EC launches proceeding against Poland over Białowieża Forest

The European Commission has launched a proceeding against Poland for logging Europe's last primeval forest, Białowieża. According to unofficial information, the EC is concerned with breaching directives that are part of the Natura 2000 environment protection program. Since the logging of Białowieża may result in irreversible damages to biological diversity, the Commission is giving the Polish authorities one month to answer the accusations. Poland wants to cut down 180,000 cubic meters of forest to combat a spruce bark beetle infestation and thus stop forest degradation. The decision was met with fierce protests from environmental groups, experts and academic. Almost the entire area of the Białowieża Forest has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The decision was taken by the World Heritage Committee on June 23.