Conflicting EU Funds - WWF

Case Study 5
Via Baltica and Natura 2000
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CASE STUDIES
Funding instrument(s) involved
TENs-Transport
Main effects
Potential negative effects on sites designated as
part of the Natura 2000 network.
Country & Region
Poland, Podlasie Region
Further information/reference
• Marta Majka Wisniewska (WWF-Poland)
• Przemek Chylarecki (OTOP – BirdLife
in Poland)
• Robert Cyglicki (CEE Bankwatch Network)
• http://conventions.coe.int/
• www.bankwatch.org
Background
The construction of the Polish section of the Via
Baltica, a new international expressway, began
in 2004. The road is to run from Warsaw to
Helsinki, and is part of Trans-European Corridor
I which will connect the countries of southern
and western Europe with Finland. NGOs
consider that its current route through Bialystok
will threaten four important bird areas (IBAs)
that have been designated as part of the Natura
2000 network (areas meet the requirements of
SACs). In addition, the route would cut important
migratory corridors for large mammals, especially
lynx and wolf.
The sites that could be affected by the Via Baltica
include:
• The Biebrza Marshes: this site is Poland’s
largest national park, and protects
one of the largest and most important natural
peatlands in Central Europe.
• The Augustowska Forest and the
Knyszynska Forests: both have significant
breeding populations of bird species
that have unfavourable conservation status
in Europe, and many features of continental
primeval forest.
There is at least one viable alternative route
for the Via Baltica, which would pass through
Lomza town and avoid the Natura sites. However,
NGOs are concerned that local political support
for the Bialystok alternative will overrule Poland’s
conservation obligations.