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--- general:policies [2011/12/12 21:17] – damian
+++ general:policies [2011/12/19 20:23] – damian
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 ==== Conservation Policy ====
-Caves form a unique and vulnerable part of our natural and archaeological heritage. Their conservation is important for many reasons. As a nationally rare and integral element of our natural heritage, caves are worthy of conservation in their own right. There is a moral duty to conserve them for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.
+BCA has an extensive Conservation Policy that can be purchased from BCA Publications Sales for £3.
-Caves also constitute a valuable scientific resource, providing evidence of human cultural change and the development of our landscape as well as changes in our climate. Current concerns about global warming only serve to increase the importance of cave research in helping to understand the impact of past climatic changes, so that predictions can then be made for the future.
-If caves are to be conserved for the future, action must be taken now. To achieve cave conservation there must be a close working relationship between owners, cavers and the statutory conservation agencies. It is through such a partnership that both the external and internal threats to the cave environment can be mitigated. The caving community must also accept more responsibility for the practical conservation of features underground.
-A cave is one of the most fascinating environments known to man. Each cave is almost a closed world and a clumsy intruder such as man always disturbs it. The slow steady dripping of water, over almost immeasurable time, has produced exquisite but fragile formations. The cave earth is the home for tiny creatures, bats find the cave environment ideal for winter hibernation, whilst various types of flora struggle for existence in the semi-dark zones.
-As you walk along you compact the cave earth.  Organisms from outside are brought in on your boots and clothing and affect the cave ecosystem. Formations get knocked. The first duty of every caver should be to protect the cave from his or her own actions and to educate others in basic cave conservation.
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