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От кого: George Veni <>
Кому: George Veni <>
Дата: Суббота, 9 октября 2021, 0:24 +02:00
Тема: Cave and karst news and announcements from NCKRI

Dear Friends,

I apologize for the delay in sending you the latest NCKRI News. It has been a busy month with many important things happening internationally (see the report below on the celebration of the International Year of Caves and Karst at UNESCO Headquarters) and nationally.

Our list of news and announcements is:

The International Year of Caves and Karst: Celebration at UNESCO!

Various News:

Call for Papers: Extended Deadline for Special Issue "Geochemical Processes of Karst and Karst Paleoenvironments"
Cave Man and the Biosphere (CaveMAB) Video
Winner of the EuroSpeleo Protection Label 2021

Conferences and Meetings

6th EuroSpeleo Protection Symposium Going Hybrid
Announcing: 25th International Conference on Subterranean Biology
National Cave Rescue Commission 2022 South-Central Regional Seminar Announcement
List of Upcoming Cave and Karst Meetings

Please contact the people and organizations listed below for more information, and feel free to share this message with anyone who may be interested.

George

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The International Year of Caves and Karst: Celebration at UNESCO!

The International Year of Caves and Karst is organized by the International Union of Speleology (UIS) to celebrate caves and karst internationally and teach the world about their importance. On Monday, 13 September 2021, we celebrated the International Year at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Many governmental ambassadors and influential people were at the meeting in Paris. We asked for three specific things (in additional to their general support in their countries):

Encouraged UNESCO to develop inventories of all caves, karst features, and their contents in UNESCO protected areas.
Suggested that UNESCO evaluate protected areas for adequacy of cave and karst protection, and expand protection as needed.
Invited UNESCO to join the UIS to develop an international ban in the trade of cave materials (speleothems, animals, sediments, and rocks).

The first two requests apply to everyone who manages and protects cave and karst lands, not just UNESCO protected areas. The third request is a new initiative of the UIS. We are seek partners to help us develop the exact text of an international ban and partners to promote and have it broadly accepted.

Overall, the celebration at UNESCO was important and a major accomplishment, but now the real work starts. We must turn that meeting into tangible results for caves and karst. We are following up with UNESCO officials and will continue to need your support.

To watch the celebration and all International Year videos, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzSiErLj5x6viNbvAdehDvA. For more information about the International Year, visit the website (www.iyck2021.org). Also like us at the UIS Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/uisspeleo), UIS Twitter account (https://twitter.com/uisspeleo), and/or the UIS Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/uisspeleo/).

We welcome your organization to join our 243 International Year partners (http://iyck2021.org/index.php/partners/) and to announce your International Year events and activities at http://iyck2021.org/index.php/events/.

George Veni

President, International Union of Speleology

Executive Director, National Cave and Karst Research Institute

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Call for Papers: Extended Deadline for Special Issue "Geochemical Processes of Karst and Karst Paleoenvironments"

Dear Colleagues,

Karst landscapes and karst aquifers, which are composed of a variety of soluble rocks, comprise 20–25% of the ice-free land surface, and nearly 20% of society worldwide relies on karst aquifers for economic, urban, and environmental fresh water. The dissolution of a carbonate rock and the influence on water chemistry are a combination of various geochemical processes of major significance to the origin and evolution of the karst environment. Today, the main driver influencing environmental changes in the karst environment is anthropogenic chemical contamination and climate change. In order to evaluate the impact of these changes on karst systems it is necessary to determine geochemical background levels for delineating between natural and anthropogenic impacts. The geochemistry of natural geological archives, such as soils, sediments, and speleothems, can be used as proxies to estimate the magnitude of human and climate change impacts on water resources today. In this Special Issue of the journal Water, we would like to focus on the study of geochemical processes recorded at various temporal and spatial scales, including water monitoring and changes recorded in geological time frames.

We welcome contributions that focus on the inorganic and organic components, as well as isotopes, in all components of existing karst systems and their paleoenvironmental counterparts. Research related to the geochemistry of karst systems in the broadest sense is most welcome. This special issue will be dedicated to the International Year of Caves and Karst.

For more information please visit https://www.mdpi.com/journal/water/special_issues/Geochemical_Processes_of_Karst_Paleoenvironments. All manuscripts must be submitted by 31 December 2021.

Dr. Slobodan Miko
Dr. Nikolina Ilijanić
Guest Editors

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Cave Man and the Biosphere (CaveMAB) Video

Dear CaveMAB Members and Friends,

In a combined celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program and the International Year of Caves and Karst, it is with great excitement that the CaveMAB Network introduces, Together for Caves and Biosphere Reserves, a collaborative video project of nine biosphere reserves from four continents and one global partner organization. The video celebrates the diversity of and human connection to cave and karst environments within the global network of Biosphere Reserves. As we already announced at our premier viewing on September 7, we hereby share the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qun4CYuOOg Please do share it as widely as possible.

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Winner of the EuroSpeleo Protection Label 2021

Dear Caving Friends,

The European Cave Protection Commission (ECPC) of the European Speleological Federation (FSE), is pleased to announce that following the evaluation of the applications received, the EuroSpeleo Protection Label 2021 has been attributed to the Verband deutscher Höhlen-und Karstforscher e.V. for their Project “CaveLife App.”

The prize is endowed by €800 and, from the FSE sponsor, a Scurion lamp.

Please find more information regarding the awarded project “CaveLife App” by visiting the project website: https://cavelife.app.

Best regards,

Jean-Claude Thies

ECPC President
European Cave Protection Commission
Fédération Spéléologique Européenne asbl.
B.P. 3067
L-1030 Luxembourg
www.eurospeleo.eu

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6th EuroSpeleo Protection Symposium Going Hybrid

Dear All,

Due to Covid restrictions, the 6th EuroSpeleo Protection Symposium "Assessing, monitoring and protecting cave biotopes and geotopes through Natura 2000 or similar programs in Europe" will take place as a hybrid event from 26.10.2021 - 30.10.2021.

A number of participants have to participate via online as we are not allowed to gather all registered participants at the location. That’s why we can now welcome more interested participants via the specially established online platform, possible now also for those of you were traveling and travel was no longer possible due to the Covid situation.

Online participation is free of charge. But you have to register by October 10th at the latest under the following link:

https://www.bfn.de/en/int-academy/typ-3.html?tx_blitzcalendar_pi1%5Bcid%5D=3865

We will send you further information about your online participation separately after registration.

In the annex you will also find our current draft program. As soon as we know who can be in person at Vilm Island we will adjust the program.

Info:
For those who are not familiar with the European Union directive Natura 2000: It is a network of protected areas based on the protection of habitats and endangered species. One of those habitat types are caves not open to public, which excludes show caves.

For the organizing team, ECPC and BfN,

Jean-Claude Thies
e-mail:

ECPC President
European Cave Protection Commission
Fédération Spéléologique Européenne asbl.
B.P. 3067
L-1030 Luxembourg
www.eurospeleo.eu

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Announcing: 25th International Conference on Subterranean Biology

Dear Friends of Caves,

We have the pleasure to invite you to attend the 25th International Conference on Subterranean Biology that will be held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 18-22 July 2022

In 1920, Emil Racovitza was invited by the Transylvanian authorities to be a professor at the newly reorganized University in Cluj. He accepted with several conditions, one of which was the founding of an Institute of Speleology under his supervision in Cluj and with its own budget. The speleological enterprise started in 1920. After 100 years (+2 years) we are happy to invite you to Romania to show where we are, as an Institute. The conference has many facets, one encompasses the scientific and the historical dimensions and others are about the beauties of karst and caves in Transylvania, our traditions, food, and drinks.

We also invite the non-biologists, especially those interested in the karst and caves of Romania and the history of speleology to attend the last session and the one-day excursion in the most spectacular karstic region of Transylvania, the Padiș Plateau.

More information is on 25icsb.com and at .

Dr. Oana Moldovan
Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
+40724802637

https://isercluj.com

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National Cave Rescue Commission 2022 South-Central Regional Seminar Announcement

Hi all,

Below please see the announcement about a weeklong National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC) course in January 2022 in Texas, USA. It's a great seminar and if you go we can geek out about bad air the whole time, since that's an issue in these caves. Check out the NCRC website if you want to learn more about the Level 1/Level 2 classes or give me a call.

L1/L2 Student Pre-Registration goes live November 9 at 08:00 (Standard Texas Time)

This is a “Pre-Registration,” meaning it will reserve your spot and save your payment information. The Seminar Leadership Team will meeting approximately 30-days prior to the seminar to make a firm “Go/No Go” decision. Once the seminar is confirmed, your payment will be processed.

If you or your organization plans to send anyone to this seminar, plan and be prepared to register as soon as it opens. I anticipate a large demand and registration to fill up quickly (in 2020 Level 1 filled in less than an hour). Students can register at the weblink below once it opens.

https://ncrcsouthcenteralregion.regfox.com/2022-ncrc-south-central-regional

The “hot button topic” for the event is COVID. Here are the COVID measures we will be taking:

30-days prior to the event the event leadership will make a final go/no-go decision.
All attendees (students and staff) will be required to take a COVID Rapid Test upon arrival at the seminar.
Vaccines are encouraged but will not be mandatory.
Sanitation stations will be made readily available with suggestions for how to maintain good hygiene in a large group.

· Due to the nature of the training environment and the close quarters that the event site will necessitate, social distancing will be near impossible to maintain. We will not be requiring masks but will support anyone who chooses to wear a mask.

· Each individual will need to consider their own personal health risks and situation. If any of the above measures do not fit with your circumstances, please do not sign up and we hope to train with you in the future when conditions change.

I have a partial scholarship available for $250 for one recipient to attend the training. You can also ask your grotto for supplemental funding to attend. The total cost is usually ~$450. If you are interested, please send me a short note describing financial need and how you would use the training to benefit the Arizona/New Mexico NCRC region moving forward. Preference will be given to a Level 1 applicant, but please apply even if you're taking a different level. Apply as soon as you're thinking about it because I want to get all the ducks lined up. Submit no later than December 1.

Any questions, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Sarah

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List of Upcoming Cave and Karst Meetings

If you are interested in any of the following events, contact the organizers directly to learn if they are still planned as announced below.

1) Geological Society of America Convention, 10-13 October 2021 (Portland, Oregon, USA), https://community.geosociety.org/gsa2021/home

2) National Caves Association Convention, 10-14 October 2021 (Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, USA), http://members.cavern.com/Content/Convention/Convention%20Registration%20Form%202021.pdf

3) US Geological Survey Karst Interest Group Meeting, 19-21 October 2021 (Nashville, Tennessee, USA), https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/karst-interest-group-kig-2020-workshop?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects

4) Australian Cave and Karst Management Association Conference, 18-22 October 2021 (Wellington Caves, New South Wales, Australia), for more information:

5) Visual KARSYS Online Course, 20-21 October 2021, https://www.visualkarsys.com/

6) 6th EuroSpeleo Protection Symposium, 26-30 October 2021 (Isle of Vilm, Germany), contact

7) Speleo Kamaraton, 29 October – 1 November 2021 (Marina di Camerota, Salerno, Italy), http://www.speleokamaraton.eu/

8) 23rd National Cave and Karst Management Symposium, 1-5 November 2021 (San Marcos, Texas, USA), https://symposium2021.nckms.org/

9) XV Mexican National Congress of Speleology, 29 October to 2 November 2021 (Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico), https://umae.org/congreso2021/.

10) European Cave Rescue Association Meeting, 11-14 November 2021, pre-meeting 10-11 November 2021, (Ramales de la Victoria, Alto Asón, Cantabria, Spain), https://caverescue.eu/european-cave-rescue-meeting-2021-second-circular/

11) Conference of the Arabian Journal of Geosciences, Cave and Karst Session, 25-28 November 2021 (Istanbul, Turkey), https://www.cajg.org/

12) Karst Record IX (KR9) Conference, postponed to 2022 (Innsbruck, Austria), https://www.uibk.ac.at/congress/kr9/

13) 14th International Symposium on Pseudokarst, postponed to Spring 2022, https://14pseudokarst.wonders4you.com/

14) Fort Stanton Cave Science Conference, 7-9 April 2022 (Socorro, New Mexico, USA), https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/FtStanton/home.cfm

15) 36th Brazilian Congress of Speleology, 3-6 June 2022 (Brasilia, Brazil), http://36cbe.org.br/

16) EuroKarst 2022: The European Congress on Karst Hydrogeology and Carbonate Reservoirs, 22-25 June 2022 (Málaga, Spain), http://www.eurokarst.org/

17) 25th International Conference on Subterranean Biology, 18-22 July 2022 (Cluj-Napoca, Romania), https://www.25icsb.com/.

18) 18th International Congress of Speleology, 24-31 July 2022 (Savoie Technolac, Le Bourget du Lac, Savoie, France), http://uis2021.speleos.fr/

19) 19th International Congress of Speleology, July 2025 (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil), for preliminary information see volume 63-1 of the UIS Bulletin at http://uis-speleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/uisb631.pdf

********************

George Veni, PhD

Executive Director, National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI)

and

President, International Union of Speleology (UIS)

NCKRI address (primary)

400-1 Cascades Avenue

Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220 USA

Office: +575-887-5517

Mobile: +210-863-5919

Fax: +575-887-5523

www.nckri.org