OREANDA-NEWS. May 11, 2008. The Belovezhskaya Puscha National Park should step up the work on developing its tourist infrastructure, said President Alexander Lukashenko while visiting the state nature-conservative institution “The Belovezhskaya Puscha National Park”. On these days the President is making a working trip across Belarus’ regions, reported the Official website http://president.gov.by.

Belovezhskaya Puscha is one of the largest forest areas in Europe, which survives in its virtually primeval form. Territorially, it is divided by the state border into two parts – Belarusian and Polish. The Belarusian part of the Puscha occupies 150,000 ha. The Puscha has been restored to its 1760 geographic boundaries. Today the Puscha is a visiting card of Belarus and the most popular Belarusian national park among foreigners.

In 1992 the Belovezhskaya Puscha was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List and in 1993 it was given the status of a biosphere reserve. In 1997 the Council of Europe honoured the Puscha with a European Diploma of Protected Areas.

The Head of State was informed on fulfillment of his earlier instructions on improving the national park and promoting eco-tourism.

The President was also informed on the measures taken in the puscha to preserve the fauna and virgin forests, save the forest land from insect pests and wood diseases.

The recent measures taken in the park helped localize bark beetles and reduce the affected area.