May 18, 2020 – The speleological section of the Mountaineering Society Sv. Jakov – Bitelić, with the support of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service – Sinj Branch, Civic Initiative Clean Underground, Hrvace Municipality, Sinj Tourist Board and numerous mountaineering associations, cleaned the waste from a pit in the Vrdovo area.
Croatian karst is known in the world for its deep pits. In Croatia, 54 pits deeper than 250 m have been explored so far, of which three pits are deeper than 1000 m.
Every year, speleologists find a large number of hitherto unexplored caves and pits. Exploration in large caves and pits takes years. Unfortunately, speleologists often find an increasing number of ecologically endangered caves and pits. Apart from polluted waters and geotechnical interventions in the environment, caves and pits are mostly endangered by waste that is intentionally thrown into them. Numerous such cases are also in the Cetina region.
Therefore, on May 16, the Speleological Section of the Mountaineering Society Sv. Jakov – Bitelić decided to host an environmental action to clean a pit about 60 m deep in the area of Vrdovo in the locality at the foot of Kondžomanovog umca, which unscrupulous citizens have been filling with waste for years. The action had the support of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service – Sinj Branch, Civic Initiative Clean Underground, Hrvace Municipality, numerous mountaineering associations: Velebit, Svilaja, Mosor, Kočari, Jelinak, Željezničar and the Sinj Tourist Board and the Cetina Region.
The purpose of the whole action was to develop environmental awareness, but also appeal to all tourists who visit the natural beauties of Inland Dalmatia to be environmentally responsible and not leave waste in nature.
The Sinj Tourist Board said they are pleased that the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Energy has sent the Croatian Parliament a Bill on the proclamation of the Dinara Nature Park. Namely, the new law will protect the Dinara massif (Dinara, Troglav and Kamešnica), the source part and the upper course of the river Cetina and karst fields (Hrvatačko, Paško and Vrličko) along the Cetina.
The protection of the Dinara massif in the category of a nature park is of special interest to the Republic of Croatia due to the preservation of original natural values, rich geodiversity, wild species and endemics and the overall diversity of natural habitats of the Krka and Cetina rivers with their tributaries, wetlands, rocks, forest and cave habitats. and other natural values derived from the centuries-old tradition of the use of space and the rich cultural and historical heritage preserved in numerous archaeological finds and cultural and historical heritage.
The organizers of the action thank everyone who selflessly helped in this demanding environmental action.
