Government signals it will defy order from EU’s top court to suspend operations in Unesco-listed ancient forestPoland will keep logging in the ancient forest of Białowieża despite an order from the EU’s top court to halt the practice, the country’s environment minister has said. The court of justice of the European Union last week ordered Poland to suspend logging operations pending a final judgment on its dispute with the EU. Polish television station TVN24 showed footage of machines felling trees in the Białowieża forest, which has been listed as a Unesco world heritage site. The EU took Poland to court on 13 July, arguing that the Białowieża operations were destroying a forest that boasts unique plant and animal life, including the continent’s largest mammal, the European bison. The Unesco committee overseeing the world heritage sites project has joined the EU in calling on Poland to halt the logging operations.

Source: The Guardian July 31, 2017 14:48 UTC