IUCN SSC Bison Specialist Group

I work as a teacher and scientist at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, which is the first and most important University for many years. During these many years I have held various positions: head of department, head of doctoral studies, dean and director. My lectures cover interesting but complex topics, from statistics to the conservation and management of animal populations. In my research, I have specialized in the assessment and conservation of genetic variability in small animal populations, particularly the problem of inbreeding depression and genetic drift. I have developed conservation programs for various animal populations, including Hutsul horses, Olkuska sheep, Japanese quail, mice and European bison. The most important object of my research and implementation is the European bison Bison bonasus - a species that has changed its category in the IUCN Red List from "Endangered" (EN) to "Near Threatened" (NT) during and partly thanks to my work. I work with my team on the genetics, behavior, ecology, health and breeding of the European bison. I co-authored the European and national conservation strategy for the species, and my concept for the spread of the European bison in Poland led to the creation of several free-ranging populations. I coordinate many scientific and implementation projects and work closely with state forests and national parks. I am President of the European Bison Friends Society and Coordinator of the European Bison Conservation Center. Together with the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, we organize annual international scientific conferences. I have written more than 200 scientific and popular science papers. So far, I have supervised eighteen PhD students and several dozen master's and engineering theses. I was a member of the Animal Science and Aquaculture Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Scientific Advisory Boards of the National Parks (Białowieski and Woliński). I participate in the work of scientific and social advisory boards of several forest development complexes. From 2016to 2023 I was the Chairman of the State Council for Nature Protection.