Year: 2021

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…

The International Year of Caves and Karst is organized by the International Union of Speleology (UIS) to celebrate caves and karst internationally and teach the world about their importance. On Monday, 13 September 2021, we celebrated the International Year at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Many governmental ambassadors and influential people were at the meeting in Paris. We asked for three specific things (in additional to their general support in their countries): 1) Encouraged UNESCO to develop inventories of all caves, karst features, and theircontents in UNESCO protected areas. 2) Suggested that UNESCO evaluate protected areas for adequacy of cave andkarst protection, and expand protection as needed. 3) Invited UNESCO to join the UIS to develop an international ban in the trade ofcave materials (speleothems, animals, sediments, and rocks). The first…

Dear colleagues, Dear Friends After interruption caused by global pandemic of COVID 19, we are happy to announced the new Call for Speleological events support. The Next deadline for submition of request for speleological events support is November 30, 2021. 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 expedition is in agreement with the Statutes, Internal Regulations, and Code of Ethics of the UIS and must be sent to the UIS via Secretary General Fadi Nader at fadi.nader@orange.fr . More details can also be found in the Speleological Events Support Guidelines. Zdenek Motycka UIS Vice President of Administration

As you know, the International Union of Speleology-UIS, in partnership with 56 member countries and over 230 institutions and organizations around the world, has proclaimed an International Year of Caves and Karst 2021. An event to present the IYCK 2021 has been organized under the patronage of the UNESCO Director-General by the UIS in partnership with the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Slovenia to UNESCO. The event will take place on 13 September from 9.30 to 13.00 (Paris Time) on the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (see program below). Due to COVID -19 restrictions, the event will be limited to invited guests from UNESCO national delegations and UIS & IYCK partners: 100 people will attend in person, with an additional 500 people able to participate via Zoom. For everyone else,…

We are glad to share with you Volume 63-1 of the UIS Bulletin. The PDF Interactive format can be downloaded by clicking on the link: http://uis-speleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/uisb631.pdf The 43 pages of this issue bring the following topics: • Editorial: “Good News Despite Sad Losses“ • The President’s Column: “Important UIS Changes and Updates” • International Year of Caves and Karst 2021 and 2022 • Examples of Events Organized for the IYCK around the World • Brazil joins the Cave Animal of the Year campaign • Andy Eavis, UIS Past President, honored in the UK • UIS Prizes 2021: New deadline for nominations • Brazil will host the 19th International Congress of Speleology in 2025 • New techniques for remote location of unknown caves • In Memoriam: Jean Nicod (France) • In…

The International Union of Speleology (UIS) has recently voted to hold the 19th International Congress of Speleology in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on 27 July – 2 August 2025. More information will be released soon in the next UIS Bulletin.

As the 18th ICS was postponed to the next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UIS announces extra time for entries for the UIS PRIZES 2021. The new deadline is APRIL 30, 2022 For all details concerning the UIS Prizes 2021 (categories, regulations, and rules for entries), please, click here

The France HABE Prize is awarded each year by the Karst and Caves Protection Commission of the International Union of Speleology (UIS). With the cancellation of the 18th ICS, the deadline for submitting applications is exceptionally extended until August 20, 2021. Do not miss this opportunity! All the useful information is here: http://uis-speleo.org/index.php/karst-and-cave-protection-commission/

The International Year of Caves and Karst (IYCK) was created to teach people around the world about caves and karst. Organized by the International Union of Speleology (UIS), we now have 183 national and international organizations partnering with us. Together we have 110 upcoming events announced around the world and 79 other events are already complete, most of which you can watch or read about at http://iyck2021.org/index.php/event-results/. The biggest single event for the International Year is the International Congress of Speleology (https://uis2021.speleos.fr/) which has been posted to July 2022 because of the pandemic. As a result, the UIS Bureau has decided to extend the International Year through 2022. We have contacted our partners directly so they can plan events through next year. We suggest 2021 as the virtual International Year, and as…

Regarding the Covid-19 situation and postponing of the Congress for one year, the UIS Bureau decided that there exists an acceptable reason that some of the member countries can’t pay their UIS member fees for four consecutive years. We announce here that they will not lose their membership to the UIS if they pay their fees at the 18th ICS in France in 2022. In principle, this is for those who pay in cash at the Congresses to avoid high money transfer charges. Nadja Zupan HajnaUIS Treasurer