Highlights

• Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Mikołaj Dorożała met with local government officials from municipalities located around the Białowieża Forest.
• The talks focused on, among other things, the development of the region based on nature conservation.
• In 2025, the 'forest' municipalities received over PLN 14.2 million in environmental subsidies.
• Currently, only 39% of the Polish part of the Białowieża Forest is protected.
• Increasing protection by another 57% and expanding the national park could bring the municipalities approximately PLN 10 million in additional funds per year.
• Ecological subsidies can support areas such as public transport, education and tourism development.

Discussions with local government officials

The meeting in the region was an opportunity to present local government officials with specific data and new opportunities related to the protection of the Białowieża Forest. Representatives of the Ministry of Climate and Environment spoke about the current system of environmental subsidies that realistically contribute to local budgets and about what additional funds could go to municipalities if the scope of nature protection will be increased. During the meeting, which took place on 17 February, there was also a discussion about development directions and investments that could strengthen social and tourist potential.

Environmental subsidies can be allocated to the current needs of municipalities. This is an incredible opportunity for truly significant funding of local budgets, for example for the development of public transport, which would both facilitate the lives of residents and provide significant support for tourism – the most important branch of the region's economy. Investing in the local community and tourists can quickly pay off, and environmental subsidies are paid out every year. With proper planning, the natural treasure that is the Białowieża Forest can therefore generate real profits

- said Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment Mikołaj Dorożała.

Environmental subsidies

Thanks to the amendment to the Act on Local Government Revenues, prepared by the Ministry of Finance and passed in 2024, nature conservation for the first time translates into permanent inflows to local budgets. The Act guarantees permanent subsidies – money paid to municipalities in return for protected areas.

The basic rate is PLN 310 per hectare of nature reserve. Depending on the form of protection, different conversion rates apply:
•    national park – 200% of the rate,
•    reserve – 100%,
•    Natura 2000 site – 15%.

In the case of the Białowieża Forest, for the currently protected 39% of the area in the form of a national park, reserves and Natura 2000 sites, the surrounding municipalities received a total of over PLN 14.2 million in subsidies in 2025. This amount includes funds for the protection of 22,052.84 ha, covering the Białowieża National Park, reserves, Natura 2000 sites and areas under landscape protection. The potential is even greater. It is possible to place another 57% of the Białowieża Forest under reserve protection, as well as to expand the national park. Such decisions could increase subsidies by approximately PLN 10 million per year.

Saving the Forest for Future Generations

According to public opinion polls commissioned by the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute, the vast majority of the population, between 84% and 92% of respondents, supports the idea of placing the entire forest area under protection. This opinion is also shared by the inhabitants of the forest municipalities. Up to 91% of them are in favour of protecting the entire Białowieża Forest area with minimal human interference, and over 70% oppose logging and hunting in this area.

This support is not just a declaration – it translates into real expectations for the future of the region. Therefore, as Deputy Minister Mikołaj Dorożała emphasises, the completion of the management plan is only the beginning of the changes.

We have recently finalised work on the Integrated Management Plan for the Białowieża Forest UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is of great importance for the region and creates a real opportunity for its development. However, we do not want to stop there, because this region has enormous potential, which still lies in the Białowieża Forest. If, for example, another 57% of the Białowieża Forest area, which according to the new integrated plan is the so-called zone III, were to be covered by reserve protection, the municipalities could count on another approx. PLN 10 million per year. This is particularly important for the Forest region, which is currently facing the problem of depopulation. Subsidies for nature conservation offer enormous opportunities not only to keep people in this region, but also to attract new ones. There is much to discuss

– concluded Deputy Minister Mikołaj Dorożała.

 

Amount of subsidies granted in 2025:

Local government unit	Net profit from the existence of nature conservation measures in 2025 in PLN
Hajnówka (municipality)	2,464,858.00
Hajnówka district/county	3,989,571.00
Bialowieża	2,651,033.00
Czeremcha	37,643.00
Czyże	23,220.00
Dubicze Cerkiewne	1,003,679.00
Kleszczele	440,697.00
Narew	556,798.00
Narewka	3,064,640.00
TOTAL:	14,232,139.00