International Day of Caves and Karst - IDCK
International Day of Caves and Karst - IDCK
September 13
A global day dedicated to education, conservation, and public awareness.
Embedded Files
UIS Proposal to UNESCO
to Celebrate and Protect the World's Karst Systems
In partnership with the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO
The International Day of Caves and Karst (IDCK) is a proposed UNESCO-recognised annual observance on 13 September, dedicated to raising global awareness of caves and karst landscapes. Caves are naturally formed underground voids found worldwide, while karst landscapes form through the dissolution of soluble rocks, shaping distinctive surface and subsurface features. These environments provide vital resources, including drinking water for over a billion people, preserve unique biodiversity, and hold invaluable geological and cultural records.
Photo: Nathalia Uasapud
News
News
UNESCO UPDATE
The Slovenian Embassy intends to submit the proposal for the International Day on the agenda of the UNESCO Executive Board meeting by the end of this week. They are continuing intensive lobbying with States for both support and co-sponsorship. The initiative will be considered by the Member States of the Executive Board (58 members) at their autumn session, which will take place between 1 and 16 October 2025.
We kindly ask you to inform your UNESCO Delegation and/or Ministry(Ministries) about the importance of this initiative and to encourage them to vote in favour of the IDCK proposal at the UNESCO Executive Board in October and, if approved, also at the UNESCO General Conference in Uzbekistan this November (more information see Support).
September 11. 2025IDCK VIDEO
The official video for the International Day of Caves and Karst will be published on this website on September 13, 2025. Stay tuned.
September 5, 2025START
The International Union of Speleology (UIS) proposed to the UNESCO Secretariat the proclamation of the International Day of Caves and Karst. On 29 May 2025, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia officially decided to support the UIS Initiative. The Republic of Slovenia is actively lobbying to secure co-sponsorship from other UNESCO Member States.
The Proposal is scheduled to be submitted to the UNESCO Executive Board by the Government of Slovenia. A final decision is expected during the UNESCO General Conference in November 2025.
July 27, 2025
UIS- int-day-eng.mp4International Day of Caves and Karst Video
Photo: Florian Bachmann
Photo: Csaba Egri
Support
Inform your national UNESCO delegations or government authorities about the proposal and kindly request their support during the voting process.
Explanatory note
How to contact UNESCO delegations
Support letter example
Photo: Nathalia Uasapud
Impact
Raise global awareness of karst systems and caves
Support of all UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially
- SDG 6 Clean water from karst aquifers
- SDG 11 Safer urban development in karst-prone zones
- SDG 13 Climate action via paleoclimate records
- SDG 15 protection of subterranean biodiversityInspire youth education, public outreach, and science diplomacy
Strengthen international partnerships and knowledge sharing
Encourage policy reform and cross-sectoral cooperation
Promote sustainable tourism
September 13
The proposed date does not favour any nationality, country, or professional association that already celebrates cave- or karst-related events on other dates.
It celebrates the founding month of the International Union of Speleology (UIS).
Weather conditions in early September support global events. The date is not already assigned within the UN system.
It commemorates the historic first UIS presentation at UNESCO in Paris on 13 September 2021.
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