Part 2-Conservation, Management, Ethics: Hildreth-Werker and Werker-Code of Conduct 263 Section C-Improving Caver Ethics
Do Cavers Need a Code of Conduct? Val Hildreth-Werker and Jim C. Werker
Cavers don't like being told how to behave. But inappropriate caver behavior propagates considerable negative impact. More people are entering caves-flashlight spelunkers, weekend recreationists, enthusiastic students, keen scientists, and veteran explorers. Even casual observers find it obvious that cave environments are damaged by the normal activities of apparently well-meaning cavers. Traditionally, experienced cavers mentor newcomers. Novices are taken underwing and trained in caving ethics. Ideally, rookies either become Minimal Impact competent or quit caving. Attrition rates are high-many get their fill of the Codes and Codes of caver hierarchy, lose interest, and drop out along the way. Ethics have been When new cavers stick with the system, they become increasingly developed by involved in project caving, eventually take on leadership roles, and develop caving lifestyles. In some parts of the country, cadres of well-versed cavers speleological maintain this influential peer-training system. But in other areas, there are societies around the simply too many inexperienced people who impulsively cntcr wild cavcs- globe. A code of who go caving, but receive no mentoring. conduct is used to Over the past two decades, the speleological community has faced a two- describe a set of fold challenge. More people are going into wild caves, and current best practices in caving ethics are rapidly changing. The mentors can't keep up. principles and One-an-one training has become unrealistic. To do nothing is to invite expectations for more inappropriate impacts. Ifwe want to protect cave systems from cave members ofa visitors, we need to expand our training arsenal and adopt new educational particular group. tactics.
Caving Codes and Guidelines
Minimal impact codes and codes of ethics have been developed by speleo- logical societies around the globe. A code of conduct is typically used to describe a set of principles and expectations for members ofa particular group. Thus, a code of caving conduct contains clear guidelines and expectations for behavior in a cave. American cave environments are diverse. Caves across the U.S. are categorized and managed very differently. Consequently, specialized codes that outline protective measures and describe expected behaviors have been developed for individual cave sites.
Clarifying Expectations for Lechuguilla The National Park Service realizes the importance of clearly defining expectations for cavers who work in Lechuguilla Cave. In 1992, the cave resource management team at Carlsbad Caverns began developing a document titled Guidelines/or Entering Lechuguilla Cave (Appendix 5, page 549). All who enter Lechuguilla must first attend an orientation that includes guideline clarification and discussion. The guidelines became an appendix 264 Cave Conservation and Restoration
Figure 1. (top left). A specialized Mini- mum-Impact Caving Code was estab- lished to help protect La Cueva de las Barrancas as a speleological preserve for scientific research. In this photo, Penny Boston, attired in clean caving garments, is placing slides for long-term microbial studies in a small virgin pool in Barrancas. (See page 3 of color section.)
Figure 2. (top right). To reduce impact, Jim Werker remains within the desig- nated drop route as he descends to Big Kiss in Barrancas. (See page 11 of color section.)
Figure 3. (middle right). Jim Werker is in the entrance crawl of Barrancas, installing bolts at the top of the first ver- tical drop. (See page 11of color section.)
Figure 4. (bottom right). Dave Hamer carefully adjusts the rigging to help pro- tect delicate features as he ascends to Eagles Aerie in Barrancas. (See page II of color section.) Part 2-Conservation, Management, Ethics: Hildreth-Werker and Werker-Code of Conduct 265 of the park's 1995 Cave and Karst Managemem Plan. (See establishing cave management guidelines, page 230). The dig that opened Lechuguilla Cave occurred in 1986. In the early 19905, Lechuguilla was a relatively young expedition cave and caver impacts were readily identified. By the mid-I 990s, the impacts in Lechuguilla had great influence on improving caver conservation ethics. For our own expeditions into Lechuguilla, we began to augment the park Point out unsafe or guidelines with a written code of conduct to further clarify behavior damaging behavior. expectations. We updated our list of expectations frequently and it became It is every caver's an informal agreement with anyone who went into Lechuguilla with us. In responsibility to 1996, we titled our document Minimum-Impact Guidelines. ensure that cave Later, as acceptance increased, our title became Minimum-Impact Code environments remain o/Ethies (Werker and Hildreth-Werker 1999). The draft continues to change as cave conservation parameters are better defined. Updates are as pristine as essential to the success of this surprisingly effective educational tool. possible and that every team member Minimum-Impact Code of Ethics is safe and aware of Eventually, we developed a simplified sheet of minimum-impact guidelines conservation ethics. for general caving situations. The Minimum-Impact Code of Ethics for Caving Groups is designed for introductory caving trips, cave conservation workshops, and educational outreach presentations. The example on page 266 can be used as a template, but should be revised to fit specific caves or caving areas.
Specialized Codes and Protocols Increasingly, we write specialized codes of conduct and protocols for specific cave systems. Barrancas, a virgin cave discovered in 1991, is now protected as a research laboratory for geomicrobiology and astrobiology (Boston 200 I; Hildreth- Werker 200 I). Abiding by the code established for Barrancas is essential to its continuing status as an underground speleologi- cal laboratory and prototype site for research in extraterrestrial life detec- tion and contamination control. Thus, we included an agreement statement and signature line in the minimum-impact document (Werker and Hildreth- Werker 2003). The cave management plan requires that anyone who enters Barrancas must sign this agreement. (See Cave Implementation Schedule: La Cueva de las Barrancas, Appendix 7, page 567.) Cave conservation Cave conservation practices differ widely across the United States as practices differ terrains and protection demands vary. When cavers travel outside of their local caving areas, they sometimes receive behavior guidelines that widely across the facilitate quick updates on the principals and protocols in various regions or United States as in specific caves. Through a code of conduct, written emphasis is placed on terrains and protec- the specialized conservation demands of particular caves or karst systems. tion demands vary. Behavior guidelines Find the NSS Cave Conservation Policy and the NSS Cave and Karst Preservation Policy in this volume (page 253) and on the NSS Web facilitate quick site:
Or link to a page of international codes through the NSS Cave Conser- vation and Management Section:
Minimum-Impact Code of Ethics for Caving Groups Val Hildreth-Werker and Jim C. Werker
The goal of this code of ethics is to encourage practices that minimize negative impacts to caves. As we learn more about cave environments, we evaluate and redefine caving conduct. These guidelines, compiled from the experiences and contributions of many cavers, describe low-impact caving techniques. Avoid harming cave resources-aesthetic. cultural, paleontological, geological, hydrological, mineralogical, meteorological, biological, as well as microbial. Move gently and be good stew- ards. Think safety-take care of yourself and your team. Take care of the caves.
0 Each caver should wear a helmet with a light attached. Each caver should cany water, food, a bottle for urine, and three sources of light with extra batteries and bulbs. . All cave packs, vertical gear, boots, gloves, helmets, and lint-free clothing should be freshly washed to avoid transfer of mud, dust, and microbes from other cave environments. 0 Usc footwear with nonmarringlnonmarking soles. Whether light or dark colored, many soles do leave marks on calcite-test sales on untreated limestone or concrete. No heavy waflle stompers. Traditional black lugged sales will leave marks on cave surfaces. De careful with blond rubber soles-chunks from soft soles tend to break off, leaving debris in cave passages. . Use soft or padded cave packs. Avoid hard-edged boxes. Choose gear that is smaller, lighter, and more compact.
0 Don't disturb bats or other cave-dwelling creatures. Watch for insects and avoid crushing them under- foot. . Don't smoke or use tobacco in caves. Smoke and fumes can kill bats, invertebrates, and other cave . dwelling animals.
0 Wear gloves. Check gloves for mud, dirt, and holes. 0 Know which areas require clean clothes, shoes, and gear. Don't enter pristine areas with muddy or dusty garments and gear. . Avoid isolated pools . 0 Limit scratching of skin and hair. Tens of thousands of skin fragments and debris fall from each human body every hour. Never comb or brush hair in a cave. Reduce the input of organic carbons.
0 Leave nothing in caves. Carry out trash. Do not mark on cave surfaces. Never mar a cave with gral1iti. 0 Remove all solid and liquid wastes. Carry an emergency pee bottle and burrito kit. Carry out all urine, feces, spit, vomit, and other waste. . Avoid dropping crumbs and food particles. Eat over a plastic bag. Carry out crumbs and debris. Don't eat on the move. 0 If you light a candle, catch the wax drips on a suitable base such as heavy foil. . Ifcarbide lamps are allowed, carry the spent carbide out of the cave in plastic bottles with threaded lids .
0 Stay on established trails. Sit inside the trails. Keep packs and other items within the path. Choose the most impacted pathways. 0 Move carefully and gently through the entire cave-avoid kicking up dust. 0 Always spot each other in fragile areas. Especially watch heads, backs, hands, feet, and packs. 0 Spot each other on climbs. Remember to maintain three points of contact. 0 Touch as little as possible. Avoid leaning on walls, ceilings, or speleothems. Don't sit on formations. Look and avoid trampling Iloor deposits. When movement requires handholds, look first to avoid delicate features and usc knuckles or fingertips for balance rather than dirty open palms. 0 During survey and exploration, establish pathways on durable surfaces to minimize future impacts.
. Take nothing from caves. Removal of natural or historical objects is unethical and illegal unless you have a collection permit for authorized research. Check with cave managers, archaeologists, biologists, and historians before making decisions about large items or cultural materials. (Recently-deposited trash usually should be removed. Always carry extra plastic bags and use common sense safety precautions.)
0 Point out unsafe or damaging behavior. It is every caver's responsibility to ensure that cave environ- ments remain as pristine as possible and that every team member is safe and aware of conservation ethics. Cave softly ... and leave no trace. Part 2-Conservation, Management, Ethics: Hildreth-Werker and Werker-Code of Conduct 267
Cited References Boston PJ. 2001. Microbes, minerals, and Mars: The NASA cave connection. NSS News 59(3):70. Hildreth-Werker V. 2001. Jim Werker and the Barrancas story: Vision of The Minimum- a cave laboratory. NSS News 59(3):67-69. Impact Code of Werker JC, Hildreth-Werker V. 1999. Restoration, trail designation, and microbial preservation in Lechuguilla Cave. In: Stitt RR, editor. Ethics for Caving Proceedings oj/he 1997 National Cave and Karst Management Groups can be used Symposium: Ocluber 7-10 in Bellingham. Washington. ond Chilliwack as a template, but and Vancouver Island. B.C .. Canada. Huntsville [AL]: National Cave should be revised to Management Symposium Steering Committee. p 181-189. [Also listed fit specific caves or as 13th National Cave Management Symposium.] cavmg areas. Werker JC, Hildreth-Werker V. 2003. Cave management plan for an underground laboratory: La Cueva de las Barrancas, prototype site for Mars studies. In: Rea GT, editor. Proceedings of the 15th National Cave Management Symposium: Tucson, Arizona, October 16-/9, 2(J{)/. Coronado National Forest: USDA Forest Service. p 77-87. 268 Cave Conservation and Restoration