Poland unclear on how to save Europe's last pristine forest

Poland's Environment Ministry says it is leaving part of Europe's last pristine forest without any human intervention as it seeks ways of saving it from woodworms.

The Bialowieza forest, in Poland's northeast, is at the heart of a heated debate between foresters who advocate cutting tens of thousands of cubic meters (yards) of worm-affected trees, and environmentalists, who say that nature alone should be allowed to deal with the plague.

The ministry said on its website Monday that some of the forest, home to wild bison, will be left without human intervention, but will be photographed and monitored. Logging will be allowed in other parts of the forest which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and occupies some 1,500 square kilometers (580 sq. miles) in Poland and Belarus.