Filling the Gap – the role of a non-government karst conservation organisation in Australia
Abstract
This presentation outlines the development of a new Conservation Group in WA. The Caves and Karst Conservation Foundation is set up under the WA National Trust, specifically to protect and conserve caves and karst areas. To use the American terminology, the Foundation is effectively a ‘Conservancy’.
The National Trust has many attributes that set it aside from other public and private organisations. The National Trust is set up under a State Act of Parliament, and has approval under the Australian Taxation Office to operate as a charity bringing with it tax deductibility for donations of land and money. The National Trust is an active organisation with an impressive list of credits and is well respected internationally. The National Trust (WA) is involved in a range projects and outcomes regarding conservation and interpretation of the State’s natural heritage.
The National Trust has the ability to establish conservation appeals for a range of natural heritage projects. In this case we are establishing an appeal for cave conservation. The appeal will be managed by a committee established under the Council of the National Trust of Australia (WA). The Purpose of the Appeal is to receive donations of land and money to conserve the values of caves and karst and to educate the community for the protection of these values. The Appeal is referred to as the ‘Caves and Karst Conservation Foundation Appeal’.
The Appeal is operated by the Caves and Karst Conservation Foundation committee – a separate group of people who also manage The Caves and Karst Conservation Foundation. The key constitutional objectives of the Foundation are:
- To conserve and protect caves and karst systems as natural assets.
- To interpret caves and karst systems.
- To educate the community about caves and karst systems and their values.
- To provide leadership in environmental management and natural heritage management of caves and karst systems.
- To facilitate the increase of scientific knowledge about caves/karst
This new organisation will fill the gap between the ASF, ACKMA and state Conservation Agencies. The Foundation will be active in project management – seeking to raise funds to put back into cave and karst management. The Foundation will be in a position to provide support to private land managers and non-government cave managers. The Caves and Karst Conservation Foundation will bring ‘caves’ to the general public, fostering a desire for people (other than speleo’s) to be involved in the conservation and interpretation of caves and karst systems.