13 August 2014
13/08/2014 - Following the request of the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency, the French embassy in Kosovo has expressed its willingness to help in the revitalization of the Gadime Cave. As part of this commitment some time ago, several French experts visited the Gadime Cave to get closely acquainted with the condition of this protected natural monument. They expressed being amazed by the beauties of this cave and by the opportunities it offers for the development of tourism. During the visit, they also identified the key problems and the needs for the revitalization of the Cave. Based on the collected data, the team of French experts prepared a Report, on the basis of which an Action Plan will also be developed through which the revitalization of the Gadime Cave will take place.
Part of these efforts has also been the assessment of the technical condition of the cave, from which the recommendation for the replacement of the electrical system in the cave and its modernization emerged, with the aim of creating higher safety for visitors and preserving the natural environment of the cave. This will also be the first project expected to start soon with the support of the French embassy. Within the framework of other efforts for the full functionality of work in this monument, the relevant MMPH, namely AMMK, has engaged a professional staff for the Administration of the Natural Monument of Special Importance Gadime Cave, and has opened the cave for visitors. Since the reopening of the cave on May 26, 2014, it has been visited by around 12 thousand visitors, restoring the monument's former reputation and also creating financial sustainability in its management.
Also, within the framework of the medium-term plans of the MMPH, respectively AMMK, it is planned that in this area there will be other investments such as: the arrangement of the infrastructure in the cave, the arrangement of the road, the arrangement of the riverbed, and the arrangement of efficient public lighting in the surrounding area. Apart from the assistance being provided by the French embassy, it is expected that there will be other investments in this area from foreign donors. Through these investments, the local community will also benefit, either through the creation of new jobs, through seasonal employment, through the benefits that local businesses will have, or through direct support of local businesses and traditional activities.
AMMK believes that with these investments, the Gadime Cave will become a tourist destination not only on a national scale but also at a regional and global level. In addition, the village of Lower Gadime in Lipjan is expected to become a model for the development of rural tourism and ecotourism. Naturally, during this development process, speleological, geological, and hydrological scientific research in the Gadime Cave will continue, and the possibilities for opening other galleries of the Cave to visitors will also be explored. There will also be efforts to promote the cave's values as well as to raise awareness and educate the public about its preservation.
Otherwise, Gadime Cave is one of the most beautiful caves not only in Kosovo, but also in the Balkans and beyond. In this cave, all kinds of crystals, stalagmites, and stalactites are present, in different shapes and sizes, and especially the rare aragonite crystals attract attention, which are a very rare phenomenon. The cave is tens of millions of years old. Gadime Cave was placed under protection immediately after its discovery on July 29, 1969. In 1982, a decision was made to place the cave under protection as a geomonument with special natural values. The protected area of the cave is about 39 hectares (of which about 37 hectares are state-owned and about 2 hectares are privately owned).
Since the post-war period, due to property issues and the undefined status of it, Gadime Cave did not have proper management. The Kosovo Institute for Nature Protection had continuously reported and raised alarms about the damage and degradation of the cave. As a result, in 2009, by a decision of the Government of Kosovo, Gadime Cave was placed under protection as a Nature Monument of special importance. During 2013, the Kosovo Privatization Agency transferred the ownership and management of Gadime Cave to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning.