A recommendation from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) Tuesday found that the Polish government had violated European law by allowing logging in Europe's last remaining primeval forest.

Advocate general Yves Bot described Bialowieza as one of the "best preserved natural forests in Europe, characterized by large quantities of ancient trees and dead wood."

The European Union's highest court is due to make a final ruling in April, but traditionally follows the advice of the advocate general.

Poland's nationalist Law and Justice Party government had opened up the forest to vastly increased logging, saying the removal of dead wood was necessary to control a spruce bark beetle infestation.

But scientists and environmental groups called this a mere excuse to allow profit from felling timber.

The Bialowieza forest is a unique site of biodiversity and home to Europe's largest remaining population of bison

The forest is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and stretches across international borders into neighboring Belarus. Within Polish borders, the forest covers 60,000 hectares, and is home to a profusion of rare species, including lynx, bears, wolves and bison.

Polish Environment Minister Henryk Kowalczyk said the government would examine Bot's opinion and "comply with the final judgment of the tribunal regarding the Bialowieza Forest."

Public pressure

In January, a government reshuffle saw Kowalczyk replace his hugely unpopular predecessor, Jan Szyszko, who was dubbed the "minister for logging" for his promotion of logging and alleged connections to the logging industry.

Robert Cyglicki, director of Greenpeace Poland, said environmentalists would have to wait and see whether Kowalczyk lived up to his word. But he also was hopeful the government is finally responding to pressure both from Europe and the Polish public.

Cyglicki cited public pressure as a factor in the government's shift

Szyszko's policies had sparked public protest. Cyglicki says that anger over the destruction of the forest came from across the political spectrum, and the government is now realizing these policies are alienating even its own voters.

"I would say it's not only the European institutions that made a difference in this case, I think it's also pressure from public, including from conservative members of Law and Justice."

Kowalczyk has said he will now engage with environmental groups on conservation efforts, pointing out that he is under pressure by economic interests.

"His mission is really to resolve the conflict, and we hope with the ruling on the table, it will be much easier for us to explain to the new minister what needs be done — and not be done," Cyglicki told DW.

Protestors in the Polish capital of Warsaw call for an end to logging

European rule of law

The European Commission had repeatedly called on the Polish government to cease logging, ultimately referring the case to the ECJ last summer.

Poland finally suspended logging in December, after the ECJ threatened fines of €100,000 ($117,379) per day if it continued, as an interim measure while the court case unfolded.

Watch video 01:15 Share Beetles and protests in Bialowieza Forest Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2hK7h Beetles and protests in Bialowieza Forest

Cyglicki welcomed how the European Commission had asked for special measures to be applied over the case, speeding up the ECJ process.

"Usually, these type of proceedings take about two years, but in this particular case it's going to be a little more than six months," he said. "It's quite a positive sign that European institutions can move fast if they want — if there's a good reason for it."

The case plays out against a broader background of EU member states facing challenges over policies that go against the bloc's rules, touching on basic questions of self-determination versus rule of law. Many had seen Poland's continued logging as defiance against the EU, with potential to escalate. Now, it seems Poland has backed down — at least on the logging issue.

Still, Greenpeace stressed that terrible damage has already been done.

"Minister Szyszko and his people broke the law," Cyglicki said in a statement. "There is nothing that can change the fact that 19 square kilometers of Bialowieza Forest was devastated, half of which is remnant forest and over 100 years old."

Bialowieza forest: Polish treasure gets chopped down Pest control - or profit? In March 2016, the Polish government decided to triple the amount of logging allowed in the Bialowieza forest. Since then, at least 10,000 trees have been felled. The government says the reason for the deforestation was to fight an infestation of bark beetles. But scientists say the insects only affect conifers. Critics say pest control is just a cover for those who stand to benefit economically.

Bialowieza forest: Polish treasure gets chopped down The alleged 'baddie' The bark beetle loves to eat spruce, which is known as the queen of the conifers. But scientists say we shouldn't fell spruce trees, even if they're infected with beetles. They provide a habitat for worms, insects and fungi, and the dead tree trunks are used as nesting sites by woodpeckers.

Bialowieza forest: Polish treasure gets chopped down A large scale operation The Bialowieza forest spans Poland and Belarus. 35 percent of the forest on the Polish side of the border is made up of protected national parks and nature reserves. The government says logging only happens in cultivated areas, rather than natural old-growth forest. But activists say the clearance is far more extensive.

Bialowieza forest: Polish treasure gets chopped down Last of its kind The European bison is the last surviving species of wild cattle on the continent - and the Bialowieza forest is home to Europe’s largest free-roaming herd. As early as 1795, the Russian Tsar put the area under strict protection. Poachers were even sentenced to death by poisoning.

Bialowieza forest: Polish treasure gets chopped down Colorful inhabitant The Syrian woodpecker is one of 1,200 animal species living in the forest. Originally from the Middle East, it arrived in Europe around a century ago with a taste for cherries and nuts.

Bialowieza forest: Polish treasure gets chopped down Save the trees For hundreds of years, the 150,000-hectare forest was left in peace. And it should stay that way, environmentalists say. The Polish government has closed off the logging area in an attempt to avoid disturbances from activists. And police and forest management security personnel supervise any protests to make sure activists don't chain themselves to the machinery.

Bialowieza forest: Polish treasure gets chopped down A warning from the EU The clearing of Bialowieza forest has also become an issue outside of Poland. Recently, activists in Berlin protested against it. Now even the EU is getting involved, warning that logging activity may be added to the ongoing EU treaty violation proceedings against Poland if the country doesn't stick to the commission's deforestation ban.

Bialowieza forest: Polish treasure gets chopped down Trees are friends This young man's method of protesting won't get him into trouble. But seven other activists have arrested after interfering with wood harvesters. They face penalties and imprisonment due to a "breach of the peace". Author: Nastassja Shtrauchler (rr, bo)



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