Hi:
To follow up on an article in the April NSS News, this is an announcement that on September 8 we are launching an online cave conservation course. Please send your email address and contact information to me privately if you or your caving group is interested in participating. Some details follow, and I’ll be happy to answer any questions.
In 2006, the NSS published "Cave Conservation and Restoration," a massive 600-page compendium of hands-on advice for taking better care of the caves we love. The book was edited by Val and Jim Werker, with chapters written by the top cave protection and restoration experts. We would like to open up a two-way conversation about 'cave care', to both share what Val and Jim have compiled and to hear what other groups are doing.
If you are interested in learning how to write and implement a cave management plan, do an inventory of cave and karst resources, carry out speleothem repair, or learn the basics of caver ethics for cave protection and restoration, you will gain a lot from this online venture.
Cave Conservation Online will run for about eight weeks, and will take two to three hours of your time per week or more, depending on your need and interest. I’d advise you to purchase a copy of “Cave Conservation and Restoration” from the NSS bookstore, but that is not a requirement for you to participate.
Thank you
Hilary Lambert
NSS#31439
Karst Environmental Education & Protection, Inc.