Biebrza National Park

Biebrza National Park (Polish: Biebrzański Park Narodowy) is a national park in Podlaskie Voivodeship, northeastern Poland, situated along the Biebrza River.

Biebrza National Park
Polish: Biebrzański Park Narodowy
IUCN category II (national park)
Biebrza River at Burzyn, Poland
Park logo with Ruff
Location in Poland
LocationPodlaskie Voivodeship, Poland
Nearest cityOsowiec-Twierdza
Coordinates53°28′00″N 22°39′41″E
Area592.23 km2 (228.66 sq mi)
Established9 September 1993
Governing bodyMinistry of the Environment
www.biebrza.org.pl
Official nameBiebrzański National Park
Designated24 October 1995
Reference no.756[1]

The largest of Poland's 23 national parks, the Biebrza National Park was created on September 9, 1993. Its total area is 592.23 km2 (228.66 sq mi), of which forests cover 155.47 km², fields and meadows covering 181.82 km² and marshes with an area of 254.94 km².

Biebrza Marshes
Main article: Biebrza Marshes

The Biebrza Marshes are the most precious part of the park. Biebrza National Park protects vast and relatively untouched fenlands with a unique variety of several communities of plants, rare wetland birds, and mammals such as elk and beaver. The Biebrza wetlands as well as the Narew River valleys are very important centres for birds’ nesting, feeding and resting. In 1995 the park was designated as a wetland site of worldwide significance and is under the protection of the Ramsar Convention.

Red Marshes
Main article: Red Marsh Nature Reserve

The most important part of the Park is Red Marsh (Polish: Rezerwat przyrody Czerwone Bagno), which is under strict protection.

The park's headquarters is located in Osowiec-Twierdza 8 village, within the grounds of the historic Osowiec Fortress from the 19th century, near Goniądz.

2020 April fires

On April 18,2020 a fire broke out that destroyed at least 6 thousand hectares of grass and woodland. This fire was caused by illegal grass burning. While usually the fire would have been put out with the onset of the flooding of the grassland, this year`s low water level meant that the fire kept on raging until it was finally declared under control on April 26th. It has been the most devastating fire since 1992.[2]

References
  1. "Biebrzański National Park". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. "Biebrza National Park Fires in Poland". Payne Institute for Public Policy. Colorado School of Mines. 14 May 2020.



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