The largest of Poland's 23 national parks,[2] the Biebrza National Park was created on 9 September 1993. Its total area is 592.23 km2 (228.66 sq mi), of which forests cover 155.47 km2, fields and meadows are spread over 181.82 km2 and marshes with an area of 254.94 km2.
The Biebrza Marshes are the most valuable part of the park. Biebrza National Park protects vast and relatively untouched fenlands with a unique variety of several communities of plants, rare wetland birds, and mammals such as elk and beaver. The Biebrza wetlands as well as the Narew River valleys are very important centres for birds’ nesting, feeding and resting. In 1995 the park was designated as a wetland site of worldwide significance and is under the protection of the Ramsar Convention.
On 18 April 2020 a fire broke out that destroyed at least 6,000 hectares of grass and woodland. This fire was caused by illegal grass burning. While usually the fire would have been put out with the onset of the flooding of the grassland, this year's low water level meant that the fire kept on raging until it was finally declared under control on April 26. It has been the most devastating fire since 1992.[3]
