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The site was identified as important in 2010 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List1	Season	Year(s)	Size	IBA criteria
Hazel Grouse Tetrastes bonasia	LC	breeding	1999-2001	1,600-1,800 breeding pairs	C6
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus	LC	breeding	1985-1994	250-280 breeding pairs	C6
Corncrake Crex crex	LC	breeding	1999-2001	80-120 males	C1
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana	LC	breeding	1999-2001	10-40 males	C6
Eurasian Pygmy-owl Glaucidium passerinum	LC	breeding	1999-2001	80-100 breeding pairs	C6
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus	LC	breeding	1999-2001	30-50 breeding pairs	C6
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus	LC	breeding	2003-2004	90-120 breeding pairs	C6
Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina	LC	breeding	2003-2004	30-35 breeding pairs	C6
Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus	LC	breeding	1999-2001	60-80 breeding pairs	C6
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Leiopicus medius	LC	breeding	1985-1994	1,100-1,300 breeding pairs	C6
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos	LC	breeding	1999-2005	60-90 breeding pairs	C6
Barred Warbler Curruca nisoria	LC	breeding	1985-1994	200-220 breeding pairs	C6
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis	LC	breeding	1999-2001	5,000-10,000 breeding pairs	C6
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva	LC	breeding	1999-2001	300-600 breeding pairs	C6

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2010) may differ.

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2010. The most recent assessment (2016) is shown below.

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat	Quantity (% remaining)	Quality (% carrying capacity)	Result
Forest	good (> 90%)	good (> 90%)	favourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Biological resource use	happening now	majority/most of area/population (50-90%)	very rapid to severe deterioration	very high

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected areas	Management plan	Other action	Result
Whole area of site (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation	A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	high

Year	Protected Area	Designation	% overlap with IBA
1932	Białowieski Park Narodowy	Park Narodowy	17
1960	Przęślin	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1962	Lipiny w Puszczy Białowieskiej	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1962	Lipiny	Nature Reserve	<1
1969	Rezerwat Krajobrazowy Władysława Szafera	Rezerwat Przyrody	2
1974	Pogorzelce	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1974	Nieznanowo	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1976	Bialowieza	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve	17
1979	Bialowieza Forest	World Heritage Site	17
1979	Starzyna	Rezerwat Przyrody	1
1979	Głęboki Kąt	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1979	Michnówka	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1979	Szczekotowo	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1979	Sitki	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1979	Wysokie Bagno	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1985	Dębowy Grąd	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1986	Puszcza Białowieska	Obszar Chronionego Krajobrazu	83
1995	Olszanka Myśliszcze	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1995	Kozłowe Borki	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1995	Podcerkwa	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1995	Siemianówka	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1995	Przewłoka	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1995	Dolina Waliczówki	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1995	Podolany	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1995	Gnilec	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
1995	Berezowo	Rezerwat Przyrody	<1
2001	Puszcza Białowieska	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	98
2003	Lasy Naturalne Puszczy Białowieskiej	Rezerwat Przyrody	14
2004	Puszcza Białowieska	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	100

Habitat1	Habitat detail	% of IBA
Forest	Broadleaved deciduous woodland, Native coniferous woodland, Mixed woodland, Alluvial and very wet forest	85
Artificial/Terrestrial	Highly improved re-seeded landscapes, Arable land, Urban parks and gardens, Other urban and industrial areas, Ruderal land	5
Grassland	Humid grasslands, Mesophile grasslands	5
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Rivers and streams, Raised bogs, Water fringe vegetation	5

1. IUCN Habitat classification.

Land use	% of IBA
forestry	70
nature conservation and research	20
agriculture	5
urban/industrial/transport	5
hunting	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bialowieza Forest (Poland). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bialowieza-forest-iba-poland on 22/11/2024.