engleski

Karst caves – a part of geoheritage of Croatia

Caves are the forms of the underground karst geomorphology. They represent different, often interesting and rare forms which preserve the traces of natural conditions in the time of their development, and make an important component of geoheritage. This paper deals with critical analysis of the protection of speleological phenomena in Croatia as a part of geoheritage in karst. At the moment, there are 42 protected speleological localities in the Croatia, among which geomorphologic monuments of nature account for the greatest part. Criteria of proclaiming caves and pits protected localities are the most disputable, because the analysis has shown that the caves and pits without necessary values are also among the protected localities, while on the other hand, the caves and pits of great value and high degree of threat are not protected at all. It was also determined that about 1800 speleological phenomena were protected in the framework of protected areas. It is pointed out that nowadays nature protection especially that of caves is mainly directed to the protection of the living nature, i. e. the karst underground is being protected as a habitat, and not as a part of geoheritage. This has been confirmed by legal regulations. This paper emphasizes various aspects of cave values. Totality of all natural and cultural values of caves and necessity of their protection has been pointed to. The main types and ways of cave threats have been presented, as well as their origins. Some problems of karst and its underground protection are being pointed to, and recommendations for their more prestigious protection are given. Cooperation among state institutions, speleologists, speleological and caving associations, scientific institutions and other experts is inevitable. In order to achieve a more prestigious protection some criteria for speleological phenomena evaluation from geoscientific point of view have been suggested.

caves; geoheritage; karst; protection

nije evidentirano