International Cooperations

IUCN / WCPA Caves and Karst Specialist Group

The Caves and Karst Specialist Group (CKSG) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN / World Commission on Protected Areas WCPA is a global network of experts who facilitate enhanced conservation, effective management and adequate protection of caves and karst in existing protected areas and advocate for further protection of cave and karst geoecosystems. Its members have a holistic approach to cave and karst in protected areas and seek to protect their biodiversity, their geoheritage and their cultural, social and economic values.
For the International Year of Caves and Karst 2021/22 the UIS and the IUCN cooperated to publish the second edition of the "Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection".

United Nations Economic and Social Council ECOSOC NGO Major Group

The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. Its NGO Major Group is tasked with facilitating the participation and enhancing the engagement of non-governmental organizations NGOs in the processes directly and indirectly related to the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Developement. When possible, it works to organize positions on behalf of the members to be delivered in various United Nations spaces. Because of the diversity of voices and perspectives within this group, it is organized around thematic clusters which act as hubs of expertise on numerous issues and/or Sustainable Development Goals. 

In 2026 the sustainable developement goal 6 "Clean Water and Sanitation" is one of the highlightes goals. As it is very important topic for caves and karst, the Karst and Cave Protection Commission will engage in the process in close cooperation with the German Speleological Federation, who is a member.
More about sustaibalitity and speleology and our work on UN level see www.karst-aware.org.

United Nations Environment Programme UNEP NGO Major Group

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations’ leading global authority on the environment . Its NGOs Major Group has the highest number of accredited organisations with UNEP and with the UN system in general. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) make valuable contributions in promoting sustainable development through their well-established and diverse experience, expertise and capacity, especially in the area of analysis, sharing of information and knowledge, promotion of dialogue and support of implementation of sustainable development. NGOs are currently involved in almost all UNEP activities, at policy and programmatic level, including implementation of projects through partnerships. 

At the 7th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in December 2025, UN Member States considered a draft resolution on karst ecosystems. Resolutions adopted by UNEA represent the collective will of the international community and help shape global and national environmental policies. Unfortunately the resolution on kast ecosystems was withdrawn. The KCPC collaborated with the German Speleological Federation, who is a UNEP NGO Major Group member, to support the resolution for sustainable karst protection.
More about our work on UNEA-7 see www.karst-aware.org