Fire salamander larvae hunting a cave amphipod underwater, Photo: Klaus Bogon
Convention on Biological Diversity
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Key messages on geoecosystems:
Look deeper - include subterranean species!
Biodiversity needs geodiversity!
Target 1
Plan and Manage all Areas to Reduce Biodiversity Loss
Look deeper
Include underground in spatial planning. Subterranean geoecosystems are biodiversity-rich and, highly vulnerable, threatened by pollution, mining and water extraction and climate change.
Example Texas, USA: More than 3,260 species use underground habitats, some only seasonally—such as bats, which need them for hibernation. But 275 of these species spend their entire life cycles in the dark, of which 76 have not yet been scientifically described.
Target 2
Restore 30% of all Degraded Ecosystems
Include underground
Caves and karst must be protected from degradation . Recovery efforts have to focus on catchment areas and groundwater because they are rich and vulnerable ecosystem whose hydrological health underpins karst biodiversity.
Each karst landscape and every cave is unique and impossible to replace or restore!
4.7% of known caves in Germany are already lost, like the famous caves of Neandertal.
Target 3
Conserve 30% of Land, Water and Seas
Protect underground
Geoecosystems have to be explicitly included within protected and conserved areas together with connected groundwater systems and surface catchments, so that protection ensures the ecosystem's integrity.
Only 6.9% of subterranean ecosystems are currently protected (Sánchez-Fernández et- al., 2021) under existing frameworks including the World Heritage Program WHP.
IUCN Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection.
Target 4
Halt Species Extinction
Blind spot
There is a blind spot in halting extinction of subterranean species most subterranean species are unknown or unassessed, so subterranean indicators must be included in national monitoring and research must be supported.
IUCN Species Survival Commission Cave Invertebrates SG:
"Lack of available data prevents quality desk studies, assessing the habitat and imminent and potential threats. "
Target 7
Reduce Pollution to Levels That Are Not Harmful to Biodiversity
Pollution travels
Because there is little or no natural filtration in karst aquifers, contaminants can spread over large distances harming subterranean species and humans. Pollutants may also become trapped in karst aquifers and later be released at springs.
"Managers should recognise that in karst catchments, surface actions result in direct or indirect impacts underground or further downstream."
Statement of the German Speleological Federation for the
UN Water Conference 2023
Target 8
Minimize the Impacts of Climate Change
It does not stop underground
Subterranean species are adapted to a limited range of temperature, water and food availability. They cannot migrate readily to escape global warming or droughts. Caves and karst areas should be recognised as systems vulnerable to changing climate.
Speleologists report the death of groundwater species after the hot summer in Europe and melting of ice caves, like the "Eiskapelle" in the National Park of Berchtesgaden, a lost cave for Germany.
Target 11
Restore, Maintain and Enhance Nature’s Contributions to People
Security and risk reduction
Sustainable water use and protection in karst areas secure freshwater supplies and reduce disaster risks.
Karst covers about 15% of Earth's land surface and supplies water to 10% of the world's population. Over-abstraction can lead to subsidence or catastrophic collapse on the surface as well as impacting flora and fauna in karst areas and caves.
Target 14
Integrate Biodiversity in Decision-Making at Every Level
Human impacts destroy
Infrastructure, agriculture, extractive industries and other human activities must consider their impacts on groundwater, landscapes, caves and species.
The Environmental Caves and Karst Outlook (ECKO) aims to collect basic information on the current status of caves and karst in countries or regions and to make this information available in policy briefs.
Target 15
Assess, Disclose and Reduce Biodiversity-Related Risks and Negative Impacts
Be karst aware
Every organisation operating in karst areas must consider its special responsibilities and contribute to maintaining good quality aquifers and geoecosystems.
The List of Endangered Caves and Karst Landscapes underscores the urgent, global threat posed by pollution, over-extraction, and environmental neglect.
Target 16
Enable Sustainable Consumption Choices to Reduce Waste and Overconsumption
Rock recycling
Minerals like gypsum are under severe threat from mining and construction. There is almost no recycling of these materials, leading to unsustainable extraction and landscape degradation.
Gypsum karst areas usually occur in arid areas. the South Harz in Germany is a biodiversity hotspot and threattened by mining. It is the only gypsum karst area with beech trees and worth to become a WHS. Gypsum is easy to recycle but mining is cheaper.
Target 20
Strengthen Capacity-Building, Technology Transfer, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation for Biodiversity
Listen and work with cavers
Most knowledge about caves and karst is held in caving clubs and speleological federations. Their members work voluntarily collecting and providing scientific data.
Cavers are locally organized and internationally connected, supporting research and cave and karst protection.
European Cave Protection Commission
Target 21
Ensure That Knowledge is Available and Accessible to Guide Biodiversity Action
Cooperate with speleologists
Speleologists are ready to share their knowledge but financial support is key to gain more information on underground habitats and karst areas.
Speleologists share their knowledge at conferences, most notably at the International Congress of Speleology, which is organized every 4 years.
Target 22
Ensure Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice and Information Related to Biodiversity for all
Inclusive underground
Strengthen speleo-organized and community-led cave monitoring programs, ecotourism initiatives, that balances potential economic benefits from karst, water and heritage resources with conservation of those resources for future generations.
Greater Mouse-eared Bat, Myotis myotis. Photo: Klaus Bogon
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