DC Grotto Conservation Policy
- Recruiting of new cavers is not encouraged unless such
individuals are likely to make a net positive contribution to
speleology.
- Members should refrain from generalized publicity on caves or
caving.
- Widespread dissemination of cave locations is to be avoided.
- Youth groups are not encouraged to engage in caving (at least not
without guidance from qualified persons).
NSS Conservation Policy
The National Speleological Society believes:
- that caves have unique scientific,recreational and scenic values;
- that those values are endangered by both carelessness and
intentional vandalism;
- that those values, once gone, cannot be recovered; and
- that the responsibility for protecting caves must be assumed by
those who study and enjoy them.
Accordingly, the intention of the Society is to work for the
preservation
of caves with a realistic policy supported by effective programs for:
the
encouragement of self-discipline among cavers; education and research
concerning the causes and prevention of cave damage; and special
projects,
including co-operation with other groups similarly dedicated to the
conservation of natural areas.
Specifically:
- All contents of a cave: formations, life and loose deposits
are significant for its enjoyment and interpretation. Therefore, caving
parties should leave a cave as they find it. They should provide means
for removal of waste; limit marking to a few small and removable signs
as are needed for surveys; and, especially, exercise extreme care not
to accidentally break or soil formations, disturb life forms or
unnecessarily increase the number of disfiguring paths through an area.
- Scientific collection is professional, selective and
minimal. The collecting of minerals or biological material for display
purposes, including previously broken or dead specimens, is never
justified, as it encourages others to collect and destroys the interest
of the cave.
- The Society encourages projects such as: establishing cave
preserves; placing entrance gates where appropriate; opposing the sale
of speleothems; supporting effective protective measures; cleaning and
restoration of over-used caves; cooperating with private cave owners by
providing knowledge about their cave and assisting them in protecting
their cave and property from damage during cave visits, and encouraging
commercial cave owners to make use of their opportunity to aid the
public in understanding caves and the importance of their conservation.
- Where there is reason to believe that publication of cave
locations will lead to vandalism before adequate protection can be
established, the Society will oppose such publication.
- It is the duty of every Society member to take personal
responsibility for spreading a consciousness of the cave conservation
problem to each potential user of caves. Without this, the beauty and
value of our caves will not long remain with us.