Photo: Bärbel Vogel
The UIS appeals to authorities, owners, and every stakeholder to protect karst and caves in a sustainable way!
Lake produced by intercepting an epiphreatic cave due to quarrying activities. Photo: https://cadenaser.com/euskadi/2025/09/19/nanclares-acuerda-por-sorpresa-la-prorroga-de-la-cantera-que-rompio-cavidades-del-acuifero-de-subijana-ser-vitoria/
Spain
Status: Ongoing
Type: Limestone karst with important water resources.
Description: A quarry operated by the Heidelberg Materials Group cut a section (approximately 65 m) of epiphreatic karst conduits, part of a preferred karst circulation route less than a kilometer upstream from the main discharge point of the Badaia karst. Quarrying activities are expected to last for at least 30 more years.
Further support: supporting letter
Gypsumkarst of Qestenberg. Photo: M.K.Brust
Germany
Status: Stopped by the court for now
Type: Gypsum karst in protected areas, the only gypsum karst area with a beech forest in the world.
Description: The gypsum company Knauf wanted to drill exploratory boreholes to explore the gypsum deposits in the middle of protected areas, like the "Südharz Karst Landscape Biosphere Reserve" – so far, it is the only biosphere reserve in the world in a sulfate karst.
Further support: currently not needed
Photos: David Gillieson
Australia
Status: Ongoing
Type: Nullarbor limestone, the largest arid karst area in the world.
Description: Western Green Energy Hub: Construction of 3,000 wind turbines, 25 million solar panels, 15,000 km2, and infrastructure. The electricity produced via wind and solar will be used to produce hydrogen/ammonia to be sold and shipped overseas.
ACKMA position statement on the Nullarbor Plain karst
Further information: https://savethenullarbor.org/
Further support:
Mexico
Status: finalized
Type: Caves and karst
Location: Mexico.
Description: Railway construction, a 1,554 km-long (966 mi) intercity railway in Mexico, traverses the Yucatán Peninsula for touristic purposes, "Maya Train".
Further information:
Further support: