CANYON OF THE CVRCKA RIVER DECLARED A NATURAL MONUMENT

The Government of the Republic of Srpska has adopted a Decision proclaiming the protected area Natural Monument “Cvrcka”, covering the canyon of the Cvrcka River in the municipality of Kneževo.

The initiative to protect the canyon was launched in 2020 by the Mountaineering Society “Vilenska vrela” from Kneževo. Following this, the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and Ecology submitted the proposal to the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical, and Natural Heritage, which prepared the official Protection Study—the expert basis for the declaration of the Natural Monument “Cvrcka,” according to a statement from the Government of the Republic of Srpska.

The main natural value of the protected area is the Cvrcka River itself. Within this area, one of the most striking features is the Vilenska Vrela Waterfall, a 60–70 meter high cascade formed on a tufa outcrop of the river’s right tributary. Several caves have also been identified within the boundaries of the protected area, including Vilenska Cave, Kapnica, Mišarica, and Kerezovača—mostly small in size and with simple speleomorphology.

The area is characterized by a pristine landscape with well-preserved ecosystems, distinctive vegetation with endemic plant species, and a diverse fauna that reflects the variety of habitats present.

During the research phase, experts recorded 334 plant species, 74 species of day butterflies, 44 species of night moths, and 73 species of birds, many of which are rare or endangered.

The decision aims to preserve nature while promoting a balance between environmental protection and human activity. The management approach emphasizes the needs of the local population, allowing sustainable use of natural resources as long as it does not negatively impact the area’s conservation goals.

The decree establishes Level II and Level III protection zones, ensuring that traditional land use and private property rights within the protected area are respected. Activities that do not threaten ecological values or private ownership remain permitted in Level III zones.

Management of the Natural Monument “Cvrcka” has been entrusted to the Public Forestry Enterprise “Šume Republike Srpske”, specifically its “Čemernica” Forest Management Unit in Kneževo.

With this declaration, the Republic of Srpska now has 36 protected areas, covering a total of 74,168.04 hectares, which represents 3.01% of the Republic’s territory.