Cavers Charter
Content
1. Who should attend the charter
2. The purpose of the Charter
3. General principles (of speleological activity)
4. Main legal
regulations related to :
5. Protected areas (Law 462, DG + OM)
6. Protection of caves(FRS regulations)
7. Underground activity
8. Relationships betweencavers and clubs (asof discovery, exploration, copyright of
the map, exclusivity and priority)
9. Categories of caves
10. Categories of activities
11. The charter
Chapter I.INTRODUCTION
This book addresses
all those attending or using subterraneanspace, whether or not members of the
Romanian Federation of Speleology- FRS.
They undertake
to respect the ethical rules set
out in this book, otherwise they will face the
legal consequences of their actions.
All internal structuresof the FRS (Federal
Commission, the Steering Committee - CD)and all clubsundertake to guarantee this Charter and not only to make it known but
to respect it.
Structures mentioned above have a
fundamental role both in training,
information as
well as raising awareness for all those attending or using subterraneanspace.
The purpose is to protect caves and the surrounding area, ensure good relationships between the various people involvedin activities related to caves and caving including avoidance of conflicts andsetting priorities.
Who should attend charter:
1. Cavers RomanianFRS legitimate or
not or other structures
2. Any foreigncaver
3. Custodians, administrationof protected areas containing caves
4. Local authoritiesthat manage caves
Complete with:
1. provisions of
462 caves status, classification, permitted activities, prohibitions, approval of these activities
2. OM administration
3. Categories of activities
related to caves, in caves or outside)
Chapter II. BEHAVIOR IN UNDERGROUND
II. 1 RESPECT FORCAVE
Each karstarea is characterized by specific
features that create clear-cutand cause differentperceptions and practicesof people who come in contact with them.
Underground environment is fragile and vulnerable,
so it must be perceived as such and should not be forgotten that the degradation is irreversible.
Responsibility
and consciousness awakening in eachof us is the most
effective way to protect a cave:
1. we can consider the underground environment as a fragile biotope,
where notions of protection and respect for the cave fullyapply: do not dirtyanything nor realize graffiti, or light a
fire, do not take anything,
do not leave anything behind us, leave as few footprints as possible, to take out all remnants,including the garbageleft by others;
2. to avoid entering underground in large teams;
3. to think atother guests of
the cave, especially bats:to have a balanced behavior and do not
hesitate to postpone or evencancel a visit, ifit can cause damage or even destruction;
4. be careful not to dirty the fissure or otherformations with stagnantwater;
5. unattend pristine concretioned areas or, if this is notpossible to take other
measures such as putting temporary paving, changing or cleaning shoes, etc.
6. to form a
reflex of systematically gather any debris,including those found in the cave, in a bag providedspecifically for this purpose, we willthen remove the
surface: the existence and even multiplicaton
of scattered spots left by people everywhere underground, is simply intolerable;
7. it is preferable to use the electriclamp on the basis of acetylene in isolated passages orlow, or inareas heavily concretionedto avoid blackening walls and formations;
8. clumsiness and neglect is no excuse forcave damage or loss;
9. The equipment of the cave must be minimized and
remain as discreet as safety rules impose it, and it must be adapted to existingconditions in thatcavity;
10. out ofabsolute necessity, the arrangements made(permanent bivouacs, the massive unblock, unclear the plugs clogged with clay,pump siphons, fixedequipment or anyother material) must
remain in place only
exceptionally, if possible they should
be provisional;
11. any anthropogenicintervention may alter the characteristics of the cave, so it has to be long studiedpreviously: a very short-term action can
have long term consequences,
both on the internal environment of the cavity, and onthe outside, they
often provedto be irreversible;
12.limit unblocking to a minimal degree ofabsolute necessity: if the entry should beenlarged remain moderateand discreet;
13. take care not
to disturb or filling soil layersthat may be of interest for geological, paleontological or archaeological natural
or artificial cavities. Anydesilting works insuch fossils undisturbedsediment will be
done only after obtaining aspecialist opinion;
14. Inform us and respect the law on archaeological remains. In the event of any discovery,stop exploring, do not take (Collect)
any proof and alert
FRS Protection Commission;
15. do not subtract concretions (they are beautiful only underground) the possession,sale, purchase, content exchange or the possession of any constituent part of a karst natural phenomena or artificial cavities (concretions, minerals, fossils, etc..) will
not be tolerated not even with the title of personal collection and can be subject tolitigation under applicable
law ;
16. even if we
are privileged witnesses of the underground environmentwe must report any sign of degradation orpollution or groundwater cavity as soon as we
see it ;
17. notify the Protection Commission or FRSof any caveportion having an exceptional nature interest which requires effective measures to protect against degradation;
18. any physical or administrative measure of protectionof the caves or sites,
taken at the initiative of speleologists(closures, restrictions of access, conventions ...) that can lead to repercussionson freedom of exploration, must imperatively be a decision
made by agreement with theCD, the sole arbitratoron the issue of interest and the reasons, inagreement with landowners,
with the Institute of Speleology "Emil Racovita”. Also, he is absolutelymandatory CD –site obligation to
ensure that this rule is
respected, any other approachbeing considered as abusive and therefore invalid;
19. all other protective measuresundertaken, limiting freedom of exploration, shall be the subject of a broad information campaign among speleological community,but also in the area of the karst phenomenon : the reason for closure, ways to do that;
20. In any breach of these terms or damage done,by any means, access to portions of thatcavity, in accordancewith the preceding paragraph, theCD will start the
procedure required by the circumstances;
21. organizing speleological
competitions in the undergroundby FRS members,or anyone else, is strictly prohibited, whatever the purposeor stake put into play.
22. to keep discretionupon the caves of
special interest and not allowor facilitate access to visitors who are notauthorized;
23. The information provided to press, radio, television, large circulation magazines or on web pages should notcontain details on
the location or access to thecaves.
II. 2. Respect
of others
- To foster thematerials found underground (equipment, measuring equipment, signaling systems ...), whether fixed, stored, orbelonging to other teams. Do not take anythingnor destroy;
- For obvious reasons of security, the entire underground equipment that appears faulty and /or dangerous shouldbe rebuilt orgroup responsible attention on it;
- Visiting cavitiesunder research / studywill be made only after first contact with speleologicalgroups that researches,
especially security considerations. As a
sign of respect for the work of
others, in full agreement withthe above law anddiscoverers, no other type of exploration, except for a simple visit, cannot be
achieved in a cave without thespeleologists who still have their ongoing activity
there (publications, materials storedthere yet ...),unless it is ofcommon knowledge that they have abandoned theexploration of thatarea;
- Authors of an ongoing unblock in frequentedarea of caves,must , for clear securityreasons, ensure that any remaining materialstorage, or stability
of cavernament, as a whole, does not represent a real dangerfor the others. Consideralternative information so that the peculiarities of the sector, and the signaling of;
- Comply with security rules, evaluate your our own limits and those ofothers, do not
seek for self-improvement;a good self-control is the best guarantor
of conscious behavior, respectful and weightedin relation to the underground;
- With a regard to the less experienced cavers:choose a cavity witha lower degree of difficulty,
according to their level, do not let them behind (visual or voice contactis most desirable), do not hesitate to add more
equipment to overcome the most
difficult sectors to deal with,and wait ifour presence is
required (essential in
understanding the notion ofteam notion);
-for reasons of prevention and security report to the National
Speleological Rescue Service - CORSA, the
possible presence of gas pockets in acave (the period, observations);
- Avoid smoking underground,
especially in poorly ventilated areas.
Chapter III.
How to behave outside the
cave
III.1. RESPECT FOR the ENVIRONMENT
1. Private propertyis a fundamental right in Romania: a cave willalways find on someone’s land!
2. Take care that your car does not
limit access to roads;
3. Leave as clean
as possible: no trash, debris,broken equipment without slam stain;
4. lock all
barriers or locking devicesyou have opened tofacilitate access;
5. To use, whenever
possible, the existing pathsto reach the caves;
6. To be careful that the surface
devices, as much as possible, be
made temporary
and not to change environment. To
take care to remove all thatwe can to be
helpful;
7. Respect the huntingperiods (restricted) and periods and places
where fires are strictly prohibited.
III.2.Respect of others
- To cultivate a friendlyrelationship with riparian owners, local
governments: to respect, to make use of usage of the quality of
these contacts, to create and maintain long-term positive
social contacts.
- To prevent the owner of our coming, if he hasexpressed a desire for us to do so. Do not ever serve
our privileged relations otherwise than for collective interest;
- To take care to
remain discreet (challengecommunities around the local noise is void);
- If the cave is closed by a slab, gate,
grill, it was provided in order to protect the cavity: inform onways of access required
by law or regulation visiting the cave andto fully respect the conditions of access;
- Do not forget that undesirable behavior of
an individual or a group canimpact on all localcaving groups, or even the entire
activity there: our image and free access is
strictly related to responsible
behavior, discreet and respectfulin relation to each other.
Chapter IV.GENERAL PRINCIPLES
As a speleologist you have rights and obligations:
- Any member of the FRS must act according
to ethics: he will ensure that his speech and
behavior do not affect the imageor interest of FRS or speleology in
general;
- To be elected in
a FRS structure involves the adoption of responsible behavior and the ability to make a fair and impartial trial at
any time;
- To know to
remain dignified and tolerantin any circumstance.Let's ignore the personaldislikes and disagreementswith others, which can degenerate into harmfulsituations at any time in the general interest and / or speleology overall;
- Respect the personal nature of the work of others: discovery,mapping, publications, pictures (...),however are the property of their authors (individualsor legal entities, collectively or individually). These activities have rights that must be known and
respected, but cannot justifyin any way abusive form of exclusivity. Givenprior consent by the author is absolutely indispensableto any use of another's work (like copyright);
- Publication of research
activities and speleological results is strictly recommended as a formleft to the author (remember that a cave over
which any data have not been releasedcannot be considered as existing in the eyes of the community!). In the exceptional casein which the
subject of the publication must
be protected, certain informationmust be omitted from
the start. And, on the contrary,
the situation in which certain data isvoluntary and used abusive should not be tolerated;
- Publications of clubs, regional and national undersuspicion that attract an audience far larger than
the target, must avoid tendentious articles to
issue or put in an unfavorable lightSpeleological field. These publications canjuggle with the image of speleology in general, and with the FRS, and they are subject tothe rigors of FRS, and the editorial college.
- To maintain our vigilance in terms of disseminating
information about caves orsites with moredelicacy;
- Media and
publications addressed to "general
public": in this sector of our business, we must becareful to render the correct image ofunderground environment, to practice a smart strategy to inform the public, well aware of the"weight" and the impactof our comments, and
without discrediting it;
- Any person who enters
the underground environmentmust be ensured and
dispose of underground conditionsand adapted equipmentin perfect working order: the check necessarilyrests with the organizer since the cave’s entrance;
- Teaching notions of speleological practice will not be limited to addressing to the technical aspect, they will
include ways to raise awarenessof the practitioner and make sense of observation to realize the importance,
responsibility, and by bringing to
knowledge of basic rules of conduct balancedboth underground and
at surface;
- Any attempt to
use an undeveloped touristcave, or approachmade in this regard (pressuremade on the owner or custodians) in order to
provide a strictly personal profitwill not be tolerated in any form by the FRS;
Speleologists behaviorabroad are specifiedin the Code of Ethics of Speleological expeditions, which can be shown to anyoneafter a simple request
to the FRS.
Information taken from www.frspeo.ro
