To Act or not to Act Białowieża Forest under Conflicting Ecological Paradigms

Białowieża, a national treasure to the people of Poland and a unique ecosystem of historical significance, has become a site of an intense international debate, following a large scale Bark Beetle outbreak. The controversy centers around two opposing ecological paradigms: 1). Ecosystems without human interference would eventually reach a climax state that is self-regulating and in equilibrium (The No Action paradigm); 2). Trees infected by Ips typographus should be salvaged in order to reduce CO2 emissions, lower the fire risk, and prevent the collapse of healthy tree communities (The Adaptive Action paradigm). This contribution analyzes historical evidence and recent issues related to the management of Poland’s Białowieża Forest and presents a proposal towards a negotiated landscape design that allows for small-scale spatial mixing of different land-uses. Białowieża can become a unique example of a continuously evolving forest landscape that is resilient to fluctuating environmental conditions, human values and societal demands.