The Bia3owie¿a forest, a relict ecosystem in Poland and Belarus

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Bia3owie¿a Forest, a lowland area located along the border of Poland and Belarus, is a remnant of an extensive, larger forested region that once covered east-central Europe. In the 1400s the forest was set up as a separate administrative unit, a decision that has had long-term consequences for its preservation. Over the past 600 years the natural uniqueness of this ecosystem has been brought into sharp relief. Above all the Bia3owie¿a Forest stands out for the dominance of broadleaved and mixed coniferous stands, some of them in a near-primeval state. These stands are highly diversified with respect to age structure, canopy layers and species structure. There is an abundance of old trees and a wealth of other species, particularly spore-bearing flora and invertebrates that utilize wind-thrown or otherwise fallen trees and their decaying elements. The abundance and richness of ground vegetation, fungi, insects and microorganisms has resulted in a highly biodiverse ecosystem. The Bia3owie¿a area is also a refuge for Europe's greatest assemblage of large herbivores, including Moose, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Wild Boar, and European Bison. It is also the site of Poland's first National Park and three leading scientific institutions.