Arbores Vitae – The Last European Primeval Forest

Protecting the Tree of Life
Arbores vitae is the title of an exhibition of large format photographs of the Białowieża Forest, which has been visiting Kraków since September. It's part of an environmentally-conscious project conducted by the European Earth Centre Foundation.

Białowieża is mainly associated with bison, for which the world's last remaining original temperate lowland forest is now a true refuge – the largest group of “free” bison in the world (about 450) lives here. The extremely diverse flora and fauna of these areas include, in addition to Europe's largest mammal, a large number of often unique species. The photos taken by eminent photographer and documentarian Jan Walencik bring out their beauty, discover unknown corners of the forest, and allow us to spy on the life of its inhabitants. The artist has been connected with Polish Television since the 1980s, where he contributed to the popular programme Zwierzyniec [Menagerie]. He and his wife Bożena have made roughly 50 nature documentaries, including Milan’s MFFT Grand Prix-winning 5-parter The Pulse of the Primeval Forest, and the recent production The Saga of the Primeval Forest. As a photographer, Walencik mostly photographs his beloved Białowieża Forest, where he’s lived for 17 years. This love can be seen in photographs, regardless of whether they show a young lynx, tiny black storks under the watchful care of their father, or close-ups of colourful fungi and lichens. The large-format photographs with accompanying commentaries by eminent scientists, who are also fans of the “Land of the Bison”, create a colourful story about this fairy-tale corner of Europe.

The best preserved section of the Białowieża Forest is protected by the Białowieża National Park (the only Polish natural area on the UNESCO World Heritage list). This doesn’t mean, though, that Mother Nature isn’t still exposed to many dangers here. What is needed is the assent of the authorities and public opinion for successive programmes to protect endangered species, and agreement on a sensible balance between their safe development and human needs. These issues will be aired through screenings of nature documentaries, including the previously mentioned Saga of the Primeval Forest by the Walenciks and Ushuaia Nature by Nicolas Hulot (multimedia pavilion, Saturdays and Sundays from 7pm), presentations on areas in Poland belonging to the European Natura 2000 Network, a scientific conference (October), and competitions and workshops for children and young people. An autumn visit to Wawel, a walk along the Vistula, and an attractive ecology lesson in one package. (Dorota Dziunikowska, “Karnet” monthly)