Decision 38 COM 8B.12

Białowieża Forest (Belarus/Poland)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Documents WHC-14/38.COM/8B and WHC-14/38.COM/INF.8B2,
2. Approves the extension of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha / Białowieża Forest, Belarus, Poland, which becomes Białowieża Forest, Belarus, Poland on the World Heritage List under criteria (ix) and (x);
3. Adopts the following Statement of Outstanding Universal Value:

   Brief synthesis

   Bialowieza Forest is a large forest complex located on the border between Poland and Belarus. Thanks to several ages of protection the Forest had survived in its natural state to this day. The Bialowieza National Park, Poland, was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 and extended to include Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus, in 1992. A large extension of the property in 2014 results in a property of 141,885 ha with a buffer zone of 166,708 ha. 

   This property includes a complex of lowland forests that are characteristics of the Central European mixed forests terrestrial ecoregion. The area has exceptionally conservation significance due to the scale of its old growth forests, which include extensive undisturbed areas where natural processes are on-going. A consequence is the richness in dead wood, standing and on the ground, and consequently a high diversity of fungi and saproxylic invertebrates. The property protects a diverse and rich wildlife of which 59 mammal species, over 250 bird, 13 amphibian, 7 reptile and over 12,000 invertebrate species. The iconic symbol of the property is the European Bison: approximately 900 individuals in the whole property which make almost 25% of the total world’s population and over 30% of free-living animals. 

   Criterion (ix): Bialowieza Forest conserves a diverse complex of protected forest ecosystems which exemplify the Central European mixed forests terrestrial ecoregion, and a range of associated non-forest habitats, including wet meadows, river valleys and other wetlands. The area has an exceptionally high nature conservation value, including extensive old-growth forests. The large and integral forest area supports complete food webs including viable populations of large mammals and large carnivores (wolf, lynx and otter) amongst other. The richness in dead wood, standing and on the ground, leads to a consequent high diversity of fungi and saproxylic invertebrates. The long tradition of research on the little disturbed forest ecosystem and the numerous publications, including description of new species, also contributes significantly to the values of the nominated property. 

   Criterion (x): Bialowieza Forest is an irreplaceable area for biodiversity conservation, due in particular to its size, protection status, and substantially undisturbed nature. The property is home to the largest free-roaming population of European Bison, which is the iconic species of this property. However the biodiversity conservation values are extensive, and include protection for 59 mammal species, over 250 bird species, 13 amphibians, 7 reptiles, and over 12,000 invertebrates. The flora is diverse and regionally significant, and the property also is notable for conservation of fungi. Several new species have been described here and many threatened species are still well represented. 

   Integrity

   The property is a large, coherent area conserved via a range of protective designations representing the full range of forest ecosystems of the region, and providing habitat for large mammals. The presence of extensive undisturbed areas is crucial to its nature conservation values. Some of the ecosystems represented in the property (wet meadows, wetlands, river corridors) require maintenance through active management, due to the decrease of water flow and absence of agriculture (hay cutting). The buffer zone that has been proposed by both State Parties appears sufficient to provide effective protection of the integrity of the property from threats from outside its boundaries. There are some connectivity challenges, from barriers inside the property, and its relative isolation within surrounding agricultural landscapes, that require continued management and monitoring. 

   Protection and management requirements

   The property benefits from legal and institutional protection in both States Parties, through a variety of protected area designations. 

   Protection and management requires strong and effective cooperation between the States Parties, and also between institutions in each State Party. The Bialowieza National Park (Poland), the Polish Forestry Administration and the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park authorities have entered into an agreement regarding preparation and implementation of an integrated management plan for the nominated property, and to establish a transboundary steering group. In addition the State Party of Poland has developed an agreement establishing a Steering Committee between the National Park and the Forest Administration aiming to achieve a coordinated approach to integrated management. It is essential to ensure the effective functioning of this Steering Committee, including through regular meetings, and its input to transboundary coordination and management. It is essential that the national parks of both States Parties maintain effective and legally adopted management plans, and an adopted management plan for the Bialowieza National Park (Poland), to support its inclusion in the property, is an essential and long-term requirement. 

   It is essential to ensure that the integrated management plan for the property addresses all key issues concerning the effective management of this property, particularly forest, meadows and wetlands management, and that it is adequately funded on a long term basis to ensure its effective implementation. 

   Effective and well-resourced conservation management is the main long-term requirement to secure the property, and maintain the necessary management interventions that sustain its natural values. Threats that require long-term attention via monitoring and continued management programmes include fire management, the impacts of barriers to connectivity, including roads, firebreaks and the border fence. There is also scope to continually improve aspects of the management of the property, including in relation to ensuring connectivity within the property, and in its wider landscape, and to also secure enhanced community engagement.
   
   

4. Commends the State Parties of Belarus and Poland for their efforts to establish agreements aiming to enhance the coordination and effective management of this transboundary property;
5. Requeststhe State Party of Poland, as a matter of urgency, to:
   1. adopt the new Management Plan for Bialowieza National Park as soon as possible, and by 1 October 2014 at the latest, and to provide a copy of the adopted and approved plan to the World Heritage Centre when available,
   2. establish as a matter of urgency the Steering Committee between the National Park and the Forest Administration to ensure the integrated planning and management of the Polish side of the property, and to provide adequate financial resources for the effective functioning of this Steering Committee;
6. Also requests the States Parties of Poland and Belarus to:
   1. establish as a matter of urgency the Transboundary Steering Committee that will coordinate, promote and facilitate the integrated management of the property,
   2. provide adequate human and financial resources to ensure the effective functioning of the Transboundary Steering Committee,
   3. expedite the preparation and further official adoption of the integrated management plan for the property addressing all key issues concerning the effective conservation and management of this transboundary property, particularly those concerning forest and wetlands management, and the need to increase functional ecological connectivity in the property, and to reduce the existing large network of roads and fire prevention corridors,
   4. ensure that this integrated management plan is adequately funded to ensure its effective implementation, and
   5. maintain and enhance the level of cooperation and engagement of local communities that have been achieved during the preparation of this nomination as to ensure their contribution to the effective management of the property;
7. Further requests the States Parties to submit, by 1 December 2015, a joint report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property, including confirmation of progress achieved on the above points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session in 2016.