„Poland saves the bison" Forum
‘Poland played a key role in the restoration of bison. Today, we are proud that almost one third of bison’s worldwide population lives in our country.’ said Małgorzata Golińska, Secretary of State in Ministry of Environment, in her opening speech on 13 June 2018, at forum held in Warsaw.
The meeting was attended by the representatives of: the Ministry, the General Directorate for Environmental Protection, the State Forests’ units, national parks, research institutions and non-governmental organizations.
Apart from discussing past achievements regarding care for bison in Poland, the participants mentioned also significant problems faced by bison caretakers, such as: increasing population, forming new herds, health monitoring, and preventing conflicts with local community. Much time was devoted to the problem of damages caused by bison and the methods to raise social acceptance and knowledge about these animals.
‘If we want to make the local community accept the re-introduction , first we have to prove we are doing well in the areas that have already been under our management.’ noted Piotr Wawrzyniak from Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Białystok.
‘All praise the State Forests for dedicating its area and funds to prepare terrain for new herds, just like it has happened in the Augustów Forest quite recently.’ added Professor Wanda Olech-Piasecka, Dean of the Faculty of Animal Sciences at Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW and Chairperson of the Association of Bison Lovers, also substantive coordinator of bison conservation project led by the State Forests.
Forming new herds is merely one of a great deal of activities involved in the four-year project. Its other goals include: spreading the population abroad, creating gene bank of bison, improving health condition of live bison and increasing social awareness regarding the needs and methods of species protection.
The cost of the project, which amounts to over 40 million PLN, is entirely covered by The State Forests’ forest fund. Apart from 22 forest districts selected form five regional directorates of SF, the undertaking is also attended by: the Białowieża National Park, the Association of Bison Lovers, and Warsaw University of Life Sciences providing scientific supervision.