Economic activities
Currently Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park is a multipurpose organization which aims are to protect nature and to facilitate scientific research, as well as is aims to provide suitable conditions for the local population. These locals, living within the territory of the Pushcha, are served to let them meet their requirements. The needs of the local population in terms of material and wealth are met through the income gained out of local and regional economic activities within the forest. A major source of income is cutting and processing of trees to useful wooden products. Commercial and industrial clear cutting of the forest in protected zones in order to harvest timber is officially forbidden. About 60,000 cubic meters of timber are being cut out of Pushcha on a yearly basis, based on the arguments of regular maintenance as well as sanitary clearing (pest control). Trees are being cut from management zones in which it is considered to be appropriate. The National Park has engaged a wood processing sawmill enterprise as well which is located near the village of Kamenyuki. Another source of income is agriculture, which functions quite successfully. Forage in order to feed the animals of Belovezhskaya Pushcha is being produced, both for the free ranging herds as well for populations that live within enclosures. Agriculture is also serving the local inhabitants to feed themselves as well as for trade with third parties. The way the business of running farms, trading with others as well as other activities is satisfactory.
The employees of Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park are mainly concerned with the conservation of the unique natural forest complex of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. They work on the preservation of the primeval forest and its specific vegetation, flora and wildlife for future generations. The so-called Belovezhskiy Ecological Region Concept has been set up to shape circumstances to restore the fragile ecological balance of Belovezhskaya Pushcha as well as to shape a socio-cultural environment of the forest and its surroundings. Provided that the socio-cultural environment is powered, solutions of solving problems connected to the management and future of Belovezhskaya Pushcha become more and more realistic.
* Based on information from the article by Heorhi Kazulka & Vasiliy Zhukov "The State National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" is the oldest Natural Reserve in Europe”, published in the book "Belovezhskaya Pushcha at the Turn of the Third Millennium. Materials of the Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the Formation of the State Reserve "Belovezhskaya Pushcha". - Minsk, 1999. - pp. 16 - 33. (In Russian)
(With some modern data added.)
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