Photo: Erika Bachmann
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Karst and Cave Protection Commission (KCPC)
The Karst and Cave Protection Commission of the International Union of Speleology (UIS) unites leading specialists from around the world to advance the conservation, sustainable management, and protection of caves and karst landscapes. Our mission is to safeguard these irreplacable geoecosystems—recognizing their unique biodiversity, geological heritage, and cultural, social, and economic significance.
We advocate for the integration of cave and karst protection into conservation frameworks from local to international level, support effective management, and promote best practices for balancing environmental preservation with human needs. By fostering collaboration among speleologists, scientists, policymakers, and local communities, the KCPC strives to ensure that caves and karst ecosystems are valued, understood, and preserved for future generations.
UNESCO International Day of Caves and Karst
September 13
The International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK) was proclaimed by UNESCO at its General Assembly last year. It was an initiative of the International Union of Speleology and led by Slovenia. Let's celebrate the first IDCK on September 13, 2026!
The UIS produced a leaflet to promote the IDCK. Feel free to download and share it.
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The Karst and Cave Protection Commission will share welcome messages to the IDCK from all around the world.
Celebrate with us the UNESCO International Day of Caves and Karst on September 13
Photo: Erika Bachmann
Importance of Caves and Karst Geoecosystems
Caves and karst landscapes are essential for global water security, they also shelter unique biodiversity, preserve invaluable geological and archaeological records, and hold cultural significance as sacred sites. Economically, karst regions support tourism and resource extraction.
Karst landscapes cover about 20% of the world's ice-free land (Goldscheider et al., 2020) and are the vital natural infrastructure that supplies drinking water to nearly 10% of the global population (Stevanovic, 2018) —some 800 million people. Caves habour a rich and unique fauna. The UIS Biology Commission highlights the cave animals of the year.
More Information on its importance see www.cavekarstday.org
Photo: Stefan Meyer
Dangers
Caves and karst are highly vulnerable to human activities, including construction, mining, and pollution, which can cause irreversible damage such as subsidence, water contamination, and habitat destruction.
Karst groundwaters are particularly susceptible to the transmission of bacteria, e.g. from poorly designed wastewater systems, and pollutants, like pesticides and herbicides, hydrocarbons from roads and fuel storage facilities, and sediment from agriculture, extractive industry, and development. Excessive withdrawal of groundwater from karst can lead to subsidence or catastrophic collapse on the surface.
Information on endangered caves and karst
Photo: Andreas Schober
What is Karst?
It is a type of landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. Karst landscapes are found worldwide and are critical for supplying vital groundwater resources, and for sustaining unique ecosystems and biodiversity.
Caves are defined as a natural cavity in rock large enough to be entered by a human. It may be water-filled.
Where is Karst?
The World Karst Aquifer Map provides an global overview focussing on groundwater resources in karst areas.
Only 6.9% of these subterranean ecosystems are currently protected under existing frameworks (Sánchez-Fernández et. al., 2021) — including the World Heritage Program WHP, UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, CaveMAB Network and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
more information at Country reports
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