ASF Code of Ethics
Adopted 1992
© Copyright Notice
The contents of this file are ©Copyright to the Australian Speleological
Federation Incorporated. Without limiting the rights under copyright legislation,
no part of the contents may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into
a retrieval system,or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior permission
of the copyright owner. In the first instance enquiries should be directed
to the ASF General Secretary.
The copyright owner will normally grant a licence without charge to reproduce
the Code of Ethics and Conservation, provided that the copyright holder
is acknowledged. All requests should be directed to the Secretary.
1. Introduction
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1.1 Recognising their primary aim of protecting the caves and karst
of Australasia, cavers will actively promote cave conservation and
sound management practices through example, education, advice and
training.
1.2 This code establishes a minimum standard of caving practice.
1.3 Higher standards may be required by management authorities
for particular caves or karst regions, in which case those standards
will be adhered to.
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2. Toward Landowners and Management Authorities
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2.1 Landowners, tourist guides and any person representing a management
authority will be treated with courtesy and respect.
2.2 All caving parties must have specific or tacit approval from
the landowner and/or management authority before entering any property
or reserve, must follow only agreed routes and must not visit forbidden
areas.
2.3 The prevailing procedures regarding gates on properties and
reserves will be followed, and care taken to cause no damage to
stock, crops, equipment or landscape features. In short, leave as
found.
2.4 All parties will be as self sufficient as possible and will
not presume on the good will of landowners and/or management authorities
for water, supplies or assistance.
2.5 Where the cave entrance has been blocked by the landowner and/or
management authority, it will be re-blocked after use, or, with
the landowner and/or management authority's permission more appropriate
protection installed unless the landowner and/or management authority
otherwise instructs.
2.6 No gate will be installed at or in a cave unless approved
by the landowner and/or management authority and arrangements are
made for key security. Any gate must have an accompanying sign giving
reasons for gating and access conditions unless the landowner and/or
management authority otherwise instructs.
2.7 No cave excavation, including the use of explosives, will be
undertaken without the permission of the landowner and/or management
authority and/or management authority and the society committee,
and only after an assessment of the environmental effect.
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3. Toward Caves
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3.1 Camping will not occur in a cave, unless absolutely necessary
to achieve a specific speleological or conservation objective.
3.2 Caving activity must be conducted in a manner responsible to
the cave environment, taking particular care to avoid damage to
speleothems, sediments, biota and other natural phenomena. The maximum
size of any party should be limited to that which provides the best
quality of experience or achieves specific aims.
3.3 Cave entrances and passages should not be excavated/enlarged,
including the use of explosives, water levels in sumps should not
be modified and stream flows should not be diverted, until all possible
effects are assessed and the appropriate permission gained. Any
modification must be the minimum required.
3.4 Established marked routes must be used, single tracks should
be followed and care taken to avoid needless deposition of mud.
Mud-throwing or modelling is unacceptable.
3.5 All human introduced wastes must be removed from the cave
and disposed of properly.
3.6 Cavers will not smoke in any cave.
3.7 Caves must not be disfigured by unnecessary marking (including
`direction arrows'). Entrance tags and survey marks should be small
and inconspicuous.
3.8 Disturbance should not be caused to any biotic community. No
disturbance should be caused to maternity or over-wintering roosts
of bats. Collection of specimens will be kept to the minimum required
for study purposes only.
3.9 The technique, agent and justification for air or water flow-tracing
experiments should be chosen to minimise environmental impact and
must be approved by the relevant authorities and the society committee.
3.10 Explosives should not be used inside a cave or at the entrance
unless absolutely necessary, and then only with the permission of
the landowner and/or management authority and the society committee,
and only after an assessment of the environmental impact.
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4. General
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4.1 Recognised codes for minimum impact camping will be observed
with particular emphasis on complete removal of rubbish and, wherever
possible, avoidance of camping on karst catchment areas.
4.2 Reports on speleological work and caving activities are to
be honest and accurate, avoiding sensationalism or exaggeration.
4.3 Any published work must acknowledge other people's contributions
to the work, either as clubs or individuals, published work or personal
communication.
4.4 Consideration should be given before publishing an article
disclosing a cave's location, as to its intended audience, the wishes
of the landowner and/or management authority, and the subsequent
effect on the cave.
4.5 When visiting an area frequented by another society, the club
or party will co-operate fully with that society.
4.6 Disputes will be conducted in a restrained and responsible
manner.
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