Key Polish wildlife habitats threatened [petition]

[Guest guest]

Key Polish wildlife habitats threatened

by construction of “Via Baltica”

02-10-2006

 

A coalition of conservation groups is today launching an e-petition to

protest over proposed road developments in Poland which threaten to destroy

valuable wildlife and habitats protected under European law. The

developments form part of the Helsinki to Warsaw international transport

corridor called “Via Baltica”.

 

OTOP, the Polish partner of BirdLife International, WWF Poland and the CEE

Bankwatch Network are concerned about the impact of construction activities

on fragile natural areas and are pushing for the Polish government to stop

work immediately on four projects and await the results of a Strategic

Environmental Assessment.

 

More than 150,000 people in Poland have already signed a petition against

the road development and destruction of habitats, but now campaigners are

calling for more people to express their concern through the e-petition.

 

http://www.viabalticainfo.org/en/petition

 

“The Polish government is getting a reputation for disregarding European law

and its own natural heritage. We ask people everywhere to sign the

e-petition and speak out in favour of Europe’s priceless green areas. We

want the Polish government to start taking its obligations to nature and

sustainable development seriously,” said Malgorzata Znaniecka, OTOP’s

Important Bird Area Officer.

 

“We understand the need for upgrading the road system, but we object to

these decisions being taken without proper environmental evaluation. There

are some very precious areas at risk, and a full appraisal should identify a

less damaging route for Via Baltica.”

 

The current road development proposals cut through Augustow and Knyszyn

Primeval Forests, the Biebrza Marshes National Park and skirt the edge of

Narew River National Park.

 

All are Special Protected Areas (SPA) under the Birds Directive and proposed

as Sites of Community Interest (SCI) under the Habitats Directive—Europe’s

strongest laws for the protection of natural environments. They contain a

magnificent array of threatened wildlife, including wolf, lynx and

Lesser-spotted and White-tailed Eagles Aquila pomarina and Haliaeetus

albicilla. Biebrza Marshes is the most important breeding site in Europe for

two globally-threatened bird species; Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus

paludicola and Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga.

 

Spectacular wildlife, including lynx, are threatened by the construction of

Via Baltica in Poland

 

“Developing roadways through the centre of this pristine environment is

nothing short of a crime,” said Anna Roggenbuck, Polish National Coordinator

of CEE Bankwatch Network. “The Polish government has said it intends to

begin work on the Augustow city bypass by the end of 2006, which will begin

with the logging of primeval forest for access roads. Construction sites

will cause habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as the obvious impacts of

noise, water and air pollution, and the heightened risk of future road

collisions with animals. If the Strategic Environmental Assessment results

are soon going to show the best alternative route, why not wait?”

 

Recent actions, notably Poland’s Environment Minister issuing of positive

opinions* on the road development applications, has put a question mark over

Poland’s environmental motivations and credentials and make this a further

example of development proposals which flaunt European law—in this case

Article 6 of the Habitats Directive—putting Poland’s natural heritage at

risk.

 

The web petition is posted at: http://www.viabalticainfo.org/en/petition and

the signatures will be presented to the Polish government on 16 November

2006.

 

For further information please contact:

Malgorzata Znaniecka, IBA officer, OTOP – Polish Society for the Protection

of Birds, e-mail: malgorzata.znaniecka, tel./fax: + 48 85 740 11

54, mobile. + 48 605 072 963.

 

Marta Majka Wisniewska, “EU Funds for Sustainable Development” Project

Leader, WWF Poland, e-mail: mwisniewska, tel. +48 22 849 84 69, fax

+48 22 646 36 72, mobile. +48 602 888 143.

 

Anna Roggenbuck, Polish National Coordinator, CEE Bankwatch Network,

tel./fax +48 91 489 42 32, mobile +48 509 970 424

 

Robert Cyglicki, International Coordinator, CEE Bankwatch Network, mobile

+48 501 101 769

 

Note:

* Under Polish law, once the Minister of Environment has issued an opinion

only two more steps are required before construction work can begin: the

issuance of an environmental consent by the regional government (Podlasie

voivod), and the issuance of a building permit by the Podlasie Voivode (this

step does not involve public consultation).

Images

Images of some of the key threatened wildlife and habitats are available

from the campaign website at:

http://www.viabalticainfo.org/spip.php?article78

 

http://www.viabalticainfo.org/en/petition