Everything goes in accord with a plan which is absent

"Everything goes in accord with a plan which is … absent?"

Ales Pchelka (Gomel), «World of Animals» (Gomel), No 12, December 2005

I devoted much attention and interest to read an answer-letter received from the competent persons. What to say more – it is written well, even fine. Therefore, taking into account the fact that we live in the democratic country, it would be desirable to put another opinion, in the same good and fine way.

Rotten timber

First of all, theses of the officials make suspicious, namely:

— "The authors of these appeals are not always aware of the situation". Differently, the only officials know everything and understand everything. However, the history of the society has a lot of dramatic facts which force us to cast doubt upon this point of view. Let's recollect at least "ingenious" plans of a USSR management to flow northern rivers back... All of us were convinced that the project was a "top-miracle" of human mind, and the public, which was expressing against, was "not aware" of the situation and was considered nearly like an enemy for the people. A "fairy tale" told by the officials in the style of 1986 that the situation was completely under control and the Chernobyl brought no real danger is the other example...

—"Activity of the SNPI "The National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" is open in getting access for the public, with involvement of … the general public". It is not surprising that the word "public" was put right at the end of the long sentence! It is necessary to recollect that there is no native TV program devoted to problems of especially protected natural areas, with participation of the citizens, especially of public organizations representing an opposite view... And such the program, to all appearances, will not be created in the coming years. Instead of it, the Belarusian TV continually present "pictures" about a paradise in the reserved area avoiding information about large-scale fellings, damage to the wood, staff-number "extinction" of the scientific department in the National park, bottles scattered over the bushes... Besides of this, it would be desirable to be aware of what kind of the public ecological organizations in Belarus did take part in the discussion-making process and agree upon the actions conducted in Pushcha?

—"In 1960-s some artificial reservoirs were created in Belovezhskaya Pushcha in order to preserve fish and water-marsh living bird fauna". Wonders will never cease! I opened the book of a scientific conference devoted to the sixty years anniversary of Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Minsk, 1999) and red on the page of number 20 "In August, 1957 the State Reserve "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" was reorganized into a State Protected Game Ground, which basic task became to keep and breed game, and provide huntings for top-officials... Two artificial reservoirs to hunt water-living birds and various biotechnical infrastructures with nearby located hunting towers were created"». This is impressive, isn't it? Let's continue the fascinating reading "Large-scale melioration and drainage work which caused the lowering ground water level, dramatic reconstruction of ecosystem's relationships, wood stands' weakening"… The impression is created that the top-officials, because of very busy, pay few attention to read the proceedings of scientific conferences, although they were responsible to organize them.

—"Hydraulic engineering measures are carried out on grounds of out-departmental and ecological examinations"It is clear that tens high quality experts representing various professions like geologists, hydrologists, zoologists etc need to be involved in realizing the proper independent ecological examination... It would be desirable to be aware of who, by name, are members of the last expert council; when was the expert council assembled last time, and where is it possible to read outcomes of the independent expert conclusion concerning hydraulic engineering infrastructure of Pushcha? Or are they of the state secret?..

—"In 2006 - 2007, it is planned to develop a Project on optimizing the structure of the territory, and a Management Plan of this National Park". Thanks for frankness! It is confirmed once again that Pushcha was all last years in the power of "alarm-repair" works without the appropriate, advanced and precisely balanced management plan. However who will develop this plan? Who will provide the necessary ecological examination? And the main is who will take responsibility if any case of failure? Why are the concrete surnames not called? The native land should know the heroes...

The polemic can be continued. However, I am very clear that the dialogue has failed. The officials have not listened to alarming signal of the people who are warring about what kind of our "blue-eyes" Belarus will be passed down to, as it is usually said, the future generations, but at least for our children...

Maria Kireyshina (Gomel), «World of Animals» (Gomel), № 12, декабрь, 2005

Bonfire spots

...The response by Mr Kulichkov to our letter was not a surprise to me. According to it, all is doing by law, all is under control. A question is "Did he visit and see Belovezhskaya Pushcha?" The response of the Ministry of Nature Protection became closer to the real situation. The Ministry admitted even if a museum exposition is not in order and the conditions to keep predatory animals are not the best. The Ministry also thanked the editor team for participation and promised to make financial contribution to Pushcha. Thanks for this. Nevertheless, I consider that the careful attitude to Pushcha is insufficient and such kind of works are conducted there which should be away. But …

Yana Nikitina (Gomel), «World of Animals» (Gomel), No 12, December 2005

Rubbish in the forest

... I was pleased with works to liquidate spontaneous natural phenomena which are conducted at least in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Mr A.N. Kulichkov has written that repair of hotel and restaurant is completed now. In their place I would reconstruct a Museum of Nature and zoo enclosures first of all. I imagine what conditions for animals are now there. As to the Museum, it is just horror! In my opinion, the people come to Belovezhskaya Pushcha with other purpose, do not sit in a restaurant or visit a hotel. They come to take excursion in the Pushcha forest! The National Park's administration should be ashamed to serve excursions for the tourists in such the kind. What will foreign tourists think about the National Park?!

Zarina Shevko(Mozyr), «World of Animals» (Gomel), No 12, December 2005

A prickly wire atop of a concrete
block-fence from the side of
the village of Kamenyuki

I carefully red the responses made by Mr A.N. Kulichkov and B.I. Malishevskiy. I did not thoroughly study sanitary rules, forest fire prevention rules, wood residuals destruction rules etc. However the impression is created that Mr A.N. Kulichkov only justified all negative activities in Pushcha, proving its advantage and going to correct nothing.

The text about the "authors of appeals" who are not always aware of the situation … or they are initially inciting to negatively report about the activity of the National Park…" provokes to take offence. It is very obvious there: fires right in the wood, hart is sank by seeing the dead museum in the reserved wood, the predatory animals rush about in muddy cages, as for describing the guide's service I cannot even find the words! Is it possible after this to be all the same? Is it possible to pass by?! Did someone really fabricate this for the purpose to specially criticize actions of the managers from the National Park? I went in Pushcha by fillings to meet a fairy tale and gladly expected to join the execution of my "children" dream… Whether am I guilty that I created bright illusion of the century old and mighty wood on the basis of articles, books and stories red about this place, while now the illusion has collapsed?!

No, it is impossible to call the truth of Belovezhskaya Pushcha the "sacred" and "spring-pore"…

On the other hand, the response from the Ministry of Nature Protection gives hope and it should like to believe that all its content is the valid truth. But it seems that we were understood wrong – the Museum of Nature needs to reconstruct an exposition, do not renew it! It is very easy to "disguise" murder by natural death... A photo-exhibition by the professional photographer would impress no less than the stuffed animals and, moreover, give an opportunity to see animal living in natural conditions and … with alive fire in eyes!

I do want to say the words from a song "Having warmed my heart, to carry away a treasured and marvelous tune with me to console the living"!

*****

The editor team's opinion. First of all, the newspaper editor team states gratitude to Manager of the Property Management Department of the President A.N. Kulichkov and Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Protection V.I. Malisheskiy. Such the democratic form of relationships as "inquiry – response" became possible only thanks to Aarhus convention ratified by Belarus. We thank also all readers who expressed their opinion concerning the received answers.

After careful investigation of all letters and discussions on the topic, the editor team considers necessary to express own opinion.

Unfortunately, in received responses from state top-bodies, we could not find answers to questions put in the Open letter.

We suppose that it is impossible to call the present ecological conditions in Belovezhskaya Pushcha satisfactory. The state top-bodies also realize it very well. At the same time, the other matter should be honestly admitted - such the calamitous situation of the unique natural site did not suddenly arise "last years". Pushcha "went" to this situation ever since its status was changed from State Reserve into State Protected Game Ground. The followed up "transformations" and "improvements", as a consequence of this administrative decision, slowly but surely moved Pushcha into the deep and amplifying year after year ecological crises.

The editor team is very anxious in the following:

How effective is scientific monitoring carried out in our country? Or are the overall army of forest experts not capable to make forecast on numbers of wood pests and accordingly to carry out the appropriate preventive works?
Is it possible to consider normal if the main tool to struggle pests in the unique Pushcha is axe?
Who gains benefit from reduction the experts of the scientific department of the National Park?
Why Pushcha is so dirty of rubbish and why are bonfires placed directly at a natural monument, the giant oak tree?
What is the level of ecological education provided for tourists in the National Park?
Who personally or what Institute will bear responsibility to descendants for the planned program of reorganization and management of Belovezhskaya Pushcha?

The other thing is also obvious - ecological conditions and future to preserve and use Pushcha should be more open for public discussions, including TV. Submitted information should be closer to the reality, not embellished (advertising). The scientific investigations should be priority and be put in practice, do not just be sound of scientific reports. For example, interesting conclusions made by E.N. Meshechko (A.S. Pushkin Brest University) have been presented at the Seventh scientific and practical conference "Ecological problems of Polessie and contiguous areas" (Gomel, 2005) "Now, in spite of enlargement of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha's area up to 160,000 ha, observations show a lack of essential positive changes in functions of wood ecosystems (the process of spruce forest dying is in progress, renewal of deciduous tree species is limiting, turning to dry meadows etc.). Landscapes adjacent to Pushcha are characterized by intensive transformation to economically managed areas (over sixty percents of the territory are covered by agricultural lands; marsh areas close to Pushcha including bogs "Wild Nikor", "Wild", "Horevskoe Bog", "Busuny" etc have been drained). Use of chemical substances for agricultural protection in adjoined landscapes, transport emissions and transboundary transfer of air pollutions also negatively affect the functioning Belovezhskaya Pushcha. For instance, in 2004 12,500 kg of chemicals were used only within the territory of the agricultural enterprise "Belovezhskiy", while 10,000 cars and 6,000 motorcycles are totaled only within the area of Kamenetskiy district. The more diverse natural environment in surroundings of Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the more it is steady against various influences"...

This information is good not only to reflect but also to make proper actions of both scientific and ostensibly "initially inciting" public, and officials. It is especially as the scientific department of the National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" has undergone very significant changes, both of quality and quantity. For example, The Okskiy Zapovednik (strict reserve) in Russia of the area of only 77,000 ha has 32 employees in the scientific department, plus more 5 employees of the department of ecological education. And what about us? There is even no wish to put figures…

The Project Group "Belovezhskaya Pushcha – 21th Century" has announced the beginning of the Public information campaign " Pseudo-ecological tourism and education in Belovezhskaya Pushcha - WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?", , devoted to problems of ecological education and tourism in the National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" "We ask all people who worry or concern about this unique site of wild reserved nature to put your opinion and offers regarding the problems raised above on the Forum of the Website "Belovezhskaya Pushcha – 21th Century" (http://bp21.org.by/ru/forum/). Further, we will inform the public on results of this discussion and we will prepare conclusion to acquaint the governmental bodies with a wide public opinion on the problems of preservation and management of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.".

The newspaper will acquaint the readers about the progress of the campaign and continue to publish information concerning the problems of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.

The Editor team of the Newspaper "World of Animals" (Gomel)

Photos show rotten timber; bonfire spots; rubbish in the forest; a prickly wire atop of a concrete block-fence from the side of the village of Kamenyuki (an information source is the Project "BP-21 Century" http://bp21.org.by/ru/ff/.