Belarus’ Natural Resources Ministry appealed to Polish public to support elimination of the fence in Belovezhskaya Pushcha

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus published an appeal from members of the Public Co-ordination Environmental Council to the Polish public – as reported on the department’s website

“We, participants of the meeting of the Public Co-ordination Environmental Council under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry of the Republic of Belarus, as well as representatives of republican and regional public associations, scientific and academic circles, the youth of Belarus, appeal to the Polish public on the eve of a national referendum in the Republic of Poland. Dear neighbours, friends! On October 15th, 2023, you will have to decide the future fate of the unique UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Belovezhskaya Pushcha – our common history and pride. The word ‘Bialowieza’ (‘Belovezha’) says a lot for Belarusians and Poles! For more than 600 years, the unique Belovezhskaya Pushcha existed before us; it could not be destroyed either during WWI or WWII. It is a national symbol of natural beauty, tradition, resilience and independence. Together we restored it after the predatory destruction in 1919, together we restored the bison population,” the appeal reads.

The participants of the Public Co-ordination Environmental Council expressed their opinion on the mandatory joint conservation of Belovezhskaya Pushcha, taking into account its outstanding universal value. After all, it does not belong to us, but to our descendants.

“And these are not just words, a call or a slogan. This is an undeniable truth that does not require proof! The construction of the fence divided Belovezhskaya Pushcha into two parts, thereby causing irreparable damage to the wild animals and plants living in it, and its primeval relict forest. We appeal to you to support the elimination of the barrier between the two parts of our single UNESCO World Heritage Site Belovezhskaya Pushcha during the vote at the upcoming referendum. We urge you to make a decision to demolish the fence, cast your votes for cleansing Europe’s lungs of concrete foreign body, and thereby take care of the future and not subsequently experience shame in front of your descendants,” noted the Public Co-ordination Environmental Council.

The address also underlined that the Belovezhskaya Pushcha is a kind of indicator or marker of a prosperous environment for everyone, and therefore the well-being of the person himself. “We hope that the common sense of the neighbours will prevail, and the unique natural site – the Belovezhskaya Pushcha – will be preserved through joint efforts,” summed up the initiators of the appeal.