The European Speleological Federation (FSE) announces this year’s call for cave and karst protection projects to receive the “EuroSpeleo Protection Label” (ESPL) from the European Cave Protection Commission of the FSE (ECPC).
Since its origin in 1990, the FSE has been trying to promote cave and karst protection in Europe and introduced the ESPL in 2007.
Many projects have been awarded since that time.
The “EuroSpeleo Protection Label” is a European speleological award managed by the ECPC and financed by the FSE. The EuroSpeleo Protection Label will help to promote amongst the speleological clubs of Europe, cave and karst protection activities that are designed in an integrated ecological way, taking into account besides FSE charter and rules also EU environmental directives, the principles of administration of the Natura 2000 sites and the IUCN Guidelines on caves and karst protection.
The EuroSpeleo Protection Label will be awarded every year to one unique cave and/or karst protection project. A European speleological jury established by the ECPC Board will make the selection. Any project aiming at protecting caves and/or karst developed by a club, a local committee or a national commission from a member country of the FSE can apply.
There is no need for participation of cavers from different countries, but the application should be a quality project and the broadcasting of the project presentation and results should be made in a spirit that can be reproduced in other European regions and countries. The application can be received from and must be sent to protection@eurospeleo.org before 15th of June 2020, 23:59 (Central European Time) in English language.
For the label 2020 there will be 800.- Euro as financial assistance for the winning project plus one caving gear from our sponsors Korda’s, AV Gear or Scurion depending on availability and choice of the FSE Bureau. The winner receives a certificate indicating the project that has won the award.
The 2020 prize hand-over is planned during the 14th EuroSpeleo Forum in Burgos, Spain. For more information, contact protection@eurospeleo.org.
Very Best Speleo Wishes,
Ioana Nicoleta Meleg
In charge of the EuroSpeleo Protection Label
FSE-ECPC
protection@eurospeleo.org