Three truths but Pushcha alone
Victor Bakharev, Specially for the Website "Belovezhskaya Pushcha – 21st Century", May 11, 2006
I am sitting and reflecting why is such a sacred site of our country of Belarus, where Jan Jack Russo dreamed to take a residence, under any permanent damnation? Belovezhskaya Pushcha is the unique natural site which, as the fates decree (in other words, due to ruling princes, kings and other managers), continually had a special status. I do not mention periods of long government. I only note that even Germans gave much attention to Pushcha during the Second World War (1941- 1945), since the second month of occupation. They let Gering govern it and then an ambitious plan to reconstruct Pushcha was developed. However, grandiose intention came to naught. Thousand cubic metres of best timber, "kindly" harvested by Bolsheviks before the war, were only the measure to take it out. Before 40-s the USSR had plans to make battle plywood fighters (aircraft) but duralumin was shortly invented and a need for plywood of the best quality has passed. Nevertheless, the timber was already logged… for Germans.
The war period is the most "dark" part of a Pushcha's history. There were velour feats, for instance a feat of machine-gunners. There were big mistakes, for instance the Kowpak's scouts counted upon a free way through Pushcha but they were seized and killed. Pushcha is still keeping secrets and horror of many people taken out from Brest and killed at night in the middle of wood. Many tombs are still nameless while there are even no their traces somewhere.
It seems when all is said above that Pushcha should become a sacred place. It really was so after the war. The Pushcha was a Reserve. But later … disorder began: a Protection Game Ground, then a National Park where is possible to shoot BISON (a symbol of Belarus) in selected places. It seems that this fact conveys all to me!
What do we have now?
A scientific department, which in 90-s thanks to an "American" (GEF) project began to revive, changed its location some time ago to be placed in an area of timber processing plant. However, I recently conversed with Nickolai Cherkas, employee of the scientific department who depicted a rather good picture and prospects: new young employees have appeared in the scientific department (although they also appeared in the past from time to time but then left the department…) and, as the most important according to Nickolai Cherkas, there is now a real opportunity to be engaged in a science. The only trouble is there is no one to be engaged in it since the old employees were compelled to leave this business in due time or retired. The new employees are not aware of scientific subtlety and wisdom for a while yet. It is difficult to restore all in "site of a fire" once again. It is easier to start all afresh. It is a pity that, because of inept management, unique scientific potential created due to big efforts in 70-s could be disorganized. Taking into account chaos and instability that occur in Pushcha already for two decades, such the potential will not be appeared any more.
Nickolai Cherkas as the representative of the National Park at a conference in the city of Vitebsk was full of optimism. But did he have a choice more? He had to authorize a business trip. He will not be allowed to make the next business trip otherwise after the heads are aware of truthful estimation of processes in Pushcha made by the scientific employees at their meetings.
On the other hand, we know another kind of Pushcha made by Valery Dranchuk in his book "Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Resolution SOS, the Chronicle of Beauty and Struggle", 2004. Events described in this edition are represented completely in other light which is far of such optimism as Nickolai Cherkas described.
At last, I often visit the website "Belovezhskaya Pushcha - 21st Century" and receive the electronic bulletin "Belovezhskaya Pushcha - the Voice of Primeval Forest". I read news from the area of Belovezhskaya Pushcha and I tremble with excitement getting know about how very hard is to obtain information. It is sometimes a big risk for safety and, possibly … for life. No, I am not mistaken. I am very aware of a story about D.Stupak and his fellows who once, twenty years ago, already tried to stand up for the truth and to defend the law. Their next meetings were with the gangsters and these fighters for fairness paid a high price - reanimation, physical inability and … death in some years.
Why do the various people say in different ways but all about the same - Pushcha feels itself bad? It calls for help! Is there really no one who can help?
Why couldn't a commission of the UNESCO's experts objectively and truly estimate the situation in Pushcha in spring of 2004? I don't mean my claims to the experts but I mean reasons why it didn't happen. There are also very many other "why".
Nevertheless, Pushcha lives! This is going on contrary to plunder of its natural riches and up to mockery of an object of worship in Belarus. I appeal to the Belarusians living in the country and abroad. People, if we have something of the sacred, this is Pushcha. We, having lost it, will lose something more than just a site of good wood! We will lose the Belarusian Symbol and Sacred Place. Not be indifferent!
The former Pushcha's employee separated from Pushcha by local chiefs against my will but did not put it out of my heart.
Victor Bakharev
Philosophy Doctor of Biology, Senior Lecturer