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10 Days of Karst -- Day 5: Karst Organizations

Karst has been known for centuries. Many of the ancient cities of the
world, such as here in Athen were built on karst landscapes, in part,
due to the ease of carving of limestone. Yet our organizations in the f
ield are relatively new. Which karst organizations did I forget in my list?
Photo by Bob Brinkmann.
On this fifth day of karst I discuss important karst organizations in the U.S. My previous essays on the 10 Days of Karst Series are linked at the bottom of this post.

When I was working on my masters in geology at UW-Milwaukee I started an informal organization called the Geology Culture Club. I grew up in the Milwaukee area and I knew about all the great museums, music, and theater in the city. Those of you who haven't been to Milwaukee and think it a provincial backwater will be pleasantly surprised if you are ever lucky enough to visit the city. It feels much more like a European city than many other American cities and it has a very rich culture and nightlife. When I started the Geology Culture Club, it was my goal to turn on my fellow graduate students, many of whom were from outside of Wisconsin, to the cool stuff in Milwaukee.

Many organizations start in the same way. They are trying to share their knowledge or expertise with the world. They have distinct experience that draws together individuals to promote shared interests. Today's post highlights several karst organizations in the U.S. in order to provide a sampling of the kinds of initiatives underway in our country. I am sure that I will forget some important organizations in my haste. If I do, please forgive me and I would be grateful if you would post a description of the organization in the comments.

1. The National Cave and Karst Research Institute. Since I am the Chair of the Board of this organization, I have to list it first, even though it is one of the youngest groups I'll mention. This organization has been around for 20 years and seeks to promote research and education on cave and karst issues at the national level.

One of the goals of the NSS is to promote safety and
develop skills of cavers. This is a photo of some
rope training at an NSS Convention.
Click for photo credit.
2. The National Speleological Society. This organization, which started in 1941, seeks to further the exploration, study, and protection of caves and their environments, and foster fellowship among cavers. The NSS also publishes a journal (of which I am one of the Associate Editors) called the Journal of Cave and Karst Studies. It is the most important cave and karst journal in the U.S. if not the world. The organization also publishes an important newsletter and runs an annual convention. The membership of the organization is unique in that it includes amateur cavers as well as professional academics. Thus their annual meeting, which is usually held at a campground, is a mix of a boy/girlscout jamboree and academic meeting. Anyone interested in karst in the U.S. should be a member of this organization.

What also is important about the NSS is that the organization has about 250 local chapters, called grottos, that amplify tremendous local knowledge of cave and karst to the national level. Guest blogger, Geary Schindel, wrote an excellent piece about the NSS on this site and it is worth a read here.

3. Karst Waters Institute. The Karst Waters Institute has been around since 1991 and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Obviously the focus of the institute is on water in karst areas. However, the Institute has been running quality conferences and publishing important pieces on a variety of karst issues  since its inception.

Bats are in trouble in the U.S. That's why Bat Conservation International
is so important. Click for photo credit.
4. National Cave and Karst Management Symposium. This group exists to run a biannual symposium that brings together leaders to discuss issues in cave and karst management. Attendees are often involved with public land management or with the management of show caves.

5. The U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS has a group that focuses on national karst issues. They conduct research, produce reports, and publish the U.S. karst map.

6. The Geological Society of America Karst Division. The GSA, the professional organization of geologists, has a new division, the Karst Division, that serves professionals involved in karst research.

7. The National Park Service. The National Park Service manages many caves and karst landscapes. Thus, it is not a surprise that they have an office that is focused on sound cave and karst management.

8. The U.S. Forest Service. Like the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service also has a team involved with cave and karst management.

9. Bat Conservation International. While many of us are familiar with the plight of bees as a result of their worldwide decline, fewer are familiar with the significant conservation issues associated with bats. One group, Bat Conservation International works hard to stop the loss of habitat for these important creatures.

There are of course dozens of state or regional organizations that you can find in your own local areas. If I forgot any major group, again, my apologies. Please post a note about them in the comments on this blog.

Day 6 of my series on the 10 Days of Karst will feature important karst journals.

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