Poland has announced that it will continue logging in the Białowieża Forest, disregarding the European Court's April 2018 injunction against it. The conflict is a stark example of the differing interpretations of the concept of "old-growth forests in Europe" (Europe's primary forests), and also illustrates the lack, or even total absence, of data and information regarding "European old-growth forests", their extent, and their projected future.

The conflict over the Białowieża Forest is well-known across many parts of Europe. Unfortunately, and fortunately, it can be seen as an accurate reflection of the conflicting opinions or expectations regarding "European old-growth forests". In negotiations and disputes on this issue, no consensus has been reached on the most critical questions: what constitutes (or, more precisely, what is) an old-growth forest, what should be considered one, whether it must be specifically protected, how strictly, and where.

A 2018 study (Humboldt University, Germany) shows that obtaining data or precise information on old-growth forests is not easy: some countries were quite reluctant to inform researchers, while others provided no data at all.