Podział Puszczy Białowieskiej i problemy jej ochrony jako wspólnego dziedzictwa Polski i Białorusi

The Białowieża Primeval Forest is a compact forest complex in Poland and Belarus, which divides the border of these countries. The last fragments of primeval forests in the European Lowlands have been preserved; the general area is about 145 thousand hectares. The Belarusian part is entirely a national park, while the Polish part has a different status. The Białowieża National Park covers about 10 thousand hectares. The remaining area is divided between three forest districts of the State Forests: Białowieża, Browsk, and Hajnówka. The richness of the fauna and flora of the Forest is a jewel in the crown of the nature of Poland. Its areas have been under protection at least from the beginning of the 15th century. The Białowieża National Park, which was created, was entered on the World Heritage List in 1979, while in 1992, this area was extended to the Belarusian part of the Forest. The protection and management of the Forest require close and practical cooperation not only between Poland and Belarus but also between institutions managing the area. The article presents the history of the eastern border formation after the end of World War II and the impact of these changes on the division of the Białowieża Forest. The Authors also discuss the forms of forest protection in Poland and Belarus, who administers the areas, and what problems occur on both sides of the Forest.