Proposal for the Protection of Show Caves

Ernst HOLLAND

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The International Union for Conservation of Nature operates through a number of commissions, one of which is the World Commission on Protected Areas. They have just released Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection, which was prepared largely by John Watson, Elery Hamilton-Smith, David Gillieson and Kevin Kiernan, but with world wide input, amounting to over 600 letters, phone calls, e-mail messages, etc. It is an important document, and will reach many cave and karst managers throughout the world.
(An early draft of it can be found at: http://wasg.iinet.net.au/cnppa.html )
[Now at: http://wcpa.iucn.org/theme/caveskarsts/caveskarsts.html - Ed.]

I propose that as Co-chairman of the Show Cave Commission U.I.S. I coordinate and produce with world wide input a similar document on the Guidelines for Selection, Development and Management of Show Caves. This document could then be presented to the 2001 UIS Congress in Brazil for ratification, publication and distribution.

Guidelines for the Selection, Development & Management of Show Caves

The guidelines document would be detailed in three sections, with each section containing a number of chapters. The following would give a broad idea of the format.

Section B. Development of the cave.
Chapter 1. Planning of the inspection route.
Chapter 2. Design of the infrastructure.
Chapter 3. The selection of materials.
Chapter 4. Method of development.

The following section should be applicable to new and old developed caves.
Section C. Management of the cave.
Chapter 1. The rationale for management.
Chapter 2. The aim of management.
Chapter 3. The process of management.
Chapter 4. The consequences of management.
Chapter 5. Visitor impact measuring.

This document will be developed under the auspices of the International Union of Speleology but will be open to all organizations, groups and persons wishing to have input. It is proposed that an editorial group of five persons be formed including myself and including representatives of the International Union of Speleology, International Geographic Union, International Showcave Association, Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association.

Your comments on this proposal are invited. Please send them before 1 Jan 1999 to:
Mr. Ernst Holland:
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30 Jun 1998

Hello All

To all persons who have shown interest "thank you". This is where we are at the moment I propose that we try and get an agreed format by September 98 and the first Circulation by March 99. Please pass on to interested people the information supplied and encourage their involvement.

Cheers Ernst

2nd Version Guidelines

The changes as suggested by Elery Hamilton Smith and Dave Gillieson, Australia.

CHAPTER 1. SELECTION OF THE CAVE.
Section 1. The Criteria for Selection.
Section 2. Relationship to geological context
Section 3. Aesthetic/experiential values of the Cave. 
Section 4. The environmentally and scientifically [important] values of 
           the cave and surrounding landscape:
                  Hydrology
                  Water Quality
                  Ecological services.
Section 5. The economic feasibility of the operation:
                  IUCN guide for managers.
 
CHAPTER 2. DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAVE.
Section 1. Planning of the inspection route above and below the surface.
                  (Worlds best practice, non prescriptive global examples) 
Section 2. Design of the infrastructure.
Section 3. The Selection of materials.
Section 4. Method of development.

Elery has suggested a number of changes in this chapter and I have put 
my interpretation of the changes. 
CHAPTER 3. MANAGEMENT OF THE CAVE.
Section 1. The rationale for management.
Section 2. The aim of management.
Section 3. Guiding and Interpretation
Section 4. Maintaining quality in environmental integrity and visitor 
           management.

CHAPTER 4. NETWORKING.
Section 1. Building networks.
Section 2. The global position.

John Watson CALM Western Australia has suggested the following comments that I feel we should explore.

"Why not liaise with Elery and make your proposed guidelines for protection of show caves one in the IUCN WCPA series. Elery is developing a volume on pseudo karst and also has interest in one on biota so why not one on show caves ?. The reason I suggest this is that if a series builds up each volume will gain strength from the others..

WCPA was quite relaxed about partnership production of its publications and there was no editorial interference at all from them. Basically they are keen to see anything relevant to protection published and more the better if it is largely externally funded.

Another advantage of the IUCN is that it will attract world wide attention OUTSIDE the usual speleo/converted ranks...thus making it a potentially more widely distributed document and also more likely to get to politicians/decision makers."

COMMENT. The guidelines work has been undertaken in my role with IUS, and because there is memo of co-operation between IUS & IGU I feel that a joint project as suggested by John Gunn, between the two organizations would have many advantages.

The Guidelines would take into account the IUCN document and I feel that we will be capable of having global input and distribution via IUS, IGU and the many international cave related networks.

Philippe Axell BE suggests that we work with The Working Group for the Conservation of Speleothems and Caves of Mineralogical Interest convened by Carol Hill. I will establish this Link.

Philippe, it has been suggested that you may be able to work with us also on the many uses of caves and how this may relate to the guidelines.

Graham Mullan UK. We would welcome your involvement please advise what chapter/chapters you would like to develop.

George Huppert USA. Thanks for your interest please advise the extent of involvement.

John Gunn, England. "I have just been going through my old e-mails to see which I can delete and which I opened and then forgot to do anything about! Yours, I regret to say, is in the latter category. Its a good idea and, notwithstanding my perennial lack of time, something that I, and, I suspect, other members of the IGU Commission will be very interested in. Given that IGU & UIS have signed a memo of co-operation would you be interested in making this a joint project of UIS Show Cave Commission & IGU Karst Commission? Either way, I propose to put the attachment in the next 'Karst Conduit' as that gets mailed out to folk who dont have an e-mail address. If you would like it to go out sooner let me know & I can send to my e-mail list."

Ernst Holland.
Co-chairman, UIS Show Caves Commission
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