Year: 2025

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…

Join us and celebrate the International Day of Caves and Karst - IDCK! This September 13th, we are thrilled to announce that the speleological community will celebrate the International Day of Caves and Karst for the first time. This unique event, approved by the UIS General Assembly during the 19th International Congress of Speleology in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, is a momentous occasion for all of us. The International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK) is a proposed UNESCO-recognised annual observance on September 13th, dedicated to raising global awareness of caves and karst landscapes. These environments, which provide vital resources and preserve unique biodiversity, have a profound impact on a global scale, including supplying drinking water for over a billion people. They also hold invaluable geological and cultural records, making them…

The 2025 Prize This year, although very different, the topics addressed by the candidates were treated by highlighting a wide range of options such as raising awareness of caving, the protection and conservation of caves and karst environments, the concomitance between exploration results and scientific research, education and tourism without forgetting to identify ways to perpetuate their objectives. The members of the 2025 France Habe Prize Jury rated each submission using an evaluation grid covering relevance, presentation, interdisciplinarity, photography, scientific content, readability and originality. For 2025, the choice of the Jury was not easy given the quality of the six works submitted. Finally, the Jury decided, unanimously, to reward Laurent Bruxelles from France and his team for their project «Gcwihaba cave» - Bodsuana. The 2025 France HABE Prize will be…

The International Union of Speleology (UIS) is pleased to announce that our official proposal for the proclamation of an International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK) has been formally reviewed by the UNESCO Secretariat. The Republic of Slovenia, in coordination with UIS, is actively working to secure co-sponsorship from UNESCO Member States. We now need your help! Please: Inform your national UNESCO delegation or relevant government authorities about the IDCK proposal. Kindly request their support during the voting process at the  Executive Board (September 2025) and at the General Conference (November 2025). Let us come together to give caves and karst the global recognition they deserve—for science, for nature, for culture, and future generations. Spread the word, share the poster, and help us gain momentum!    

Following the successful International Year of Caves and Karst 2021 (celebrated in 2022), the International Union of Speleology (UIS), with the support of the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO, prepared a formal proposal to UNESCO to proclaim: 13 September as the UNESCO International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK) – a global observance dedicated to education, conservation, and raising public awareness about caves and karst landscapes. Why 13 September? No other international observance currently takes place on this date. It does not favour any nationality or organisation. On this date in 2021, caves and karst were presented at UNESCO for the first time (although UIS itself was established on 16 September). Current Status (June 2025) The UIS proposal for the proclamation of the IDCK has been formally reviewed by the…

We are glad to share with you Volume 67-1 of the UIS Bulletin. The PDF Interactive format can be downloaded by clicking on the link: http://uis-speleo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/UIS-Bulletin-67-1-June-2025.pdf The 41pages of this issue bring the following topics: TABLE OF CONTENTS • Editorial: “The UIS Bulletin and its Editors: Evolving Every Cycle” • President’s Column: “Milestones and Momentum: 60 Years of UIS, the 19th ICS, and the Future with IDCK” • 19th ICS 2025 - Message to the participants • 19th ICS 2025 - State of the Art of the organization and perspectives • 19th ICS 2025 - Keynote Lectures scheduled • 19th ICS 2025 - List of Sponsors and Supporters • Arts and Letters Commission - Report of first UIS Photo Contest • International Meeting of Speleologists under UIS Patronage (Czech Republic)…

The UIS is calling for its 2025 prizes, to be assigned and celebrated during the 19th International Congress of Speleology, to be held in Belo Horizonte (Brasil) from July 20 to 27, 2025. All cavers are invited to participate to the different categories of prizes. Instructions and details are in the following PDF file. Please note that the deadline for nominations is June 30, 2025.

The new UIS Bureau will be elected during the 2nd General Assembly of the International Congress of Speleology on 27 July 2025 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Interested candidates are kindly invited to submit their application no later than two days before the election via email, using this form This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the global speleological community.

The 19th ICS is approaching. More than 1,000 people from 50 countries have already registered and 461 papers were submitted. The Third Circular brings many important information about the event, the host city, the technical-scientific and social programs as well. Detailed maps of the venue and a general Congress schedule overview are also included. For those who haven't yet registered, prices are still attractive. Until May 15th, the fee is 66.6% off. Take advantage! Visit the 19th ICS Website: https://www.speleo2025.org/ To access the Circulars: https://www.speleo2025.org/downloads/circular

The Karst and Cave Protection Commission of the International Union of Speleology (UIS) is pleased to announce that the France HABE PRIZE 2025 is even better sponsored. The prize is named in memory and in honor of Dr. France HABE († 10/12/1999) from Slovenia (Yugoslavia), Past President of the Protection Department of the UIS (1973 -1997). The purpose of this prize is to promote the protection of karst and caves. Their natural heritage is an increasingly rich source of proven information on the history of our planet and of humanity, allowing us to act in a more thoughtful, effective and sustainable way for the future of our environment. You will find the complete regulations in French, English and Spanish on the UIS website by following this link: http://uis-speleo.org/index.php/karst-and-cave-protection-commission/ The deadline…