PER UN’ECOLOGIA POLITICA DEI BORDERSCAPES: IL CASO DEL CONFINE TRA POLONIA E BIELORUSSIA NELLA FORESTA DI BIAŁOWIEŻA

Abstract

Political ecology of borderscapes: the Poland-Belarus border in the Białowieża Forest. – The Białowieża Forest stretches across the Poland-Belarus border and it is considered as one of the most ecologically valuable forests of Europe. The area, which is partly protected for its natural value, has been historically interested by military operations including the recent construction of a fence along the border due to the migrant crisis between Belarus and the EU. Here migrants are used by Belarus as pawns in a game of blackmail with Poland and the other European countries, with serious implications on people’s life also due to the harsh climatic and environmental conditions of the area. The case of Białowieża suggests the potential of a new field of investigation on the militarisation of natural, protected areas in Europe as well as around the world.