Today, a working meeting was held in Ravno as part of the technical evaluation field mission for the inclusion of the Vjetrenica cave on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which is being carried out under the auspices of the Advisory Body for the World Heritage Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, attended the meeting and presented important aspects of this unique natural treasure, according to the press release of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Minister Bošnjak pointed out that the status of the protected area of the Vjetrenica cave dates back to 1950, which testifies to the recognized importance of preserving this natural phenomenon. It has been on the Tentative List for Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2004, which confirms that it is a matter of priority for the country when it comes to the nomination of significant cultural and natural assets for inclusion on the UNESCO List.
The minister emphasized the successful cooperation of professional teams and experts with all competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the preparation of the nomination file for the Vjetrenica cave.
She also said that Vjetrenica has universal value for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and expressed the hope that the expert body will recognize this value and support the positive report and decision of the World Heritage Committee in the coming year. She expressed her hope that the Vjetrenica cave will successfully meet the criteria for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List and thanked all the experts and institutions present for their contribution and support to this important goal.
Vjetrenica Cave is particularly important because of its hydrological and hydrogeological characteristics. As one of the longest caves in BiH, with its specific underground streams and lakes, Vjetrenica is a precious habitat that contributes to the preservation of biological diversity and enjoys the highest level of protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The local community of Ravno founded the public enterprise “Vjetrenica”, which is responsible for managing and ensuring continuous financing for the maintenance and regular activities of the cave, according to the press release.
