Narewka Basin
Planning for restoration in Europe’s last primeval lowland forest.
This planning grant explored opportunities for restoring Białowieża Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s last remaining primeval lowland forests. Straddling the Poland–Belarus border, the forest has been managed in contrasting ways and faces threats from drainage, exploitation and logging. The project focused on building a shared cross-border vision for restoration and identifying priority sites.
Poland and Belarus
OTOP (BirdLife Poland)
October 2019 – May 2022
US$84,365
20,000 ha of drained mires and riverbeds identified for potential rewetting
Primeval lowland forest, drained mires, river valleys
Why This Landscape Matters
Białowieża is home to many charismatic species, including the great grey owl.
Białowieża Forest is globally renowned for its biodiversity, supporting European bison, large carnivores and thousands of other species. It also holds cultural and historical importance as one of Europe’s most intact forest landscapes.
Yet decades of drainage in Belarus and recent logging pressures in Poland have damaged the forest’s natural processes. Because ecological restoration depends on shared water systems, effective action requires cross-border cooperation between the two countries.
What the Project Did
The grant advanced planning for hydrological restoration and strengthened collaboration across the border. The grant delivered:
A cross-border assessment of potential restoration sites in Poland and Belarus.
A pilot rewetting project at Zarkaushyna in Belarus to demonstrate feasibility.
Hydrological studies and a vision for rewetting up to 20,000 ha of mires and riverbeds.
Engagement with local stakeholders through meetings and consultations to raise awareness of restoration needs.
A framework for preparing a LIFE proposal focused on large-scale restoration in the Polish section of the forest.
Looking Ahead
The feasibility studies and the hydrological vision will be used to develop a LIFE proposal that focuses on the Polish section of Białowieża. It is not possible to currently implement the initiative due to the political situation on the border between the EU and Belarus.
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