Conservation MethodsConservation MethodsConservation MethodsConservation Methods

Cave Permits

Dale L. PateNPS - National Cave and Karst Program CoordinatorMay 12-16, 2014Cody, Wyoming

Johanna L. KovarikUSFS - National Cave and Karst Program Coordinator

Administrative ActionsAdministrative Actions Regulatory ActionsRegulatory Actions Physical MeansPhysical Means Education & OutreachEducation & Outreach

Methods To Conserve Cave ResourcesMethods To Conserve Cave Resources

Administrative ActionsAdministrative Actions Least StringentLeast Stringent

SignsSigns PatrolsPatrols Provide educational toursProvide educational tours BrochuresBrochures Public contactsPublic contacts Public involvementPublic involvement Special project regulationSpecial project regulation Cave map deletionsCave map deletions Cave removed from mapsCave removed from maps CamerasCameras

Regulatory Actions Regulatory Actions Most StringenMost Stringentt

Requiring PermitsRequiring Permits– Based on numbers and/or seasonBased on numbers and/or season

Passage of Laws/RegsPassage of Laws/Regs Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement Special rulesSpecial rules Trip leaders & guidesTrip leaders & guides Withdrawals Withdrawals

or sell your caves on EBAYor sell your caves on EBAY

Other designationsOther designations

Permits - Group SizePermits - Group Size

Carrying capacityCarrying capacity– use use vsvs abuse abuse– protection protection vsvs access access

The cave comes first, start The cave comes first, start conservatively, control with permitsconservatively, control with permits

Variables: season of use, type of use, Variables: season of use, type of use, type of user, cave hazards, cave contentstype of user, cave hazards, cave contents

What is the ideal number of visitors to a What is the ideal number of visitors to a cave per day/month/year?cave per day/month/year?

Physical MeansPhysical Means

Cave closuresCave closures Road closuresRoad closures Trails to cavesTrails to caves Fence/gatesFence/gates Passage closures Passage closures

& interior gates& interior gates Cave trail Cave trail

constructionconstruction Hiding entrancesHiding entrances

Managing Access PointsManaging Access Points

The more difficult The more difficult it is to reach a it is to reach a cave the less cave the less likely it will be likely it will be impactedimpacted– Parking area Parking area

designdesign– Trails designTrails design– EntrancesEntrances

Interpretive Materials - OutreachInterpretive Materials - Outreach

Provide educational informationProvide educational information

Convey a conservation messageConvey a conservation message

Outline appropriate behavior (LNT)Outline appropriate behavior (LNT)

Identify safety concernsIdentify safety concerns

Increase quality of an Increase quality of an experienceexperience

Cave VideosCave Videos

Innovative ManagementInnovative Management Field staff – by necessity, often self Field staff – by necessity, often self

sufficient & use “seat of your pants” sufficient & use “seat of your pants” approachapproach

Innovative approaches – volunteers, Innovative approaches – volunteers, retirees, grants, organizations (GeoCorps!)retirees, grants, organizations (GeoCorps!)

Protect the resource, enhance the Protect the resource, enhance the experience, protect intrinsic values while experience, protect intrinsic values while competing with commodity programscompeting with commodity programs

News Articles - MediaNews Articles - Media

PartnershipsPartnerships

External as well as Internal!External as well as Internal!Bat Conservation InternationalBat Conservation InternationalNational Speleological SocietyNational Speleological SocietyCave Research FoundationCave Research FoundationLocal Caving ClubsLocal Caving ClubsOther AgenciesOther AgenciesThe Nature ConservancyThe Nature ConservancyBoy ScoutsBoy ScoutsScientists/Researchers Scientists/Researchers National Outdoor Leadership SchoolNational Outdoor Leadership School

Adjacent Land OwnersAdjacent Land OwnersOil and Gas CompaniesOil and Gas CompaniesUS Marine CorpUS Marine CorpLions ClubLions ClubRotary ClubRotary ClubHomeowner AssociationHomeowner AssociationVolunteer Fire FightersVolunteer Fire FightersSearch and Rescue Search and Rescue

Modified from 2001 - 2004 B. Hummel, 2007 D. Kampwerth, 2011 J. Goodbar Presentations

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