Poland (Biebrza)

Background info

since 25th april the situation has been under control (no more fires [for now])

around 6000 hectares has been burnt

the area affected by the fires is unique and is one of the best-preserved peat bog sites in Europe

The Park includes 15 547 ha of forests, 18 182 ha of agricultural land, and 25 494 ha of wetlands - the most valuable habitats of the park - the famous Biebrza marshes. Unique in Europe for its marshes and peatlands, as well as its highly diversified fauna, especially birds - the Park was designated as a wetland site of global significance and is under the protection of the RAMSAR Convention

in many places the peat bogs are in clumps, so when the fire penetrates into these clumps it is stored there and when a gust of wind appears, the fire ignites again

Agnieszka Zach, a park guide, said on Facebook, “With every hectare, new-born elk, deer and wild boar are dying. Eggs and chicks are dying. Animals are dying in defence of their nests and young.”

the Facebook page Moja Biebrza wrote that firefighters reported seeing a white-tailed eagle burn to death as it protected its nest of young with its wings

in the last century as much as 86 percent of all Polish peat bogs were drained, which is why the Biebrza river valley is so valuable

experts have blamed climate change and the Polish government's water polices

Polish environmentalists called on their government to change its wasteful water policies, which they said were partly to blame for the fire

Last year, Poland announced a 14 billion zloty ($ 3.3 billion) plan to fight drought, which focuses on water retention throughout the country. In response to the blaze in Biebrza, President Andrzej Duda called for Poles to use water more responsibly, but did not announce any concrete steps.

The meteorological office say that all types of drought are now occurring in Poland: meteorological, hydrological, agricultural and hydrogeological.

according to the experts, the situation has not been this bad in at least a hundred years

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Make a sign with #SOSBiebrza

Background info

HOW YOU CAN HELP

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