Restoring a 12,000-year-old forest to help defend Poland’s border

POLAND — Białowieża Forest. Białowieża Forest, one of Europe’s last remaining primeval forests, straddles the border between Poland and Belarus. Its wetlands and ancient trees support a dazzling array of life, but decades of drainage, drought and fragmentation have left the ecosystem under pressure. Now, it faces a new challenge. As the threat from Russia and its ally Belarus grows, Poland is strengthening its eastern border through a project called the East Shield. New military fortifications and infrastructure are planned in the region to bolster existing border security. Scientists warn that further development in and around the forest could be devastating for the ecosystem. They have, however, suggested an alternative: restore the forest, its wetlands and rivers to their natural state. The resulting landscape, dense with trees and boggy with water, not only provides important habitat but can also be practically impenetrable to heavy vehicles and ground forces. Some have dubbed this strategy “warwilding”, using restored natural landscapes as part of military strategy. The idea has found traction within the Polish military, which recognises the strategic value of natural barriers and supports efforts to restore parts of the forest. But recognizing nature’s defensive value is easier than restoring it. Hundreds of kilometers of drainage ditches still carry water away from the forest, while roads provide easy routes through terrain that could otherwise form a natural barrier. Conservationists say large-scale restoration will require coordination, funding and political will, but believe it could also be the forest’s best chance of long-term survival.…This article was originally published on Mongabay