"Totally mindless and thoughtless devastation." Hundreds of trees felled along Bug River

Work is underway on the construction of an electronic barrier along the Bug River on the Lublin section of the border with Belarus. Trees and shrubs within 10 meters of the riverbank have been cleared to make way for the installation of monitoring systems. Environmental advocates are criticizing the project, stating that the environmental damage is severe and pointless. They argue that removing vegetation and disturbing the riverbanks will accelerate erosion, potentially submerging the camera poles in just a few years.

"It’s hard to find the words to describe this. It’s totally mindless and thoughtless devastation," said Małgorzata Klemens, a nature photographer affiliated with the Nie dla Muru (No to the Wall) initiative. "Beyond the destruction of natural habitats, such as those of beavers, the riverbanks will erode faster, and within two to three years, the shoreline will reach the poles being installed now," she added, echoing concerns from conservationists.

The project focuses on the Bug River valley within the Lublin Voivodeship, where trees and shrubs have been cut down as part of the plan to build the electronic barrier. According to the Border Guard, the system will consist of approximately 1,800 camera poles, around 4,500 day-night and thermal imaging cameras, as well as specialized sensors. The project is scheduled for completion by April next year, with a total budget exceeding 279 million zlotys.

24/7 border surveillance

The construction of the electronic barrier along the Bug River will enable the Border Guard to monitor the border around the clock. "This will provide Border Guard officers with a tool to protect the state border, detect events related to border crossing, and enable continuous surveillance of the border road zone," says Dariusz Sienicki, spokesperson for the Nadbużański Border Guard Unit. Asked about the fact that most migrants attempt to illegally cross the land border (in the Podlaskie Voivodeship) rather than the river, Sienicki acknowledged this, but pointed out that since the beginning of the year, 395 people have been detained trying to enter Poland by crossing the Bug River.

No approvals required

Sienicki also explained that the barrier was being built along the entire 172 kilometers of the border with Belarus in the Lublin Voivodeship. Trees and shrubs have been cleared within 10 meters of the riverbank.

According to Article 10 of the Act on the Protection of the State Border, the Border Guard can build border protection devices on lands within the border road zone without requiring any legal acts such as administrative decisions or agreements with environmental authorities.

Collaboration with environmental authorities

The construction project did not require formal agreements with the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection (RDOŚ). However, Sienicki explained that the investment is under ecological supervision by the contractor, who is working in cooperation with RDOŚ.

"The scope of collaboration includes monitoring the construction area and undertaking actions related to environmental and nature protection. This is crucial given the scale of environmental impact, the location of the works, and the necessary measures to minimize the project's impact on the environment, particularly in areas under legal environmental protection," Sienicki emphasizes.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration’s press department, which was also contacted for comment, confirmed similar details about the project’s oversight and measures taken to reduce its ecological footprint.

Alarming manner

Łukasz Synowiecki, a nature enthusiast and tour guide, shared his dismay after witnessing the scale of destruction in protected areas such as the Szwajcaria Podlaska Nature Reserve in Terespol and the Łęg Dębowy Reserve near Janów Podlaski.

"No one questions the need to protect the border, but the manner in which it’s being done is alarming. Even the oldest, massive oak trees were felled, the land was torn up, and slopes were disturbed. Trees stabilize the soil and prevent erosion, but now erosion will accelerate, and the slopes will collapse," he explained.

He added bitterly: "If Vladimir Putin is watching this, he’s probably pleased that we’ve done this to ourselves as a country."

"Of course, those trees cannot be brought back, but perhaps this will serve as a lesson for the future," says Łukasz Synowiecki. He referenced recent government plans to secure the border with Ukraine, expressing hope that the example of what happened along the Bug River will encourage a more thoughtful approach.

"I hope this situation won’t repeat itself along the border river San," he added.

Significant environmental loss

Dr. Michał Żmihorski, director of the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Białowieża, while acknowledging his lack of expertise in defense matters, questioned the necessity of clearing entire stretches of forest.

"There are elevations along the river that, in my opinion, are excellent observation points where cameras could be installed without the need for clearing all the trees and shrubs," he remarked. "It feels like this decision was not well thought out. A significant environmental loss has occurred," Żmihorski emphasized, pointing to the long-term ecological impact of such actions.

He highlighted how the removal of trees and vegetation not only disrupts habitats but also exacerbates issues like soil erosion and destabilization of riverbanks. "These natural structures play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem," he explained.

Żmihorski called for a more balanced approach that takes both security and environmental preservation into account. "There’s no reason why these objectives should be mutually exclusive. With proper planning and consultation with environmental experts, it’s possible to secure borders without causing such extensive damage," he said.

Environmental protection recommendations

Cezary Wierzchoń, spokesperson for the Lublin Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection (RDOŚ), explained that after the Border Guard requested guidance, the directorate issued recommendations in July.

"These recommendations included establishing environmental oversight for the works, conducting operations outside the bird nesting season, and, if the work is conducted in nature reserves, leaving the cut wood within those reserves," Wierzchoń detailed.

He also mentioned that RDOŚ will soon provide an evaluation of how these recommendations have been implemented. "Our staff have already conducted site inspections," he added.

The assessment will offer insight into whether the construction of the electronic barrier along the Bug River has adhered to environmental guidelines and minimized ecological damage.