Author: Jasmina

We are glad to share with you Volume 64-1 of the UIS Bulletin. The PDF Interactive format can be downloaded by clicking on the link: http://uis-speleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/uisb641.pdf The 50 pages of this issue bring the following topics: • Editorial: UIS Bulletin: The Last Five Years and Plans for the Years Ahead • The President’s Column: An Ending and a Beginning • Welcome message of the 18th International Congress of Speleology • The Cave Time Capsule 2091 Project: Call to all countries • The Closing Months of the UIS International Year of Caves and Karst • 36th Brazilian Congress of Speleology dedicated to the IYCK • Country Delegations at the UIS Congresses: A Brief Retrospective • Cave Data Sharing Guidelines - A new UIS Project • Report of Activities 2018-2022 - Materials…

Dear Delegates of the UIS, At the end of July we will meet in France at the UIS General Assembly at the International Congress of Speleology. One of our duties will be to elect people to the UIS Bureau. The UIS needs good people who are willing to work for the UIS to improve speleology internationally. A good candidate should: Be active and knowledge about caves, their needs, and the caving organizations in your region. Be able to travel internationally at least once each year to the UIS Bureau meetings. Have a good working knowledge of written and spoken English, the language in which UIS business is conducted. Have time and enthusiasm to dedicate to UIS goals and activities. Understand that UIS Bureau members do not represent their countries or…

The France HABE Prize is open to all project leaders concerning the protection of karst and caves.  It is awarded by the Karst and Cave Protection Commission of the International Union of Speleology (UIS). Exceptionally, the deadline for submitting projects is postponed to June 10, 2022. This should therefore allow more of you to participate. The prize will be awarded this year at the 18th International Congress of Speleology in Chambéry next July. All information about this award is here: http://uis-speleo.org/index.php/karst-and-cave-protection-commission/ Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns UIS Karst and Cave Protection Commission - President

Thank you already for reading this message about a new project: We hope that many of you will respond to our request for information as soon as possible. Thanks for your help. "Cave and Karst legal status worldwide assessment: an initiative of the  UIS KARST AND CAVE PROTECTION  COMMISSION : In this International Year of Caves and Karst 2021 and 2022, we launch a worldwide census of the legal status of caves and karst, especially in your country. This is a basic assessment of national, regional, and local regulation on caves, karst, and caving worldwide;  Thanks for your help." For any questions or suggestions please write us here  If you cannot open the file, try with this link: https://forms.gle/cgvCb2kNKejpFF2x7 For the project team.   Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns UIS Karts and Cave Protection Commission President

In 1997, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released the first edition of the Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection to support the growing international need for guidance in cave and karst management. In recognition of the International Year of Caves and Karst, the UIS released the second edition, in cooperation with the IUCN, where 16 leading experts updated and expanded the guidelines to include new knowledge gained over the past 25 years. You can find the Guidelines on following links: Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection - second edition Complete Listing of Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection

Dear colleagues, Dear Friends The next deadline for submition of requests for speleological events support is May 31, 2022. Granted can be the international expeditions or other projects focused on exploration, study, or protection of caves and karst, with emphasis on educational, technical and/or scientific cooperation with the local speleological community. All requests should show explicitly, that the proposed event is in agreement with the Statutes, Internal Regulations and Code of Ethics of the UIS and should be sent to the UIS via Secretary General Fadi Nader at fadi.nader@orange.fr , or Vice President for Administration Zdenek Motycka at z.motycka@mediform.cz More details can also be found in the Speleological Events Support Guidelines. Zdenek Motycka UIS Vice President of Administration

The UIS Bureau condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. This conflict is creating a severe humanitarian crisis that is worsening daily. The UIS Bureau stands with the Ukrainian people and calls on the Russian aggressors to immediately cease their brutal, inhumane, and unprovoked violence. UIS Bureau acknowledges the contribution of both Ukrainian and Russian cavers and karst scientists to the international UIS community. However, the UIS Bureau is appalled by the current invasion and war crimes committed by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. In solidarity with Ukrainian cavers and scientists, and scientific organizations worldwide, the UIS Bureau is freezing all cooperation with caving organizations and speleological institutions of the Russian Federation until further notice. The UIS Bureau recommends to the…

Introduction The France HABE Prize is awarded by the Karst and the Cave Protection Commission of the International Union of Speleology (UIS). The prize is named in memory and honor of Dr. France HABE († 10/12/1999) of Slovenia (Yugoslavia), who among his other many accomplishments served as President of the UIS Protection Department (1973-1997). Its purpose is to promote the protection of karst and caves for generations to come. Their natural legacy is a proven source of increasingly rich information about the history of our planet and humanity, enabling people to act more thoughtfully, efficiently, and sustainably for the future of our environment. The 2021 Prize Four submissions were received on time for actions and activities in Belize, France, Germany and Spain. They concern awareness-raising, competitions, conservation and inventories. The…

We are glad to share with you Volume 63-2 of the UIS Bulletin. The PDF Interactive format can be downloaded by clicking on the link: http://uis-speleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/uisb632.pdf The 51 pages of this issue bring the following topics: • Editorial: The International Year of Caves and Karst: Become a Part of Speleological History • The President’s Column: A New Beginning for Speleology and the Second Year of the International Year • 18th International Congress of Speleology 2022 • The Road to the UIS International Year of Caves and Karst and UNESCO Event • UIS International Year of Caves and Karst 2021: Special Ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris • International Cave Animal of the Year 2022: BATS • Ice Cavers: The Movie • News of the 19th International Congress of Speleology 2025…

As we approach the last month of 2021, remember that because of COVID the International Year of Caves and Karst has been extended through 2022. So far we have 257 partner organizations that organized 360 events. This has been great and following the success of our meeting with UNESCO in September we hope to keep adding partners and organize even more events for next year. At first, I described 2021 as the “virtual” International and that 2022 would be the “in-person” International Year. I was mistaken. Strangely, the COVID pandemic has increased the success of the International Year dramatically. Lectures and activities that would have been held in person with only a few people were done on-line with attendees from around the world. They were then posted on the International…