Invitation to the presentation of cave conditions at Kočevsko site
Municipality of Kočevje, in cooperation with the partners of the LIFE Kočevsko project, invites you to the presentation of cave conditions at Kočevsko site, which will take place on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at 17.00 in the Tourist Lake Complex.
The main event’s purpose is presentation of the problems of cave and underground water pollution in Kočevsko area to the general public. The results of chemical and physical analyzes of underground water in the selected karst caves, as well as the results of the biological inventory of the cave fauna (animals found in the caves) will be presented. Special emphasis will be placed on the olm (Proteus anguinus), which is nowadays rarely found in those caves. In the past, olm inhabited Kočevsko caves permanently.
In the area of Natura 2000 Kočevsko (especially Kočevje field) there is a deterioration of water quality and, consequently, olm habitat degradation. Human settlements (waste water, waste), agriculture, livestock production, industry and traffic. The problem is therefore multifaceted. LIFE Kočevsko project focuses on the impact of illegal cave dumping. Besides identified hazardous waste in the caves which represent potential danger, existing leachate has probably the most negative impact. The aim of the project is to reduce the existing waste landfills and prevent further pollutions. For that reason, the Municipality of Kočevje intends to remove the waste from six selected karst caves (cave Vodna 1 and Vodna 3 at Klinja vas, cave Mala Stankova near Šalka vas, cave Smetljiva near Mahovnik and cave Schaffeichloch near Koprivnik) with the help of professionally trained external cavers in the years 2016 and 2017. Selection of caves is based on former data of olm presence. After cave cleaning, we will prevent re-pollution by laying wooden fences or stone walls in front of cave entrances. Besides concrete actions, we also want to inform local people with the above mentioned issues. With their behavior, locals influence prevention of cave pollutions with waste probably the most.
You are kindly invited!
Photo: Marjan Cigoj
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