Bosnia and Herzegovina can proudly boast of a new recognition, the Vjetrenica cave has been officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is a historic moment for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the culmination of many years of efforts by all who recognized the universal value of this gem.
It was decided at the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee , which will be held from July 21 to 31, 2024, in New Delhi, India, that the Windmill be included in the World Heritage List.
With this decision, Vjetrenica became the first independent natural phenomenon from Bosnia and Herzegovina to be included in the world list of protected monuments.
The inscription of Vjetrenica on the UNESCO World Heritage List ended a long-term and extensive process, on which professional teams and experts worked in cooperation with the competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Protection of the Vjetrenica cave has a long history dating back to 1952, when it was first declared a natural monument . Vjetrenica is managed by the Public Company Vjetrenica Ravno, which was founded by the Municipality of Ravno in 2005.
We remind you that the nomination of the Vjetrenica cave was submitted to UNESCO in March 2023 , and it has been on UNESCO’s Tentative List for Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2004. The field evaluation of Vjetrenica by the Advisory Body for the World Heritage Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been completed was in August last year.
Inscribed properties from Bosnia and Herzegovina on the UNESCO World Heritage List are the bridge of Mehmed Pasha Sokolović in Višegrad and the area of the Old Bridge of the old city of Mostar .
On the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2016, there are sites of stećak medieval tombstones , and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia worked together on this project.
Three years ago , the Janj Rainforest near Šipovo was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the expansion of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Primitive Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”.
“Primitive beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe” is currently the largest series of world heritage sites with 94 sites in 18 European countries. In addition, there are eight more goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina on the tentative list of goods that the country can nominate in the coming period .
We remind you that Vjetrenica is the largest and most famous cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a protected natural monument since 1950. It got its name from the strong current of air at the very entrance, and it is adorned with seven kilometers of canals, 135 lakes and a constant temperature of 11 degrees throughout the year.
As one of the longest caves in BiH, with its specific underground streams and lakes, Vjetrenica is a valuable habitat for a large number of species, 14 of which are stone endemic.
The Vjetrenica cave belongs to the system of the karst area, which is the most ecologically endangered type of habitat in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The locality of Vjetrenica with its surroundings and part of Popova polje is located in the center of the typical Herzegovinian karst.
Source: radiosarajevo.ba
