Polish environmentalists have filed a complaint at the European Commission against the Polish government for not protecting the Bialowieza Primeval Forest.

NGOs provided the EC with documents which they say prove that the Bialowieza Forest, one of the last and largest remaining parts of primeval forest which once spread across Europe, is becoming devastated.

Environmentalists claim that they have asked the Polish government several times to take steps to protect the unique woodland but it does not respond.

“We hope that the EC will take action which will discourage Poland’s authorities from violating EU environmental regulations”, says eco-activist Krzysztof Okrasinski.

“Poland is obliged to protect endangered plant and animal species. Meanwhile, the state-owned National Forestry cuts off primeval trees, which can damage the forest and affect the whole ecosystem,” claims Okrasinski.

The National Forestry, on the other hand, admits cutting off trees but for ecological, not economical reasons. (mg)