ABSTRACT
Cave conservation has to take account of two fundamentally different aspects of
caves - caves as dynamic, evolving landforms in which natural processes can be
studied and caves as storehouses of more static features, such as speleothems
and sediments, which provide valuable evidence on climatic change and landscape
development throughout the Quaternary.
Caves face two principle types of threat: 'internal' threats, resulting from
their use and 'external' threats, posed by land use activities within their
catchments. The nature of these threats is examined and a method of reconciling
conservation with these pressures proposed - Cave Conservation Plans.
INTRODUCTION
Processes of cave development can be studied in many of Britain's caves ranging
from active erosion in a streamway to the slow precipitation of speleothems.
Caves also provide a vital repository of information about their development and
how this relates to wider landscape evolution and climatic change. The record of
information contained in caves is often far better preserved than that provided
by superficial deposits which have been subject to repeated glacial episodes.
Caves are also an integral part of our natural environment. In many cases they
have unique and fragile features. Caves should therefore not only be conserved
as natural features in their own right, for this and future generations, but,
the legacy of stored information should be conserved for future study. The
rationale for cave conservation is expanded in a number of publications: NCA's
Protect our Caves [1] and Caving Practice and Equipment [2]. Cave conservation
is set in the wider context by Earth Science Conservation in Great Britain - A
Strategy [3]. Unfortunately for caves, being out-of-sight means largely they are
out-of-mind. Apart from statutory conservation agencies, they receive little
attention except by cavers and researchers. The SSSI system has provided some
protection to cave systems, particularly from 'planning' development. Protection
against surface land management activities, such as forestry, has been hindered
due to a lack of understanding of the effects and documentary evidence. Many
activities also occur within the wider catchment outside SSSI boundaries.
However, the threat posed by caving itself is perhaps the most serious. To date,
conservation has had a low profile within the caving world. This may be due to
the fact that most cavers go caving for sporting reasons and are
unaware/unconcerned of their impact. There is the perception that 'conservation'
would result in loss of access and the curtailment of exploration. For cave
conservation to be successful a workable system needs to be set in place which
takes account of all the factors affecting the conservation of the cave and
which commands the support and involvement of owners, cavers and conservation
agencies [4],[5].
THREATS
External
External threats can be divided into two types - those requiring planning
permission and those that do not. Of the first group, quarrying presents the
most obvious concern as it is the one activity that can lead to the complete
destruction of a cave. Less obvious impacts relate to the alteration of local
hydrology, the input of the sediment into a cave system and the possibility of
pollution. Quarrying in the Castleton area of Derbyshire illustrates well many
of these concerns.
Although landfill operations in cavernous limestone needs to meet stringent
conditions in order to satisfy the National Rivers Authority, the potential for
pollution to water courses or the migration of landfill gas can have
conservation implications.
Show cave developments also require planning permission. Each case depends on
its merits and the fragility of the cave system. Detailed liaison and careful
design are vital to the success of any project.
The second group of external threats relate to land management activities on
land within the catchment of a cave system. Studies have shown that activities
such as afforestation and land drainage can lead to increased sediment input to
caves and changes in local hydrology [6]. Changes to water quality caused by the
application of fertiliser may also create problems, particularly with the
formation of speleothems. Increased acidification of water resulting from land
management activity may lead to the active dissolution of such features.
However, actual effects on individual caves resulting from land management
changes still need to be considered on a site by site basis.
Internal
Many consider that the biggest threat to caves is created by cavers themselves.
As soon as a new cave is discovered, there is a gradual, often insidious,
degradation of the cave. The rate and degree of this degradation depends on the
fragility of the features contained and the care of the cavers involved. The
fewer the number and the more experienced the caver, generally the less the
damage caused.
CAVE CONSERVATION PLANS
The idea behind cave conservation plans is to provide an integrated approach to
cave conservation. Such plans should be developed on an individual site basis
taking into consideration all the factors influencing the site. Cave
conservation plans should have four principal. elements.
Documentation of the type of interest, location and current condition.
Assessment of the pressures on the cave - external and internal. For example,
the number and experience of cavers should be considered. If a sensitive cave
receives numerous inexperienced cavers, its conservation will require a
different approach to a similar cave which receives only limited visits by
experienced cavers. Consideration should also be given to which surface
activities could affect the cave.
Practical conservation measures - in the light of the information gained from
the first two elements, the necessary conservation measures can be assessed,
outlined and implemented.
Monitoring: ongoing monitoring is required to assess the effectiveness of the
conservation measures. Problems/deficiencies can then be identified and
addressed.
The likely stages in following this approach are outlined in Figure 1.
Clearly, for such plans to be effective, they must involve the two primary
groups affected, namely cavers and cave owners. For this to be achieved, plans
should be devised, supported and implemented by cavers and owners who know the
site, its features and the factors which may affect the cave's long-term
conservation.
THE FUTURE
For our heritage of caves to be conserved for the benefit and enjoyment of our
own and future generations, there has to be a fundamental change in attitudes
towards protecting our caves. Quarry companies must avoid prime karat areas,
landowners and cavers should be made aware of the implications of their actions
on the surface and underground respectively. Cavers must become active in the
conservation of caves.
English Nature can and does take a lead in protecting caves. Impacts from
developments requiring planning permission are carefully assessed, and surface
land management influenced where it is likely to be of harm to a cave system.
English Nature is also working together with the National Caving Association and
other caving bodies to promote cave conservation and changing people's attitudes
towards actively safeguarding our natural heritage.
REFERENCES
1. NATIONAL CAVING ASSOCIATION. 1986. Protect our caves.
2. JUDSON, D. (ed.). 1991. Caving practice and techniques. David and Charles,
Newton Abbot.
3. NATURE CONSERVANCY COUNCIL. 1990. Earth Science Conservation in Great Britain
- A Strategy.
4. PRICE, G. & WRIGHT, J.R. 1990. Cave conservation - a joint NCC/NCA
initiative. In: Earth Science Conservation, 28, p9.
5. PRICE, G. & WRIGHT, J.R. 1991. Taking cave conservation into thee 21st
Century. In: Descent, 98, p31.
6. GUNN, J. & HARDWICK, P. 1990. The impact of agricultural operations on the
scientific interest of cave SSSIs. (Unpublished NCC report).
J.R. WRIGHT - ENGLISH NATURE, PETERBOROUGH
G. PRICE - NATIONAL CAVING ASSOCIATION
1992