The UIS Mineralogy Commission has identified a new (interim) chairperson for the Conservation section:

Tom Lera of Washington, DC.

Tom also knows how to speak a smattering of languages, including French, so this should be a help in corresponding with people in Europe, such as Patrick Cabrol who is heading the Cave Conservation effort in France.

Tom has also compiled all cave protection laws in the United States for all 50 states, (see: Legal Protection of Caves and Bats at the turn of the Millennium at: http://www.caves.org/section/ccms/bat2k/index.htm ) and has some information on cave laws in other countries (but needs more). If you would like to work with Tom in the protection of caves in your country, please write him and tell him what laws are on the books for your country, and if not, what the situation is like for cave protection in your country.

As mentioned in past E-mails, one of the long-term goals of this UIS section is to prohibit the export and import of speleothems worldwide. To begin this long and arduous task, we have to know which countries are mining speleothems and which countries are exporting/importing them, so any information you might have on this would be welcome by Tom also. A place to start on this may be Mexico and China, which I believe are two countries that export speleothems to the United States.

Another outcome of this united effort may be to put some caves on the World Heritage List in order to protect them, so any caves you feel may be applicable for this status should be sent to Tom also.

Right now, our first task is to set up a network of conservation-minded cavers worldwide. If I have sent this to you, and you are not interested in this project, then please foreward this E-mail on to other conservation-minded cavers in your country (or other countries). Please send all E-mails directly to Tom, with a copy to me.