(VERSION FRANCAISE CI-DESSOUS) We would like to announce you that in the European Parliament nowadays a written declaration on Protection of Caves as cultural, natural and environmental Heritage will be published by Mikel Irujo (Member of the European Parliement), Rebecca Harms and Csaba Tabajdi.
This declaration was worked out by the "Karst environment and Cave Protection Forum" of the European Parliament, initiated by MEP Mikel Irujo Amezaga and his assisstant Iria Epalza this year on January. Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns (President of the UIS Department of Protection and Management), Bärbel Vogel (President of the German Speleological Federation) and Christiane Grebe (Head of the European Cave Protection Commission of the FSUE) could take part in this forum.
In the Basque Country was recently discovered a palaeontological cave from the lower Magdalenian period, called PRAILEAITZ. The Parliament would like to help preserving these type of caves and invited us to a meeting to compare and exchange ideas. But during this meeting the needs of cave and karst protection in whole Europe were discussed and the all people agreed that a written declaration about cave protection is needed in the EU Parliament, as there is no existing legislation about this part of our environment.
As attachment you can find the written declaration published internally in the EU Parliament this week. This is a very important step, maybe the most important step since long time, to protect the speleological heritage in Europe, that's why we would like you to take part in this work. Please read this short declaration and please send us your comments, remarks and also,if you have any ideas, your proposals for supporting this cave protection motion in Europe at protection@eurospeleo.org
If this written declaration can achieves in 4 months to have at least 394 signatures from the EU deputees, it will be transformed into a report and will be voted. If we achieve these aims, there could be an oppotunity for cave protection at European level, including means from the EU. It is a long process and we need your support for this.
This forum is about to organise a public campaign for Brussels to get at least 394 signatures and for this we need good cave and karst pictures, texts for leaflets etc. Please help us, it is very important. You can contact us under protection@eurospeleo.org
Our very best speleo wishes to you all,
Christiane Grebe Head of European Cave Protection Commission (FSUE)
Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns President of the UIS Department of Protection and Management
Nous souhaitons vous annoncer qu'au Parlement européen une déclaration sur la protection des cavités comme patrimoine culturelle,naturel et environnemental sera publiée par l'Eurodéputé Mikel Irujo, ainsi que Rebecca Harms et Csaba Tabajdi. Cette déclaration a été élabore par le "Karst environment and Cave Protection Forum" du Parlement européen, initié par l'Eurodéputé Mikel Irujo Amezaga et sa assistante Iria Epalza ce Janvier.
Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns (Président du département d'UIS de la protection et du management), Bärbel Vogel (Président de la Fédération Spéléologique Allemande) et Grebe Christiane (Président de la Commission Européenne de protection des cavités du FSUE) ont pu participer à ce forum.
Dans le pays basque a été récemment découvert une cavité paléontologique de la période inférieure de Magdalenian, appelée PRAILEAITZ. Le Parlement européen voudrait aider à préserver ces derniers type des cavités et invité à une réunion pour comparer et échanger des idées. Mais pendant cette réunion les nécessités pour la protection des cavités et du karst en Europe ont été discutés et les toutes les personnes ont approuvé qu'une déclaration écrite au sujet de la protection des cavités et du karst est nécessaire au Parlement d'UE, car il n'y a aucune législation existante au sujet de cette partie de notre environnement.
Comme pièce jointe vous pouvez trouver la déclaration écrite en anglais publiée intérieurement au Parlement d'UE cette semaine. C'est une étape très importante, peut-être l'étape la plus importante depuis un long temps pour protéger le patrimoine spéléologique en Europe, . C'est pourquoi nous voudrions que vous participiez à notre travail. Veuillez lire cette déclaration courte et envoyez-nous à protection@eurospeleo.org vos commentaires, remarques et aussi, si vous avez des idées, vos propositions pour soutenir ce mouvement de protection des cavités en Europe.
Si cette déclaration réalise en 4 mois pour avoir au moins 394 signatures des deputees d'UE, cette déclaration sera transformée en rapport et votée.
Si nous atteignons ces objectifs, il pourrait y avoir des moyens de l'UE pour la protection des cavités. C'est un long processus et nous avons besoin de votre support de ceci.
Ce forum est sur le point d'organiser une campagne publique pour que Bruxelles obtienne au moins 394 signatures et pour ceci nous avons besoin de bonnes images de caverne et de karst, de textes pour les feuillets etc.
Veuillez nous aider, il est très important. Vous pouvez nous contacter sous protection@eurospeleo.org
Nos meilleurs voeux spéléo à vous tous,
Christiane Grebe Président de la Commission Européenne de protection des cavités (FSUE)
Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns Président du Département d'UIS de la protection et du Management
WCN ------------------ Information from Mr Oliver Vidal
(FROM .PDF FILE WITH SUBJECT :declaration on cave protection_EU Parliament)
WRITTEN DECLARATION
pursuant to Rule 116 of the Rules of Procedure by Mikel Irujo, Rebecca Harms and Csaba Tabajdi on Protection of Caves as cultural, natural and environmental Heritage
Lapse date: <23.08.2008> DC\000000EN.doc PE000.000v00
Written declaration on Protection of Caves as cultural, natural and environmental Heritage The European Parliament, – having regard to Article 151 of the EC Treaty, – having regard to the UNESCO convention of 16 November 1976 concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage,
A. whereas there is no existent European law or directive related to the protection of caves and their content like speleothems, and archaeological and paleontological findings,
B. whereas caves present unique geotopes in the European natural and archaeological heritage that can only be preserved by protecting the caves themselves in combination with their surrounding,
C. Whereas conservation of the numerous elements of archaeological and speleological heritage provides a foundation for further social and economic development and thereby enhances environmental protection, employment opportunities and European integration,
1. Calls to the Commission, in drafting its legislative proposals, to implement effectively the cultural protection, as it is written on article 151 of ECT, and the geotope protection with regard to karst and caves as natural sites, and cultural settlements, with a view to ensuring that measures to promote them are embodied in all EU policies;
2. Considers that the factors to be taken into account in order to develop these particular sectors with due regard to the subsidiarity principle, must include: - a systematic survey of caves, in general and their surroundings, and of the environmental and archaeological heritage - the creation of a legislative framework to guarantee their protection, incorporating incentives for the conservation of karst area, caves and the archaeological heritage, and for measures to ensure that new buildings and industrial activities are compatible with nearby environmental and archaeological heritage - the incorporation of the incentives for conservation of caves, ensuring that this heritage will continue to be studied by specialist such as speleologists, geo(morpho)logists, archaeologists, palaeontologists, biologists, climatologists, etc.
- Financial assistance for projects, conservation and restoration
3. Calls on the Member States, Regions and local authorities, in cooperation with the Commission, to promote the protection and conservation of their caves and their archaeological heritage trough the structural funds;
4. Calls to the Commission to promote the sharing and exchange of experiences in this field through conferences and meetings all around Europe.
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