Why does fence in Belovezhskaya Pushcha kill animals? - Fatal flaws of Polish engineers

Environmentalists warn about possible fatal consequences of the construction of a reinforced concrete fence on the border between Poland and Belarus as early as at the design stage. A report on the environmental impact of the construction was not prepared at the design stage of the fence. The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus told about the most tragic mistakes during the construction of the wall and its harmful effect on the nature of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.

In June, 2022, the construction of a fence on the border with Belarus has been finished in Poland. However, the neighboring country has not taken into account that the fence runs through the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The cooperation between the two countries was broken, and the law on the construction of the fence overturned all the environmental, water, advisory and construction acts.

Mistake 1. The animal passages are too small

Gaps made in the fence at the ground level are not enough even for the small animals. Holes of about 10 cm in diameter will only be accessible to small mammals (rodents, amphibians and reptiles). Foxes, badgers, hares, etc. will not fit into the passage. There is a high risk of injury and death of animals.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha is a rich deciduous and mixed forest. Therefore, the passages will be clogged with leaves, branches or soil. And with such a small diameter as now, these openings will not always be clean and passable. According to the calculations of experts, the openings for small mammals must be at least 1 m high and 1.5 m wide.

The animal passages must have not only the right size, but also sufficient density. They must also be located in a good location. It is not only important whether the animal fits in the passageway, but also whether it will want to use it at all.

Mistake 2. Lack of passages for large animals

But there is a small nuance: the passages for large animals shall be located every 1-2 kilometers, and therefore there shall be at least 30-60 of them only within the limits of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Now the 186th kilometer of the Belarusian-Polish border, which is surrounded by a fence, has only 24 passages.

Mistake 3. The passage can become a death trap for the animal

At a distance of about 2 km from the border, on the Belarusian side, there is another fence built during the Soviet times. If the crossings to the Polish side are closed, wild animals can get trapped by the metal fences and get stuck between them. It is possible that this could be a big problem for the European bison.

Fence on the Narevka River

It was planned that the marsh and river sections of the border would not be fenced with a barrier, which, according to the Polish side, would allow additional migration of the animals. But such areas are quite few and rare.

In summer, large animals, such as bison, that try to pass through the water areas can get bogged down, which can also pose a lethal threat to them.

These are the kind of disappointing conclusions made by Belarusian environmentalists.