UNESCO proclaims International Day of Caves and Karst – the initiative came from Slovenia

12. 11. 2025

Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning

The UNESCO General Conference today unanimously proclaimed 13 September as the International Day of Caves and Karst. The initiative was officially submitted by the Republic of Slovenia at the proposal of the International Union of Speleology, which is based in Postojna. Under the authority of the Government, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning coordinated the activities for the proclamation of the International Day of Caves and Karst.

The International Union of Speleology, the Office for UNESCO at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs also participated in the proclamation process. The proclamation was also successful thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Slovenia to UNESCO in Paris in gaining international support.

Caves and karst features cover almost one fifth of the Earth's land and are a source of drinking water for more than one billion people. They host unique subterranean ecosystems, fossil records and traces of human history. Nevertheless, these subterranean landscapes remain poorly known, vulnerable and often insufficiently protected. By proclaiming the International Day of Caves and Karst, UNESCO aims to raise awareness of the importance of these sensitive subterranean environments for nature, humans and sustainable development.

Slovenia is the leading country in Karst studies – Postojna houses the seat of the International Union of Speleology, we have a UNESCO Chair of Karstology, and the Škocjan Caves Park has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1986.