Poland’s border wall threatens ancient forest

Abstract

Thousands of people, largely from the Middle East, are seeking entry into the European Union by way of its eastern border (1). Their influx has been orchestrated by Belarus’s authoritarian regime (1). In response, Poland is planning to construct a solid border wall along 180 km of its 400-km border with Belarus (2). The humanitarian tragedy is fast becoming a serious threat to the Białowieża Forest. This transboundary United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage site on the Polish/Belarussian border is the best-preserved remnant of mixed deciduous forest on the European lowland (3). The damage caused by Poland’s wall would outweigh any benefits.

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