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Poland's Białowieża no-go zone and the Belarus border
Summary
A look back at the Polish decision to close part of an ancient forest to curb crossings from Belarus.
What prompted Poland to close off part of the Białowieża Forest? On 10 June 2024, Poland announced a "no-go zone" there, aimed at preventing migrants from crossing the border from Belarus. The announcement was part of the wider Belarus–European Union border crisis.
The move came four days after a Polish border guard soldier died on 6 June 2024. The soldier had been stabbed by a migrant trying to cross the EU border from Belarus.
A cost for the summer season
The restriction drew immediate concern about its potential impact on tourism during the summer. A forest zone closed to the public affects visitors as well as those trying to cross, and that tension was visible from the first day of the announcement.
The sequence, a fatal stabbing followed within days by a restricted zone, showed how quickly pressure on the Polish side of the frontier turned into a change in access to the border area.
