Literature

Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection

The Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection provide an update and expansion of the original Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection, published in 1997. The original guidelines were primarily concerned with geoheritage, and while this remains an important consideration in this second edition, it also covers the biological issues involved in cave and karst conservation. The protection of surface and underground karst ecosystems is particularly relevant to Goal 15 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss). These guidelines also have relevance for Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all), as ~10% of the world's population gain water supplies for karst, either from discrete springs or from karst groundwater. 

Translations of the report are available in multiple languages. 

Complete Listing of Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection

The complete listing of guidelines for caves and karst protection summarizes all important topics of the Guidelines for the protection of caves and karst in 76 points.

Translations are available in multiple languages.

Guidelines for Geoconservation in Protected Areas

The Guidelines for Geoconservation in Protected Areas are intended to help improve the conservation and management of geoheritage and geodiversity in protected and conserved areas and recognition of the interrelationships and interactions with biological features and processes. They are not a textbook on geoconservation management practice, but rather set out the essential background, context and principles. The use of best practice examples from around the world will hopefully give users renewed confidence in looking after geoheritage and in connecting geoconservation with biodiversity conservation. 

Cave Conservation and Restoration 2006 Edition

The restoration and clean-up of damaged caves is an act of love for the many cavers who donate their time and resources to this intensive, almost exclusively volunteer activity.

Made available to the public, the National Speleological Society NSS' 'Cave Conservation and Restoration' edited by Val Hildreth-Werker and Jim C. Werker, is an in-depth resource helping you to learn more.