European Diploma for Belovezhskaya Pushcha: how it happened
Nikolai Bambiza, Tatiana Nikolaeva, "Zarya" (The Dawn) Newspaper, No 2, January 10, 2008
Late November the Standing Committee of the Berne Convention in Strasbourg (France) considered the issue on renewal of the Diploma of Protected Areas of the Council of Europe (a European Diploma) for one of the top-outstanding reserves of the world – the National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha". It should be mentioned there was a lot of rumors and gossips on this issue particularly in the opposition press. Galina Volchuga, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Protection, Igor Kachanovsky, Chief of the Department of Nature Resources Protection and Utilization at the Property Management department of the President, and Nikolai Bambiza, General Director of the State Nature Protection Institution "The National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" presented driving arguments for prolongation of the European Diploma's validity. After the Belarusian delegation report on the CE recommendations' performance was presented, the Standing Committee stated reasonability to reexamine the National Park.
We, editorial staff, decided to find out details of the Strasbourg trip straight from the tin and questioned Nikolai Nikolaevich Bambiza on some issues under concern.
- Nikolai Nikolaevich, what was the reason for delay of the renewal of the European Diploma for Belovezhskaya Pushcha?
- The resolution based on Eckhart Kuijken’s report (Eckhart Kuijken, an expert who visited Belovezhskaya Pushcha in August, 2006) pinpointed positive reviews and a recommendation to prolong validity of the European Diploma for Belovezhskaya Pushcha. CE recommendations on the Diploma were mostly obeyed. However, during voting one of the Standing Committee members said NO. So, next spring other CE appointed independent expert will arrive to assure that there are no threads for the ancient forest. Only the long-term management plan for the State Nature Protection Institution "The National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha", that is one of 18 recommendation points, was incomplete for some objective reasons. But it is on the development stage. Exactly this document became a key objection for cancellation of prolongation of the European Diploma's validity.
- Don’t you think that development of the management plan is overextended?
- Independent ecologists and not indifferent public observers have concern on the reason that caused long-term development of the management plan. Developers of the document - research officers from the Sector of Wilderness Protection at the Center of Science and Practical Implementation on Bio-Resources of the Institute of Zoology at of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus – as well as our staff consider that it is a pretty difficult objective requiring engagement of numerous specialists and sufficient financial investment to develop a 10-year management plan for the specially protected area. After a forest surveying of Belovezhskaya Pushcha was complete and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection launched financial support for the National park's prospective plan of development and the specialists from the Institute immediately started working on the issue.
The Institute of Zoology is experienced on such documents' issuance for the objects of universal importance with compliance of international standards. The primary objective of the plan is the assessment of factors threatening flora and fauna of the ancient forest and the recommendation of complex activities on conservation of biological diversity.
The delay of the long-term plan of development is resulted from attachment of land areas to the National park and their stocktaking as well as reexamination of the territory impacted by natural disasters (hurricanes, pest outbreak). Adequate management plan is not possible to develop without these activities. Stocktaking was finished in 2006. The 10-year Territorial Structure and Forest Management Project was developed by 2007 by specialists from the State Unitary Enterprise BelGosLes based on the data received and featuring the protection of the forest.
Employees of the Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus are working on more detailed development of separate areas not included into this project or poorly considered as well as on the improvement of the plan close to the EU standards to present it to the Council of Europe. The document will be issued next year as they assure. The National park's management board as the most interested party helps to the officers engaged in the project. Employees of the National park collaborate in close contact with the Institute's specialists.
- What arguments were presented by the Belarusian delegation in defense of the rights on prestigious European award?
- Members of our delegation in Strasbourg presented strong arguments to reason that it was not possible to develop a management plan for the large territory of the National park faster. Moreover, CE recommendations include increase the National park's area for better preservation of its ecosystems. Attachment of lands resulted in about double size area of the Park. The area of strict protected zones was increased. Now the zone which is the most strictly protected is 30,000 hectares. We do not exclude its increase if it will be reasoned by scientists. Proper concern was given to the activities on conservation of the areas with Silver Fir, Wood Grouse and the Dikoe fen-mire. The report of the Belarusian delegation was considered and the Standing Committee declared to reexamine Belovezhskaya Pushcha by CE in spring, 2008.
It is evident that the European Diploma awarded to the National park in 1997 is a high reward. This reward means not only acknowledgment of the existence of the unique landscape but also spiritual people’s unity caring of preservation of natural environment for future generations. It is stated in the cover document on Diploma identity signed by the CE General Secretary. Everyone cares for the results of the visit of independent experts which will be made in Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
- Prior to the CE session on the issue a lot of articles appeared in the Belarusian mass media and websites. Did it affect you?
- The day before the Strasbourg session the mass media deprived the European Diploma from Belovezhskaya Pushcha, informed that 600-anniversary will be celebrated without the prestigious world award or kicked Grandfather Frost out of its Estate. There was a feeling that without Diploma the European bison will escape and ancient oaks will fall down. Let’s treat this close attention as reporters’ wish to boost editions, but some independent Belarusian ecologists with bare pleasure nattered over this topic with reference to their close relations with the sources in the Secretariat of the European Diploma of Protected Areas of the Council of Europe, and, perhaps were going to celebrate the non-prolongation. It seems like prestige of the state is not a big deal for them.
The delegation was in the CE office as a phone call occurred from one Belarusian "Sir" who previously applied to the high European body with application to cancel the prolongation of validity of the European Diploma for Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Perhaps, he will be happy if the Diploma is "canceled" and the only old aged forest in Belarus lost his honorable title. We need to disappoint "independent Belarusian ecologists": not indifferent people are employed in the National park, they care that Belovezhskaya Pushcha will celebrate with the Diploma not only its 600-anniversary but also 1000-anniversary since the first time occurrence in chronicles...
- Is it possible that the Diploma's validity cannot be extended when the management plan is ready?
- I think there won’t be any serious issues. It is rather difficult to form a negative image before the public as Belovezhskaya Pushcha is open for tourists from the whole world. CE is interested to develop tourism in national parks and we performed a lot including arrangement of the Grandfather Frost’s Estate. Hundred thousands of tourists visit the Park annually. I can say with confidence that tourist activities do not contribute misbalance to the function of nature preservation.
Moreover, a CE expert is able to clear up whether recommendations related to prolongation of the validity of the European Diploma are obeyed. The European Diploma's "cancellation" is out of the question as its validity either extended or not for some reasons but the Diploma cannot be called back. There are no such reasons why Belovezhskaya Pushcha cannot possess this prestigious award. It deserves it even due to the fact that it presents us possibility over hundreds centuries to admire majestic primeval forest and its numerous inhabitants.
- Thank you for your comments.
Tatiana Nikolaeva
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