Joe90
Member
Hi,
I am fully aware off how controversial this subject may well be, I imagine it may well cause many issues and arguments about 'Professional' cavers, and probably the old 'only in it for the money' bullshit argument to rise its ugly head once more.
However, I want to ask for help, advice and the opinions of those who wish to share them.
There is a cave here in Oman, there was a project by some people (for arguments sake well call them 'ministry officials') to gate and tape a very pretty area of the cave. To this i have no objection and even helped carry the aluminum ladders, tape, gate materials and reels of steel cable for seven hours over mountain ridges through a thunder storm before lowering them down a three hundred meter cliff to the cave entrance gaining the worst sun burn of my life, but that's another story. The chamber was gated, pretty areas were taped as we were told and some ladders were used to bridge delicate floor formations as we were told they would be. However the rest of the ladders were used to make an easyish walk-able route to the taped and restricted areas. Where as before you needed knowledge of the cave and SRT skills to reach it (I wasn't overly impressed about this).
Recently whilst having a pee behind a rock in the cave i found black bags full of empty food containers and waist, including used batteries and steel cable from the people who installed these protective measures into the cave.
I was hoping to run a trip into the cave for a youth/school/college group to remove the waste. It would be run as an expedition where the kids will carry there own kit in and out and help in the planning of the trip. The aim is to raise awareness of cave environments, the environment in general and hopefully get some people interested in taking up caving
A few days ago a school contacted us asking for a community action support program, I put together a small week program involving removing the crap in the cave, only to be told 'my students wont be clearing up rubbish'.
So i'm still hoping to get the trip done as it needs clearing up and i don't get the time, or manpower to do it outside work. I have put a small intro together quickly as to why caves are important and why we should look after them. I know there are plenty of people on here more literate and better at putting things into words than myself, and that is why i am asking for help. This is what i got together....
Why are caves important and why should we look after them?
Caves and Karst areas make the surrounding landscapes diverse and rich in different resources. From providing some of the best natural fertilizers too feeding some of the largest spring fed ground water on earth. They provide a unique habitat for rare animals like troglobites such as blind cave fish and shrimps who spend their entire life from birth to death in complete darkness to trogophiles such as bats and foxes who shelter and live in the entrances to caves but come out to hunt and feed. Caves can preserve important archaeological and paleontological information for millennia allowing us to learn about the past in great detail. Throughout history they have been used by humans for many things like shelters and homes, for minerals and making cheese or providing tourists with a fun adventure.
Any changes or additions or anything would be gratefully accepted as i really want and feel this program needs to go ahead.
Joe
I am fully aware off how controversial this subject may well be, I imagine it may well cause many issues and arguments about 'Professional' cavers, and probably the old 'only in it for the money' bullshit argument to rise its ugly head once more.
However, I want to ask for help, advice and the opinions of those who wish to share them.
There is a cave here in Oman, there was a project by some people (for arguments sake well call them 'ministry officials') to gate and tape a very pretty area of the cave. To this i have no objection and even helped carry the aluminum ladders, tape, gate materials and reels of steel cable for seven hours over mountain ridges through a thunder storm before lowering them down a three hundred meter cliff to the cave entrance gaining the worst sun burn of my life, but that's another story. The chamber was gated, pretty areas were taped as we were told and some ladders were used to bridge delicate floor formations as we were told they would be. However the rest of the ladders were used to make an easyish walk-able route to the taped and restricted areas. Where as before you needed knowledge of the cave and SRT skills to reach it (I wasn't overly impressed about this).
Recently whilst having a pee behind a rock in the cave i found black bags full of empty food containers and waist, including used batteries and steel cable from the people who installed these protective measures into the cave.
I was hoping to run a trip into the cave for a youth/school/college group to remove the waste. It would be run as an expedition where the kids will carry there own kit in and out and help in the planning of the trip. The aim is to raise awareness of cave environments, the environment in general and hopefully get some people interested in taking up caving
A few days ago a school contacted us asking for a community action support program, I put together a small week program involving removing the crap in the cave, only to be told 'my students wont be clearing up rubbish'.
So i'm still hoping to get the trip done as it needs clearing up and i don't get the time, or manpower to do it outside work. I have put a small intro together quickly as to why caves are important and why we should look after them. I know there are plenty of people on here more literate and better at putting things into words than myself, and that is why i am asking for help. This is what i got together....
Why are caves important and why should we look after them?
Caves and Karst areas make the surrounding landscapes diverse and rich in different resources. From providing some of the best natural fertilizers too feeding some of the largest spring fed ground water on earth. They provide a unique habitat for rare animals like troglobites such as blind cave fish and shrimps who spend their entire life from birth to death in complete darkness to trogophiles such as bats and foxes who shelter and live in the entrances to caves but come out to hunt and feed. Caves can preserve important archaeological and paleontological information for millennia allowing us to learn about the past in great detail. Throughout history they have been used by humans for many things like shelters and homes, for minerals and making cheese or providing tourists with a fun adventure.
Any changes or additions or anything would be gratefully accepted as i really want and feel this program needs to go ahead.
Joe