Vjetrenica Cave inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List

(Patria) - The Vjetrenica Cave has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as of today, following a vote at the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in New Delhi.

Vjetrenica was among 27 nominated sites and was added to the UNESCO list of cultural and natural heritage.

The Vjetrenica Cave is a natural gem that first opened in 1964, was accessible until 1991, and then remained closed for more than 18 years.

It is located in the Ravno Municipality, at the western end of Popovo Polje, at an altitude of 260 meters. It ranks among the most beautiful and most significant speleological sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is abundant with water, featuring four watercourses and dozens of smaller periodic streams with many underground lakes: the 180-meter-long Veliko jezero (Great Lake), Duboko jezero (Deep Lake) with a maximum depth of 4 meters, Malo jezero (Small Lake), and others. It was first mentioned in the mid-first century in the work "Natural History."

Vjetrenica is home to a rich cave fauna, with nearly 200 different animal species recorded, 92 of which are troglobionts, making it the world's leading cave in terms of biodiversity, with 37 species first discovered and described at this site (locus typicus). The fauna of Vjetrenica includes a large number of narrow endemics, so-called stenoendemics.

With this decision, Vjetrenica has become the first independent natural phenomenon from Bosnia and Herzegovina to be included on the world list of protected monuments.

The inscription of Vjetrenica on the UNESCO World Heritage List concludes a long and extensive process carried out by expert teams and specialists in cooperation with relevant institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On the occasion of Vjetrenica's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, sent a congratulatory message and thanked everyone who contributed through their work to the protection and preservation of Vjetrenica, as well as all those who made a tremendous contribution to the World Heritage Committee recognizing the unique value of Vjetrenica and protecting it at the global level.

"It is with great pleasure and pride that I inform you that Vjetrenica, our national treasure, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is a historic moment for our country and recognition of the exceptional value and uniqueness of our natural heritage. The inclusion of Vjetrenica on this prestigious list confirms its extraordinary significance, not only for us but for the entire world.

Vjetrenica is the largest and most famous cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina, rich in speleological, archaeological, and biological significance. Its unique underground ecosystems, incredible geological formations, and wealth of endemic species make it an invaluable natural habitat and an inspiration for many scientists and researchers. This recognition also brings responsibility. Our obligation is to continue working on the preservation and protection of Vjetrenica, and to ensure the sustainable development and promotion of this unique natural monument. As part of world heritage, Vjetrenica will now have even greater international visibility and recognition, which will contribute to the development of tourism and the local community. I wish to thank everyone who contributed to this success – experts, researchers, volunteers, and all those who promoted the importance of protecting our natural heritage. This award is the result of our effort, dedication, and love for Vjetrenica and our country. On behalf of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, I promise that we will continue our efforts to protect and promote our cultural and natural heritage, because preserving our riches means securing a better future for all of us," Bošnjak stated.

The protection of the Vjetrenica Cave has a long history dating back to 1952, when it was first declared a natural monument. The Vjetrenica Cave is managed by the public enterprise Vjetrenica Ravno, established by the Ravno Municipality in 2005.

We remind you that the nomination of the Vjetrenica Cave was submitted to UNESCO in March 2023, and it has been on the UNESCO Tentative List for Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2004. The field evaluation of Vjetrenica by the Advisory Body to the World Heritage Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was completed in August last year.