Cave conservation

Cave conservation

Cave conservation is the protection and restoration of caves to prevent or minimise the effects of human activity on caves.

Some caves have delicate features that can be disturbed by changes in light levels, humidity and air flow. Caves that have lighting that remains on are prone to having algae grow within the cave changing the appearance and ecology. Speleothems grow as a result of water both on cave surfaces and the humidity of the cave air. Changes to these because of a high number of visitors, changes to the cave air flow and changes to the hydrology will change the speleothem development.

Speleothems can have a slow growth rate and therefore removing them as souvenirs or breakage due to movement within the cave will be visible for a long time.

The use of calcium carbide for lamps has led to soot marks and deposits of discarded spent carbide. Using electric lamps avoide these problems.

Cave conservation by region

New Zealand

The New Zealand Speleological Society (NZSS), a recreational caving organisation, promotes cave conservation by its members. The Department of Conservation (DoC) is responsible for caves on land under its administration and has developed a management policy for caves and karst. DoC publish a "Caving care code" which is in turn based in part on the caving ethics of NZSS. [cite web|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=38542|title=Minimising your impact - Caving care code|last=DoC|publisher=Department of Conservation|accessdate=2008-10-03]

United Kingdom

The British Cave Research Association administers the United Kingdom Cave Conservation Emergency Fund (UKCCEF), a charitable fund for protection of caves and cave features. The aims are:
* To assist in the publication of material intended to promote the conservation of caves and features therein or the conservation of a specific site or group of caves
* To assist with the physical protection of features within a specific cave or group of caves
* To assist in works designed to maintain access to a cave or part of a cave, but not solely to assist exploration
* To assist in the purchase of land or property where such acquisition is intended to ensure the protection of, or maintenance of access to, a cave or caves. [ [http://bcra.org.uk/ukccef/ ukccef info ] ]

The National Caving Association has a Cave Conservation Code with the following recommendations: [ [http://www.caveinfo.org.uk/nca/canda/concode.htm Conservation Code ] ]
*Cave with care and within your abilities
*Keep to marked routes and do not cross conservation tapes and barriers
*Protect cave wildlife and do not disturb bats
*Do not pollute the cave, leave nothing behind
*Archaeological and other remains should not be disturbed
*Do not interfere with scientific equipment
*Set a good example for others to follow
*Avoid touching or damaging formations
*Take nothing but photographs
*Comply with any access requirements
*Respect the rights and privacy of land owners

United States

The National Speleological Society believes:
* Caves have unique scientific, recreational, and scenic values
* These values are endangered by both carelessness and intentional vandalism
* These values, once gone, cannot be recovered
* The responsibility for protecting caves must be formed by those who study and enjoy them.

The Cave Research Foundation (CRF) is an American private, non-profit group dedicated to the exploration, research, and conservation of caves.

References

External links

* [http://www.ackma.org/ Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association Inc. (ACKMA)]
* [http://bcra.org.uk/ukccef/ United Kingdom Cave Conservation Emergency Fund]
* [http://www.cavern.org/acca/accahome.html American Cave Conservation Association]
* [http://www.caves.org/committee/conservation/ National Speleological Society] - cave conservation page


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cave Conservancies — are specialized land trusts that primarily manage caves or karst features in the United States. Organizations that serve as cave management consultants to cave owners are usually considered cave conservancies. Cave conservancies are almost always …   Wikipedia

  • Cave diving — is a type of technical diving in which specialized SCUBA equipment is used to enable the exploration of natural or artificial caves which are at least partially filled with water. It is an extension of the more common sport of caving, but is much …   Wikipedia

  • Cave Research Foundation — The Cave Research Foundation (CRF) is an American private, non profit group dedicated to the exploration, research, and conservation of caves. The group arose in the early 1950s from the exploration efforts at Floyd Collins Crystal Cave, now… …   Wikipedia

  • Cave a vin — Cave à vin Pour les articles homonymes, voir Cave. Les caves à vin de Figeac, France. Une cave à vin est une cave dont on …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cave À Vin — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Cave. Les caves à vin de Figeac, France. Une cave à vin est une cave dont on …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cave à vin réfrigérée — Cave à vin Pour les articles homonymes, voir Cave. Les caves à vin de Figeac, France. Une cave à vin est une cave dont on …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cave Nectar Bat — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) [1] …   Wikipedia

  • Cave hyena — Temporal range: Middle to Late Pleistocene Crocuta crocuta spelaea skeleton from the Muséum de Toulouse …   Wikipedia

  • conservation — [ kɔ̃sɛrvasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • fin XIIIe; lat. conservatio 1 ♦ Action de conserver, de maintenir intact ou dans le même état. ⇒ entretien, 1. garde, maintien, préservation, protection, 1. sauvegarde. Être chargé de la conservation d un monument.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Cave Myotis — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”