Cavers Mailing List     № 794

охрана пещер

Автор: Vladimir A. Maltsev
Дата: 6 Mar 1998

Гг. спелеологи,

     В UIS затевается проект по разбирательству с методами охраны
минеральных образований пещер, включающий в том числе создание
соответствующих рекомендаций. Пока идет согласование позиций и
формирование группы. Если кто желает включиться - please, а для
ознакомления препровождаю один из раундов предварительного трепа.

     Мальцев

     ---------------------
From: Philippe AXELL
Subject: UIS Working Group - Speleothems Conservation
To: "Bogdan Onac" ,
        "CAROL A HILL" ,
        "David H. Jagnow" ,
        "George Veni" ,
        "Vladimir A. Maltsev" ,
        "Sheila Knight" ,
        "Jeanne Gurnee"

cc by fax to: Alain Mangin - CNRS Moulis
              Patrick Cabrol - DIREN Toulouse

---------------------------------------------------
UIS WORKING GROUP
for the
Conservation of Speleothems
and Caves of Mineralogical Interest
---------------------------------------------------
INFO#01 05/03/1998
---------------------------------------------------
1) Working group membership
2) Cave Minerals/Speleothem Conservation Slide Show
3) Project Underground
4) Samples database, publications
5) Relations with ISCA
6) Guidelines, ISHA, ISCA congress, etc.
7) UNESCO World Heritage List

*text between * are my comments*
----------------------------------------------------

1) Working group membership

As of today, I have received 8 commitments to this working group. I am
certain that more people are concerned by our aims, so if you know anyone
who could become a potential member of the group, please spread the word.

2) Cave Minerals/Speleothem Conservation Slide Show

Dave Jagnow wrote:

I don't know if you are aware, but Carol Hill and I have compiled a
slide show ( 2 copies) entitled "Cave Minerals/Speleothem Conservation
Slide Show." The slide shows currently contain 63 slides of beautiful
cave minerals and speleothems (mostly from CMW2). We are now
supplementing the "pretties" with slides of broken speleothems,
grafitti, etc. that demonstrate the wanton destruction of caves and
speleothems, and the need for a worldwide conservation policy. The
slide shows were compiled as a lobbying tool, and can be mailed
(loaned) to anyone willing to argue on our behalf. We still need good
slides of cave grafitti, destruction, and perhaps some good "before"
and "after" shots that vividly demonstrate the destruction of
speleothems. (Mail two copies of each slide to either Carol Hill or
myself.)

3) Project Underground

Dave Jagnow wrote:

I am on the Board of Project Underground, a national non-profit
educational program on caves and karst awareness. We develop teaching
materials and present workshops that provide teachers with the
necessary tools "to create and build awareness and responsible
attitudes toward karst and cave resources and their management needs
among future decision-makers, particularly through the education of
the public in school grades K through 12." --(Purpose of Project
Underground). Project Underground is perhaps one more place to
publish, as you proposed, "Guidelines for the conservation of cave
minerals, speleothems and caves of mineralogical interest." We look
forward to being a small part of the educational process. Carol
Zokaites is the National Coordinator for Project
Underground and should be kept aware of the activities of the Working
Group.

*The educational process is an essential part of our goal. If this group
can contribute in any way to this project it should be done. If you know of
any other similar educational projects in other countries, please let me
know.*

4) Samples database, publications

Vladimir Maltsev wrote:

      During a lot of time I'me interested in this problem, but I
mostly take a some unusual part of it. In several words it's like the
following:

     a) The dilemma between "cavers and tourists should not carry out
anything from a cave" and "science needs sampling" is not trivial.
Scientists not often understand scale of interest of speleothems as
well as educated cavers do, and a single glance of cavers and/or
geologists on the sampling procedures sometimes leave questions and
play anti-educational role. Of course, a difference between
souvenires and scientific samples is well-seen (though not formulated
in printed sources), but the problem exists even within pure
scientific field.

     b) So, good guidelines on who, when, how, and with which purpose
CAN do sampling, may play VERY IMPORTANT ROLE. Ignoring a problem
never solves it, and opened policy may do it.

     c) Of course, the center point of this policy must be
minimization of any material carried out, and several things to do
towards this are trivial:
     - creating a data base of cave samples already existing outside
caves, and setting modes of their usage by any scientist.
     - when pioneering and building trials show caves, careful collecting
af ALL the matter removed with it's placing in a certain place within
the cave, with subsequent publication of data bases of such
resources. These resources must be available for certain scientific
programs.
     - the same approach may be used for small cavities, that are
intersected by mines and are to be destroyed, thou containing
speleothems. It's a good idea to try to set control on these
speleothems, both for pure science and for complectation of collections
in museums, still preventing these samples from appearing on
commercial markets.

     d) Returning to the "souvenirs case", I can also mark, that of
great importance is educating of amateur stone collectors, that are
mostly NOT cavers, NOT geologists, NOT visitors of show caves. This
problem has only one solution - maximum possible spreading of
illustrated popular books on speleothems, explaining in a good
manner, why they are beautiful in caves and what a great loss occurs
from their taking out. So, that ANY collector can compare himself the
pictures with poor pieces in collections and museums, and understand
the origin of such difference.
     Currently I'm finishing with preparation of such a book.

     Off course, it's all very rough, I've got several things printed
on these problems. So, the use of my participation in the Working
Group may concern the same things.

Bogdan Onac wrote:

Currently I am trying to write a booklet called "Cave minerals of
Romania", on which I would like to stress on the speleothem conservation and
protection policy.


*If I recall well, there was a discussion during the mineralogy workshop at
UIS Congress about establishing a database of all available cave minerals
samples. Maybe Carol can tell us more about it? Is there a working group
for such a purpose? The guidelines should certainly include a
reccommandation on cave minerals sampling. Maybe Vladimir could propose a
basis for such a guideline?

I certainly agree to the importance of showing the most exceptional
speleothems in their natural environment to the public by every media
available (this is exactly what I am doing in my films)and to explain that
on surface they quickly loose all their esthetic interest. It could be
interesting to create a pool of documents (photos, slides, film footage,
etc.) for such a purpose. However there is always the problem of copyright.
This should be discussed to see if we can find a solution.*

5) Relations with ISCA

Dave Jagnow wrote:

Attached is the response I received a while back from Jeanne Gurnee,
past President of the International Show Caves Association. Jeannie is
working to establish a representative from ISCA to work with us.
Please feel free to contact others directly if we need a
representative before their next meeting in October. In the meantime,
I would suggest placing Jeanne Gurnee on the email list so she is
aware of the progress we make.

Jeanne Gurnee wrote:

Many thanks for thinking of me in connection with speleothem
conservation worldwide. Excellent program proposal!!

I will be glad to bring this subject to the International Show Caves
Association at its next meeting [October], and can report back to you
giving the person they choose to represent them.

Meantime, I will send a copy of your fax to the secretary so that she
can put it on the agenda.


6) Guidelines, ISHA, ISCA Congress, etc.

As some of you know, a draft text for the guidelines has been presented by
ISHA (International Subterranean Heritage Association) during the UIS
Congress. This draft is based on the text by Patrick Cabrol (a founding
member of ISHA) published in CMW2 on conservation. Of course this text
needs to be reviewed and ammended by this working group and by others.
Since I am also the current president of ISHA, I propose a joint publicaton
by this group, ISHA and also IUCN (the World Conservation Union). The
guidelines must consider all aspects of conservation, including the
interests of Show Caves.

Show Caves managers are on the front line with the public. They are not
only concerned with the conservation of their show caves, but also play an
essential role in education and public awareness. The aim of the congress
this October is to discuss what should be considered prior to the fitting
of a show cave. That includes impact studies, visitation limits to respect
the cave's environment, etc... If our guidelines can contribute to this
debate by providing advice from the scientific community as how to preserve
caves and how to fit them best for visits in a way that will protect their
main features; speleothems, I think that our aims will be very well
accepted by show caves managers and that we will be able to count on their
cooperation.

Patrick Cabrol has presented the draft text of the Guidelines to Arrigo
Cigna (past President of UIS and Hon. member of the Bureau). A. Cigna
suggests to present the draft for discussion during the ISCA congress.
Patrick and I will probably be present at the ISCA congress, officially
representing ISHA, but I think it would be useful that we speak for both
this working group and ISHA on the guidelines topic. This is if everybody
agrees. By the way, if any one of you is going to the ISCA congress, please
let me know.


7) UNESCO World Heritage List

Bogdan Onac wrote:

I will also have a cave that would be suitable for UNESCO protection
as it has over 25 mineral species in it and fantastic gypsum
speleothems.

*A close cooperation between this working group and ISHA is quite
appropriate as ISHA is now being consulted by IUCN on behalf of UNESCO for
the nomination of new subterranean sites to the World Heritage List. We are
currently examining two new proposals in Slovakia and Uruguay. I have
noticed that there are very few subterranean sites on the World Heritage
list that are connected with mineralogical interest (to the exception of
Carlsbad Park). Maybe we should insist upon national authorities to
nominate more caves of mineralogical interest to the list. Remember that
nominations are made on a National level. Only the UNESCO commission of
each participating country can nominate a site to the assembly.

The UNESCO World Heritage list is a good tool for us as it implies duties
in terms of protection and conservation from the concerned country. However
many governements are not aware of what they should propose. IUCN is in
charge of Natural Heritage for UNESCO. They would like to have more
subterranean sites added to the list. But it is impossible to nominate a
site on an international level. The nomination must come from the country
of the site. Therefore it would be interesting if each of you could enquire
in your country as to who is in charge nationally for UNESCO WHL. I can
provide advice as how to fill the forms and what kind of documents should
be provided to nominate a site. We should really have more caves of
mineralogical interest added to this list. It may not be the best physical
protection, but it is still a very interesting level of public protection
at an international scale.*


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