Feasibility

Abstract

Extensive livestock farming, including hay making, seems the most feasible management strategy for open peatland. In the longer term, wilderness grazing may become more feasible. The loss of economic viability of traditional livestock farming and related haymaking may be reversed by innovation of new marketable 'Biebrza' products, 'green services', e.g. eco- and agro-tourism, and by financial subventions by the EU and the Polish Government. Large scale mechanical harvesting of hay and litter is very costly, unless the harvested hay can be marketed. The feasibility of New Wilderness, especially complemented Wilderness, may increase in the longer term. The BNP offers excellent perspectives for a growing role of wild herbivores and natural processes. An eventual step-by-step transition may pass through stages with increased densities of elk, red deer, and wild boar, (semi-) feralisation of Konik ponies, re-introduction of European Bison and finally (semi-) feralisation of cattle. New Wilderness in an enlarged 'Greater Biebrza Ecosystem' will create a unique, complete ecosystem in Europe, with large economic potential