations and aquatic communities also occur. Rare plant species include Pedicularis sceptrum carolinum, Salix myrtilloides, Betula obscura, Isophyrum thalictroides, 12 Orchidaceae, Saxifraga hirculus, Lathyrus laevigatus and Hedera helix (here at its eastern range). Some 632 vascular plant species have been recorded, of which 443 are native and the remainder being anthropogenic introductions. There are also 254 lichen species, 80 liverworts and more than 3,000 fungi (C. Okolow, pers. comm., 1995).

FAUNA There are 54 species of mammal including European bison Bison bonasus (EN), grey wolf Canis lupus and lynx Felis lynx, otter Lutra lutra, beaver Castor fiber (LR) (re-introduced in 1955), northern birch mouse Sicista betulina (LR) and masked shrew Sorex caecutiens (the only known population in Poland), as well as elk Alces alces (uncommon). Common mammals are red deer Cervus elaphus, roe deer Capreolus capreolus and wild boar Sus scrofa. The park is the site of a successful re-establishment of European bison Bison bonasus (exterminated in Bialowieza Forest in 1919). Reintroduction was initiated in 1929 in a fenced reserve which forms part of the park. In 1952 this effort was extended by reintroducing bison into forest areas outside the fenced reserve. At present 300 bison range freely on the Polish side, and 240 on the Belarus side. Beaver Castor fiber has also been reintroduced successfully. There are some 232 species of birds recorded in the Bialowieza region, 120 of which breed in the park and include capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, black stork Ciconia nigra, crane Grus grus, most European owls including pygmy Glaucidium passerinum and eagle owl Bubo bubo, a large number of raptors such as spotted eagle Aquila clanga (VU) and booted eagle Hieraeetus pennatus, three-toed woodpecker Picoides tridactylus, white-backed woodpecker Dendrocopus leucotos, redwing Turdus iliacus, nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes and red-breasted flycatcher Muscicapa parva. Approximately 8,500 species of insects have been recorded (Okolow, 1994; Reklamowo and Grzegorczyk, 1997) including the beetles: Carabus menetriesi, Orthothomicus longicollis, Pytho kolwensis, Boros schneideri. Twelve species of amphibian and seven reptile species have also been recorded.

CULTURAL HERITAGE A total of 184 burial sites from the 11th and 12th centuries have been found. There are also numerous primitive bee-keeping sites (C. Okolow, pers. comm., 1995).

LOCAL HUMAN POPULATION The village of Bialowieza is located 1 km from the core of the park. No human settlements are present in the strict preservation area.

VISITORS AND VISITOR FACILITIES There are about 95,000 visitors annually, 30% of which visit the strict preservation area where access is limited to guided groups. Trained guides are provided by the tourist offices and are assigned to individual tourist groups and youth excursions, in accordance with park management. Guided trips are allowed to use traditional horse drawn vehicles (C. Okolow, pers. comm., 1995).

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FACILITIES The park has been used for scientific research since the 1920s when Professor Paczoski, a prominent botanist and phytosociologist, was appointed as the first manager of the park. Results of his research are included in Forests of Bialowieza (1930). Zoological studies, especially on wood-boring insects, began in 1929 by Professor Jerzy Karpinski, Professor Paczoski's successor, and were extended by Professor Dehnel. The park staff are currently carrying out work on the structure of the forests, ecology of bison and entomology. In addition, seventeen scientific institutions are carrying out research in the park. The park facilitates studies on structure and functioning of natural ecosystems, natural succession, and the flow of substances and energy within ecosystems (as well as observing human impacts on these processes), the circulation of parasites in natural and modified ecosystems, classification of animals (especially of lower systematic units), forest management, biological control of pest insects, genetically valuable ecotypes of indigenous tree species, and the improvement of forest productivity. There are five research institutions located in Bialowieza: Natural Forests Department of the Forest Research Institute field station (established in 1930); Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (1954); Bialowieza Geobotanical Station of Warsaw University (1956); Plant Demography Laboratory of the Institute of Botany of the Polish Academy of Sciences (1980); and the Laboratory on the Ecology and Protection of Natural Habitats (1991). There are permanent study plots, some established in 1936, for the study of forest dynamics. The Museum of Nature and Forestry is managed by a custodian (Okolow, 1994).

CONSERVATION VALUE Comprises a vast stretch of ancient, virgin, palaearctic forest, which, in comparison to other lowland European forests, has endured little human disturbance. In addition the site contains many relic plant and animal species, typical of lowland primeval forests,

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT The park area consists of a strict core zone (4,747ha) and a protective zone (276ha) around the village. Here activities such as clear felling, hunting and the use of insecticides are banned. Access is limited to research and guided visitors, all motor vehicals are banned. The 'Hwozna' Protective District covers an area of 5,155ha. It comprises of a mosaic of old growth forest stands, including conifer species that are not represented in other areas of the park. This is surrounded by a 1km wide forest buffer zone to the north-west and south. A zone of 275ha is used for breeding bison and wild horse of forest tarpan type, in the south-western part of the site. Palace Park is the headquarters of the park, located near the village of Bialowieza, outside the strict protected zone. The zone extends over 47ha, and focuses around a former Russian hunting manor. Other facilities on the site include a nature education centre, museum and tourist lodges (World Heritage 1998).

MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINTS The main threats are air pollution, the impact of tourism, trampling (vegetation and soil damage), the introduction of alien invasive species, a railway line near by that carries harmful chemicals and the disturbance of water regimes by land reclamation in contiguous Belarus forests, to create a reservoir on the Narew River some 12.5km from the park. According to Wesolowski (1997), the strictly protected National Park only covers 8% of the total forest area. Commercial logging is allowed in the surrounding forest complex, and there are fears that the remaining old-growth stands will have disappeared within the next ten years.

STAFF A total of 109 employees, over fifty percent have university qualifications within forestry or protected areas management. A major activity involves management of bison at the restoration centre, and management of free-ranging bison, as well as manning the research laboratories, museum and technical department (C. Okolow, pers. comm., 1995; World Heritage 1998).

BUDGET 4,339 million zlotys in 1998 (World Heritage 1998).

LOCAL ADDRESSES
Inventory, records and archives are held at:
Bialowieski Park Narodowy, 17-230 Bialowieza, Park Palacowy 5, Poland.
Tel: (48) 85 68 12 306 / Fax: (48) 85 68 12 323

Central administration is by the General Board of National Parks, 00-922 Warsaw, ul.
Wawelska 52/54 (Tel/Fax: (48-22) 25 47 05).
Both are administered by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry.

A bibliography by Karpinski and Okolow contains over 2,100 references on Bialowieza up to 1966, one by Okolow contains over 1,100 references published 1967-72. These are available through the MAB National Committee of Poland.

Borowski, S., Okolow, C. (1988). Birds of the Bialowieza Forest. Acta. zool. Cracow. 31,2: 65-114.

Cieslinski, S., Tobolewski, Z. (1988). Lichens/Lichenes/of the Bialowieza Forest and its western Foreland. Phytocoenosis, Bialowieza, suppl. NS. 1. 216 pp.

Czubinski, et al. (1973). Nature Reserves in Poland. 528 pp. Cracow.

Falinski, J.B., et al. (1968). National Park in Bialowieza Forest. Warsaw.

Falinski, J.B. (1986). Vegetation dynamics in temperate lowland primeval forest. Ecological studies in Bialowieza Forest. W.Junk.Dordrecht. 537 pp.

Gawlowska, J. (1978). Wykaz prac naukowych proxadzonych aktualnie w polskich rezerwatach biosfery Chronmy Przyrode Ojezysta R. 34 z. 3. Pp. 74-85.

Karpinski, J. (1930). Puszcza Bialowieska i Park Narodowy w Bialowiezy.

Karpinski, J.J. (1948). Bark beetle's fauna against a background of trees appearing in Bialowieza Forest. Res Inst No 49.

Karpinski, J.J. (1949). Material to bioecology of Bialowieza Forest. Res Inst No. 56.

Karpinski, J.J. (1954). Birds in biocenosis of forest in Bialowieza National Park. Res Inst No. 120.

Karpinski, J.J. and Okolow, Cz. (1969). Bibliography of the Bialowieza Forest. Warsaw.
Krasinski, Z. and Raczynski, J. (1970). Bison in Bialowieza Forest.

Kawecka, A. (1994). Strict Nature Reserve of the Bialowieza Forest . Bialowieza. 32 pp.

Krasinski, A.Z. (1993). Bison a relict of ancient times. Bialowieza. 20 pp.

Matuszkiewicz, W. (1952). Forest communities in Bialowieza Forest . Ann Univ MCS. Sklodowska. Lublin, suppl. 6.

Obminski, Z. (1955). Research on forest habitat climate in Bialowieza National Park. Res Inst No. 141.

Okolow, C. (1976). Bibliography of the Bialowieza Primeval Forest, 1967-1972. Bialowieza. 164 pp.

Okolow, C. (1983). Bibliography of the Bialowieza Primeval Forest, 1973-1980. Bialowieza. 190 pp.

Okolow, C. (1986). The Bialowieza Primaeval Forest - the pearl of European forests. PARKS 11: 2-3.

Okolow, C. (1991). Bibliography of the Bialowieza Primeval Forest (1981-1985). Bialowieza. 197 pp.

Okolow, C. (1994). Bialowieza. In: Breymeyer, A. (ed). Biosphere Reserves in Poland. Pp 68-76.

Okolow, C. (1994). Monuments of material culture in the Bialowieza Forest , Bialowieza. 31 pp.

Olszewski, J.L. (1986). The role of forest ecosystems in modifying local climate of the Bialowieza Primeval Forest. Ossolineum, Warsaw. 222 pp.

Paczoski, J. (1930). Forest of Bialowieza, Poznan.

Pachlewski, R. (1960). The Bialowicza National Park. State Council for Conservation of Nature. 25 pp.

Reklamowo, A. and Grzegorczyk, W.A. (1997). Biosphere Reserves in Poland. Polish National MAB Committee, Warsaw. p71-97

Sokolowski, A. (1987). Parki Narodowe i Rezerwaty Przyrody 4: 2.

Sokolowski, A. (1981). Flora of the vascular plants of the Bialowieza Forest . Fragm flor. et geobot 27: 1-2.

Szafer, W. (1920). Project for the setting up a forest reserve in Bialowieza Forest. Sylwan No. 10-2.

Tomialojc, L. et al. (1984). Breeding bird community of a primeval temperate forest (Bialowieza Forest , Poland). Acta orn. 29: 3.

Wesolowski, T (1997) Bialowieza Forest World Birdwatch 19(2): 12-15.

Wloczewski, T. (1952). Soils of Bialowieza Forest . Res Inst No. 83.

Wiecko. E. Wostepach Puszczy Bialiowieskiej. 205pp. with illustrations, maps, English summary.

World Heritage Site Nomination (1978)

World Heritage Site Nomination (1998)

DATE 1982, revised August 1986, November 1987, May 1990, August 1995, July 1997, October 1999.