UIS President Zdenëk Motycka, Past President Nadja Zupan Hajna and Past Vice President Nivlado Colzato
at UNESCO Headquater in Paris for the Opening Ceremony International Day of Caves and Karst 2022
Photo: UIS
UNESCO
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Fragile speleotheme with water drop,
Photo: Florian Bachmann
UIS Proposal for the International Day of Caves and Karst
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.
At the General Conference of UNESCO in Samarkand (12 November 2025), 13 September was officially proclaimed the International Day of Caves and Karst!
IYCK_Opening_UNESCO_PARIS.mp4Video of the Opening Ceremony at the UNESCO Headquater in Paris 2021
International Year of Caves and Karst 2021/2022
Expore - Understand - Protect
The International Year of Caves and Karst (IYCK) was organized by the UIS, representing the worldwide organization of cave and karst explorers, scientists, managers, and educators. Many national and international organizations joined UIS. Because of the COVID pandemic, the International Year of Caves and Karst was extended through 2022.
The success of the IYCK was made possible by the UIS with 263 partner organizations from 51 countries, including 23 international organizations. Together, they organized 1,489 events. The number of people participating in these events is impossible to count. Many participated in multiple IYCK events, such as listening to lectures, attending conferences, learning at workshops, watching videos, reading social media and books, etc. The largest, a television event in China, reached about 200,000,000. Events were held in 42 countries.
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