The European Cave Protection Commission (ECPC) of the European Speleological Federation (FSE), is pleased to announce that following the evaluation of the applications received, the EuroSpeleo Protection Label 2026 has been attributed to the Jamarski klub Novo mesto (Eng. Caving Club Novo mesto) from Slovenia for their Project: PROTEctUS – Cleaning and Protecting Cave Habitats for the Conservation of the Black Olm
The prize is endowed by € 800.- and caving gear from the FSE sponsor Aventure-Verticale. (www.aventureverticale.com)
MUNDUS SPELAEUS – 18th EuroSpeleo Forum & Meeting of Croatian Speleologists – Pazin 2026 will take place in the Town of Pazin, Istria, Croatia, from 13 to 15 November 2026.
This year, Croatia will host the international EuroSpeleo Forum for the first time. As Europe’s leading speleological event, the Forum is celebrating its 18th edition this year.
The event is organized under the auspices of the European Speleological Federation (FSE) and is supported by the Croatian Speleological Federation (HSS), the Commission for Speleology of the Croatian Mountaineering Association (KS HPS), and the City of Pazin.
The organizer of the Meeting of Croatian Speleologists is the Speleological Society Istra – Pazin. Co-organizers are the Estavela Speleological Association, the Karlovac Speleological Society, and the Ursus spelaeus Speleological Club from Karlovac.
Istria is the largest Croatian peninsula, located in the northeastern Adriatic Sea, and is widely recognized throughout Europe.. The region is a well-known tourist destination, renowned for its karst landscapes and its long tradition of exploration, dating back to the very beginnings of modern European speleology.
The EuroSpeleo Forum and the Meeting of Croatian Speleologists are two events combined into one, attracting numerous cavers, friends of speleology, enthusiasts, and nature lovers from across Croatia and Europe. The aim of the event is to bring together explorers, scientists, and enthusiasts to exchange experiences and present the results of new research, strengthen cooperation among European speleological federations and clubs, promote knowledge sharing and standardization, and support the development of common ethical codes and technical standards for the exploration and protection of caves and karst features.
By attending MUNDUS SPELAEUS, you become part of a unique speleological community where, through lectures, images, words, and films, you can experience the mysterious underground world in which scientific discoveries and adventure merge into an unforgettable experience, creating lifelong passion and friendships. This event is dedicated to all aspects of speleology and is equally valuable to scientists, experienced cavers, beginners, and supporters of speleology, offering interesting lectures and activities for everyone.
FSE scholarships to encourage young cavers to attend the 18th EuroSpeleo Forum in Pazin, Croatia from 13-15 November 2026
The annual EuroSpeleo Forum is a unique opportunity to discover karst areas around Europe, exchange knowledge about recent karst research, discoveries and cave protection activities on an international level. But most importantly, it is the place to become part of the European speleological community, where old and new friends as well as different generations of cave enthusiasts meet. It is the place to get connected to Speleology in Europe.
For this reason the FSE supports especially the attendance of young speleologists active in caving, karst research or karst protection to the 18th EuroSpeleo Forum in 2026 in Croatia.
The FSE grants two scholarships to young speleologists for attending the 18th EuroSpeleo Forum in Pazin, Istria, Croatia.
At the General Assembly of the European Speleological Federation FSE on the 16th April 2026 the Czech Republic was accepted as a new member country. They were unanimously warmly welcomed into the FSE family by the other member countries. The FSE now has 32 members.
The Czech Republic will be represented to the FSE by the Czech Speleological Society (Česká Speleologická Společnost) with the new delegates Michal Hejna and Markéta Jakovenko. The Czech Speleological Society represents 59 clubs with over 1.200 cavers. We thank the board of the Czech Speleological Society to have taken the step to apply for the FSE membership.
We all look forward to a good cooperation with our Czech colleagues and hope that their membership will lead to many mutual speleological activities.
It is with great pleasure that the FSE announces the next call for Cave Protection projects to receive the Label “EuroSpeleo Protection 2026” from the ECPC (the European Cave Protection Commission of the FSE).
The EuroSpeleo Protection Label is a European Speleological award managed by the ECPC, financed by the FSE budget. The EuroSpeleo Protection Label will help to promote amongst the speleological clubs of Europe, Cave Protection activities that are designed in an integrated ecological way, taking into account EU environmental directives, the principles of administration of the Natura 2000 sites and the IUCN Guidelines on caves and karst protection.
With what kind of projects can you apply?
The EuroSpeleo Protection Label will be awarded every year to one unique Cave Protection project. A European speleological jury established by the ECPC Board will make the selection. Any project aiming at protecting caves developed by a club, a local committee or a national commission from a member of the FSE can apply.
What are the criteria to receive the FSE EuroSpeleo Protection Label and what is the prize?
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 should be sent to protection@eurospeleo.eu before 30th of April 2026, in English language.
The project must receive the approval from its national speleological organisation, i.e. a letter of support from the national organisation, member of the FSE.
The reward for the label 2026 is 800.- EUR plus caving gear from our FSE-sponsor Aventure-Verticale.
It is with great pleasure that the European Speleological Federation (FSE) publishes the next EuroSpeleo Newsletter of January 2026. This Newsletter will be exclusively available in electronic form and it will be distributed through the FSE mailing lists, website, Facebook and Instagram page. It is edited by the FSE Bureau and will inform member countries and individual speleologists about important events nationally and internationally as well as new developments and the initiatives of the FSE and its member countries. This Newsletter will be released on an occasional basis.
Please spread this newsletter on the broadest way possible among caving clubs and individual speleologists and all those interested.
At the General Conference of UNESCO in Samarkand (12 November 2025), 13 September was officially proclaimed the International Day of Caves and Karst — a global recognition of the significance of the hidden world beneath our feet.
The initiative was proposed to UNESCO by the Republic of Slovenia, following the proposal of the International Union of Speleology (UIS), in close cooperation with the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO, the Permanent Delegation of Slovenia to UNESCO, and the Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, where the UIS headquarters has been based in Postojna, Slovenia.
Caves and karst cover nearly one quarter of the Earth’s land surface and provide drinking water to over a billion people. They preserve unique subterranean biodiversity, geological archives, and invaluable cultural heritage. Yet, they remain among the least understood and most fragile ecosystems on our planet.
The International Day of Caves and Karst will help raise global awareness, promote research, education, and international cooperation in science, environmental protection, culture, and sustainable tourism.
The UIS warmly thanks all UNESCO Member States that supported the initiative, as well as the UNESCO scientific programmes (IGGP, MAB, IHP) and international partners including the International Science Council (ISC), IUCN, and more than 150 organisations worldwide that endorsed the proposal. Our sincere appreciation goes to the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO and the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Slovenia to UNESCO in Paris for their dedicated diplomatic efforts and continuous support.
From now on, September 13 will unite the global cave and karst community in celebrating and protecting these vital landscapes — for science, for nature, and for humanity.
Don’t forget, in 2026 we will celebrate the first ever International Day of Caves and Karst on 13 September!
Nadja Zupan Hajna, UIS Past President November, 2025
This year, for the eighteenth time, organizations members of the European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA) met to exchange knowledge and experience related to cave rescue.
We are pleased to officially announce the date and location of the upcoming 19th ECRA Meeting. Dates Pre ECRA Meeting: 26 September – 1 October 2026 Main Meeting: 1–4 October 2026 Location The meeting will take place in spectacular town Kranj, Slovenia – the capital of the Slovenian Alps. Kranj [ˈkɾàːn] is the fourth-largest city in Slovenia […]
We invite all cavers and those present at the EuroSpeleo Forum – Capovolta (see https://radunocapovolta.it/) in Volta Montovana, Italy to a public meeting of the Bureau of the European Speleological Federation FSE.
The meeting will take place on 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗵𝗿𝘀 (for the location see the announcements at the Forum).
At this meeting we will present all aspects of the work and possibilties the FSE has to offer:
– General presentation of the European Speleological Federation, it’s history, structure, commissions and working groups
– Presentation on the EuroSpeleo projects, what can be funded, how to apply, the guidelines
– Presentation of the work and achievements of the European Cave Protection Commission
– Presentation of the work and plans of the European Children and Young Cavers Working Group
At he meeting also the prize take-over for the winner of this year’s EuroSpeleo Protection Label will take place.
The European Speleological Federation (FSE) enhances the ability to find, enjoy and share the best speleological and caving films from one spot: Speleo-TV (https://speleo-tv.eu/).
Speleo-TV’s mission is to offer cavers the means to share creative work with caving communities around the world. We also hope Speleo-TV will some day serve as an inclusive directory for speleological videos and films.
The Cave of Two Worlds is a poetic and thought-provoking creative documentary set on the border between Greece and Albania, where a unique cave becomes a lens through which we explore the interconnectedness of nature, memory, myth, and geopolitics.
It aims to engage global audiences with urgent themes of environmental preservation, cultural heritage, and the reimagining of borders in a time of fragmentation.
The European Cave Protection Commission (ECPC) of the European Speleological Federation (FSE), is pleased to announce that following the evaluation of the applications received, the EuroSpeleo Protection Label 2025 has been attributed to the Speleological Society of Thessaloniki “PROTEAS” from Greece for their Project: Conservation of the Unique Cave Ecosystems of Aoos-Vjosa River Basin.
The prize is endowed by € 800.- and a basic Lamp System from the FSE sponsor “Scurion”.
Handover of the certicate and the Scurion lamp to Danai Koubarelou of the Speleological Society of Thessaloniki ‘Proteas’.
Some more information about the caves and area on the Greek-Albanian border mentioned in the project summary can be found in an article from Spelunca 165 of 2022 (in the french language),
It is with great pleasure that the European Speleological Federation (FSE) publishes the next EuroSpeleo Newsletter of June 2025. This Newsletter will be exclusively available in electronic form and it will be distributed through the FSE mailing lists, website, Facebook and Instagram page. It will be edited by the FSE Bureau and will inform member countries and individual speleologists about important events nationally and internationally as well as new developments and the initiatives of the FSE and its member countries. This Newsletter will be released on an occasional basis.
Please spread this newsletter on the broadest way possible among caving clubs and individual speleologists and all those interested.
INTRODUCTION The 18th European Cave Rescue Meeting is going to take place in Wojcieszow (Voy-che-shoov), Poland, September 25-28th 2025. Pre ECRA Meeting: 24-25 September 2025. This meeting is organized by GOPR and GRJ on behalf of the European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA). During the Pre-Meeting you can enjoy caving, cave diving and visits to tourist […]
The working group „European Children and Young Cavers “(ECYC) proudly announces the 1st EuroSpeleo Youth Contest, which will take place during the EuroSpeleo Forum 2025. This year we turn the spotlight for the first time on the children and young cavers all over Europe – we turn the spotlight on you! Don’t miss it and be part of the EuroSpeleo Youth Contest.
Caves and Karst phenomena are as multifaceted and unique as the people exploring them. What could be the motivation to explore the underground until its farmost ends, to discover a rough world inside our planet lacking light and warmth and try to reveal the last secrets of our nature in order explore and protect its wild beauty?
We want to take a deep dive into your story and what fascinates you. If you are a young caver up to 20 years, this is your chance to show your talents! At this year’s EuroSpeleo Youth Contest we can’t wait to see your speleo photos and cave mapping skills! Submit your photos or cave maps until 30th September 2025 to youthcontest@tetide.org
All submissions to the EuroSpeleo Youth Contest will be evaluated by a professional jury with longtime experiences in caving and the specific category. In addition, the participants of the EuroSpeleo Forum 2025 will also have the chance to vote for their favourite photo or cave map in the contest for the Audience Award.
The winner receive an official certificate during the award ceremony at the EuroSpeleo Forum and will be presented with an own story in the 1st issue of the newEuroSpeleo Youthletter after the forum.
Competition runs from 1st June 2025 to 30th September 2025
All submissions of the contest will presented on the ECYC website
The Contest is open to all member countries of the FSE, participants are allowed aged up to 20 and under on the closing date of the competition.
Participants can enter up to three images or cave maps or any artistic work.
Judges will select a shortlist of up to 10 works and cave maps
Shortlist compete for the EuroSpeleo Youth Contest and for the Audience Award
The winner receive an official certificate during the award ceremony at the EuroSpeleo Forum and will be presented with an own story in the EuroSpeleo Youthletter.
The ECYC is looking for more members for the working group. The results of our online questionaire clearly showed that there is big room for improvement for activities for children and young cavers in Europe. This is a great motivation for our work. We already have lots of ideas for projects and activities. Today’s children and young people are the adults of tomorrow who possibly continue your explorations and help to protect caves and karst also in the future. Discovering the world through their eyes also helps us adults to rediscover the known with a new exciting perspective.
If you are also interested to put the children in your spotlight, get in touch with us at youngcavers@eurospeleo.eu
The 18th European Cave Rescue Meeting is going to take place in Wojcieszow (Voy-che-shoov), Poland, September 25-28th 2025.
Pre ECRA Meeting: 24-25 September 2025.
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