[CML #18194] Fwd: UNESCO Proclaims September 13 as the International Day of Caves and Karst

-------- Пересылаемое сообщение --------
От кого: Mattes, Johannes <>
Кому: Mattes, Johannes <>
Копия: Nadja Zupan Hajna <>, <>
Дата: Среда, 12 ноября 2025, 23:37 +03:00
Тема: UNESCO Proclaims September 13 as the International Day of Caves and Karst

Dear UIS Delegates, UIS Commission Officers, and Association Representatives,

On behalf of the UIS Bureau, I am pleased to share an important message from UIS Past President and Treasurer Nadja Zupan Hajna, confirming that the General Conference of UNESCO, held today in Samarkand, has officially proclaimed September 13 as the International Day of Caves and Karst.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for the global speleological community and acknowledges the importance of caves and karst landscapes to our natural and cultural heritage.

Best wishes,

Johannes Mattes

UIS Secretary General

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At today’s General Conference of UNESCO in Samarkand (12 November 2025), 13 September was officially proclaimed the International Day of Caves and Karst — a global recognition of the significance of the hidden world beneath our feet.

The initiative was proposed to UNESCO by the Republic of Slovenia, following the proposal of the International Union of Speleology (UIS), in close cooperation with the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO, the Permanent Delegation of Slovenia to UNESCO, and the Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, where the UIS headquarters has been based in Postojna, Slovenia.

Caves and karst cover nearly one quarter of the Earth’s land surface and provide drinking water to over a billion people. They preserve unique subterranean biodiversity, geological archives, and invaluable cultural heritage. Yet, they remain among the least understood and most fragile ecosystems on our planet.

The International Day of Caves and Karst will help raise global awareness, promote research, education, and international cooperation in science, environmental protection, culture, and sustainable tourism.

The UIS warmly thanks all UNESCO Member States that supported the initiative, as well as the UNESCO scientific programmes (IGGP, MAB, IHP) and international partners including the International Science Council (ISC), IUCN, and more than 150 organizations worldwide that endorsed the proposal. Our sincere appreciation goes to the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO and the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Slovenia to UNESCO in Paris for their dedicated diplomatic efforts and continuous support.

From now on, September 13 will unite the global cave and karst community in celebrating and protecting these vital landscapes — for science, for nature, and for humanity.

Don’t forget, in 2026 we will celebrate the first ever International Day of Caves and Karst on 13 September!

Nadja Zupan Hajna, UIS Past President

To learn more, visit:

International Day of Caves and Karst website: https://www.caveskarstday.org/

UIS official website: https://uis-speleo.org/

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Bulat Mavlyudov