the Bialowieza primeval forest - Poland

The Bialowieza primeval forest is one of the most famous National Parks in Europe. Despite appearing to a modern visitor as a huge wilderness, this is but a remnant of the vast and forbidding forest that once stretched across much of the continent. Bialowieza lies on the border between Belarus and Poland. In fact, the border divides the forest complex into two roughly equal parts (the Polish part being only slightly smaller). Of this massive forest, only a small part is strict reserve and can truly be called a primeval forest. Much of the rest is intensively used by foresters and, unfortunately, the use of the park is changing for the worse. Foresters, for example, are now allowed to cut down trees that are over 100 years old.

Old-growth forest
This regrettable change notwithstanding, the forest areas outside of the strict reserve contain many patches of ancient woodland.
Bialowieza´s size and age makes it interesting, but this alone is not enough to justify the word 'primeval' or its alternative 'old-growth'. For this, generations of trees must have been allowed to grow, mature and decay without human management. This creates the mossy mosaic of micro-habitats containing trees of all ages, which makes Bialowieza such a valuable place.
The old-growth forest supports an extremely rich variety of insects and mushrooms, and, attracted by this, several rare birds. The Bialowieza forest is home to such forest specialists as red-breasted flycatcher, hazel grouse, lesser spotted eagle and white-backed woodpecker. Many northern (and mountain) forest species occur as well, such as nutcracker, three-toed woodpecker, green sandpiper, Tengmalm´s and pygmy owls. In the wetter parts, cranes and black storks breed.
The size of the forest cannot just measured in square kilometres. At least as important is that the forest covers all parts of the landscape, from the small river valleys, the swampy depressions and the dry, sandy ridges. These different areas support different types of forests, each with its own unique flora and fauna.

Large mammals
As one might expect from a large, undisturbed forest, Bialowieza is home to a wealth of mammals. With the exception of the brown bear, all mammals that originally occured in central Europe are present: wolf, lynx, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, elk, and many smaller mammal species. Pride of place, however, goes to the massive European Bison or Wisent. This animal, the largest European land mammal, almost became extinct, but was saved in a breeding project in Bialowieza forest. Today, many bison roam the woods giving a tantalising flavour of the lost wilderness of the primeval forest.

For a visitor the Bialowieza forest can be an overpowering place. It is attractive by virtue of its extraordinary wildlife and yet dauntingly vast. Armed with our guide you will be able confidently to explore this area and maximise your chance of a truly magical experience. The Crossbill Guide provides a beautifully illustrated and detailed guide to the Bialowieza primeval forest (2005). It both introduces you to the area and provides you with itineraries that allow you to discover the area at your own pace.
A trip to the Bialowieza can easily be combined with a visit to the Narew National park and to the Biebrza National Park, which is covered by the nature Guide to Biebrza marshes. You can also travel north to the forest of Augustow and the Masurian lake region, or southwest to the Tatra mountains or south to the Bieszczady National Park.







Photography top to bottom: Melampyrum nemorosum, CGF - Dirk Hilbers; Primeval Forest, CGF - Kim Lotterman; European Bison, Harm Smeenge