In the best of all possible worlds, people would take care of the natural resources around them--using them, to be sure, but not wantonly destroying them for thrills. Unfortunately, destruction of valuable (and irreplaceable) caves and cave resources have made cave conservation a matter of law as well as good intention and stewardship. As of 1995, twenty three states (including Puerto Rico) have cave protection laws. Missouri is one of those, having passed the Missouri Cave Resources Act in 1980, with the law effective January 1, 1981.

Destruction of caves on Federal lands, and the desire to do something about it, also resulted in the passage of the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1989. This statute protects caves in National Parks, National Forests, BLM land, and other lands administered by the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. Two important aspects of this legislation are the system of "significant caves" which it establishes, and the legal necessity for input from the caving community in regards to these federally owned caves.

Missouri Cave Resources Protection Act

Federal Cave Resources Protection Act

This page updated Dec. 8, 2007.