Magdalena Kozhevnikova analyzes narratives about the environment in Poland’s largest national park. She attempts to present the socio-cultural aspect of water in the Podlaskie region, based on the concept of the hydrosocial cycle as interpreted by Jamie Linton and Jessica Budd, while expanding it to encompass the non-human world.

The hydrosocial cycle, in which relationality and dialogical interactions between water, humans, and other entities within the aquatic ecosystem are crucial, serves as a theoretical and analytical tool enabling the examination of hydro-social relationships. This approach assumes that water is not merely a backdrop for human social interactions but an active, albeit unconscious, participant. In the Biebrza Valley, numerous diverse discourses about the environment coexist, as well as conflicts stemming from differing perceptions of the relationship between nature and humans. Two dominant discourses emerge: the discourse propagated by staff and experts of the Biebrzański National Park, which I have labeled as “institutional,” and the discourse of dissatisfied residents which I referred to as “agricultural”. For the latter, the transformation of the 1990s coincided with the establishment of BbPN, leading to the park being, in certain instances, associated with the origin of life hardships. Amidst these, there exist other discourses that are less distinct yet frequently interwoven: of the so-called “biebrznięci,” ecologists, and providers of tourist services. Superficially, they may appear to discuss the same water; but, deep inside, within each of these narratives, water holds distinct significance and value, both materially and emotionally. The utilization or desire for the utilization of water varies, as does its purpose.

The project is being conducted as part of the NCN Sonata 16 grant, project number 2020/39/D/HS300618, titled “”The Experience of Water Scarcity, Excess, and Sustainable Presence: An Outline in the Current of Blue Anthropology” („Doświadczenie braku, nadmiaru i zrównoważonej obecności wody. Szkic w nurcie błękitnej antropologii”). The project is led by Małgorzata Owczarska.