In her first graphic novel, La Dernière Forêt, illustrator Laura Pozzi tells the story of researcher and activist Simona Kossak, whose life was dedicated to the Białowieża primary forest in northeastern Poland. The work, published by Actes Sud BD, highlights the forest's ecological significance and the threats it faces from the timber industry and government policies. Pozzi uses her art to draw attention to the delicate balance of nature and the urgent need for conservation. Simona Kossak, a biology graduate in the early 1970s, arrived in the region after facing sexism in academia and obtaining a technical assistant position at a scientific institute. She initially planned to stay only three years before returning to her home region but remained in the area for the rest of her life. Her decision to stay was influenced by her growing connection to the forest and its wildlife, which became central to her work and personal life. The graphic novel alternates between colorful pencil and watercolor panels and black-and-white drawings made with ink derived from the bark of trees consumed during the 2022 fire that ravaged the Landes region. This artistic choice reflects the threat of the forest's disappearance and the vulnerability of natural environments to human impact. Pozzi's use of contrasting styles underscores the tension between preservation and destruction. Simona discovered an isolated refuge in the heart of the Białowieża forest called Dziedzinka, which had no electricity or running water. She developed a unique relationship with the animals around her, rescuing a badger that lived with her for nineteen years, being adopted by a herd of roe deer, and hosting various other animals. Her research in zoopsychology challenged traditional views on mammal behavior, demonstrating that they can experience emotions and act out of joy, not just instinct or necessity. The Białowieża forest, straddling Poland and Belarus, is one of the last primary forests in Europe and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. It is home to the last European bison and contains exceptional biodiversity. However, forest exploitation has occurred over the decades, supported by successive governments, leading to the cutting down of thousands of trees and disrupting the ecosystem. Through Simona Kossak's journey, the illustrator emphasizes that a primary forest is not just a collection of trees to preserve but a complex world of interdependent beings. The novel highlights the fragility of this ecosystem and the potential loss of history when it disappears.