Poland violates EU law in ancient Bialowieza forest

Poland violated EU law by ordering large-scale logging in one of Europe’s oldest woodlands, the Bialowieza forest, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

Bialowieza forest has been designated a Unesco World Heritage site and is home to Europe’s largest herd of nearly extinct bison.

But Poland argued its decision to order a three-fold increase in logging was necessary to combat beetle infestation, according to a BBC report.

Poland says it will respect the ruling. The court’s decision is a defeat for the country’s conservative-led government.

The ECJ said Poland had ‘failed to fulfil its obligations’ in directives covering the habitats of animals and birds.

Caption: Trees lie in water in a swampy area of Bialowieza forest, the last primeval forest in Europe, near Bialowieza village, Poland May 30, 2016.