Another government effort to expand the Bialowieza National Park, protecting a rare primeval forest, is likely to fail because locals are staunchly opposed.

Regional residents, in northeastern Poland, are not expected to change their mind despite the promise of 100 million zlotys, just over 23 million euro, a hefty amount of money for a region inhabited by some 7,000 people.

The local communities could use this money to build sewer systems and sewage treatment plants, modern waste dumps and to improve their potential as tourist destinations.

The Ministry of Environment wants to expand the national park area from 10.5 thousand hectares to about 33 thousand hectares. The Minister of Environmental Protection, Maciej Nowicki, says it is the only way to ensure proper protection to Bialowieza Forest.

Locals argue that this will deprive them of cheaper wood, widely used for heating purposes, and they will no longer be allowed to pick wild mushrooms and  berries. According to the daily Gazeta Wyborcza, only a few people in the area support the expansion of the forest, but keep silent in fear of falling victim to acts of revenge. (kk/mmj)