There are a number of caving organizations throughout the world.
Contents
UIS
The Union Internationale de Spéléologie (UIS) is the international umbrella organization for caving and speleology.
Austria
The Austrian Speleological Association formed in 1949 represents over 20 caving clubs with some 2500 members and about 30 show caves in Austria and is the Austrian member of UIS & FSE.
Australia
Brazil
Bulgaria
The first Bulgarian Speleological Society was founded on March 18, 1929. This was the result of the acknowledged necessity to set up a public organization which, under the conditions prevalent at that time, would begin a systematic investigation of caves, protecting them from destruction and setting the beginnings of cave tourism. The founders of the Society were eminent Bulgarian scientists, people active in the realm of tourism, and cave-exploration fans - office employees and workers. The foundation of the first Bulgarian Speleological Society marked the beginning of a new stage in the development of Speleology in Bulgaria. Though not very numerous in its membership, and despite its limited financial capacities, the Society engaged in huge-scale and useful activities. It made a reappraisal of all that had been done until that time in cave investigation and in obtaining more knowledge about the country's caves. Organized trips and studies were carried out in certain caves and karst regions of Bulgaria. The results obtained were published in the scientific publication of the Society - "Bulletin of the Bulgarian Speleological Society" - Volume One of which appeared in 1936. Active propaganda was also carried out for the protection of the caves. There was a useful and active cooperation between the Bulgarian Speleological Society and the Bulgarian Tourist Union. The first provincial branches of the Society were founded in the Rakitovo village and the towns of Dryanovo and Lovech. The Bulgarian Speleological Society became more active after 1947. New members entered the Society, which included university students as well. In 1948 and 1949 they took part with great enthusiasm in what were known as the cave brigades organized with the generous support of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Detailed investigations were carried out during this period of the karst regions of Lakatnik, Karloukovo, Rabisha (near Belogradchik), and Zlatna Panega in Lovech District. The charts prepared and the materials collected constituted an important scientific contribution. After 1949 the Bulgarian Speleological Society ceased its activities over a brief period of time. A good deal of work was done by the speleologists in the town of Rousse and by university students organized in their Speleological Club "Akademik" in Sofia. Amateur work continued, as well as the research initiated in this field by the various institutes of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and by the Sofia University. However, there was a keenly felt need for a speleological organization in the country. Such an organization was necessary to unite the efforts of amateur speleologists and of the specialists and to promote the development of this branch of science in Bulgaria. Favourable conditions to that effect were created after 1957, with the restoration of the Bulgarian Tourist Union. At that time a number of scientists and amateur speleologists, as well as active supporters of the tourist movement, approached the Central Council of the Bulgarian Tourist Union with a proposal to set up a Committee for Cave Tourism. On July 14, 1958, the Central Council decided on setting up a Commission on Speleology and Cave Tourism. Forty-two clubs were set up all over the country. With the generous support of the Central Council of the Bulgarian Tourist Union, the new speleological organization rapidly grew in strength and became very active. Its objectives became clearly formulated and presented, and a number of enactments were passed. There were also a number of additional initiatives, such as plenary sessions, conferences, gatherings, and international expeditions. Penetration, charting, and survey work in the known caves and in the discovery of new cave sites became more active and on a higher scientific and technological level. The Commission on Speleology and Cave Tourism took on the task of the development and popularization of cave tourism in Bulgaria. After the Fourth Congress of the Bulgarian Tourist Union in 1972, the Commission on Speleology and Cave Tourism was transformed into the Bulgarian Federation on Speleology, which continues operating today. This new and higher form of organization furnished a fresh impetus to the development of Speleology in Bulgaria. Its operation became more active and efficient. New initiatives were undertaken with a view to improving the training and qualifications of the speleologists in the country. The speleological clubs obtained new equipment, and their activity increased. International ties grew stronger and broader. The successes attained were largely due to the correct understanding and to the moral and material support, which was and is still rendered by the Central Council of the Bulgarian Tourist Union. Today, the Bulgarian Federation on Speleology is the only national organization in Bulgaria whose role is essentially devoted to Speleology. The Federation represents the Bulgarian cavers and speleologists. In this capacity it organizes National Congresses, and within the International Union of Speleology it nominates the Bulgarian delegates at the International Congresses. The Federation co-ordinates both the activities of Bulgarian cavers abroad, establishing contacts with the corresponding Societies, and the activity of foreign cavers in Bulgaria. With 900 members in 2009, the Federation is organized on a national level (an executive committee, a board of directors, a head office in Sofia), and on regional level it has 35 speleo clubs. The Bulgarian Federation on Speleology, with its members - research workers and amateurs, is the sole organization in Bulgaria working for the advance of speleology and of cave tourism, and it is also the foremost unit carrying out the requisite research and protection of caves in the country. Bulgarian Federation of Speleology is a member of Balkan Speleological Union, European Federation of Speleology and International Speleological Union (U.I.S).
Canada
There is no national caving organization in Canada, despite the existence of a national publication (the Canadian Caver, started in 1968), and the Caving Canada website. Regional organizations exist in British Columbia and Quebec, and caving clubs exist in many of the provinces (Alberta Speleological Society, (British Columbia Speleological Federation ), Speleological Society of Manitoba, etc.) and cities (Toronto Caving Group).
China
Hong Meigui is an international society dedicated to the exploration of caves in China and throughout the world.
Czech Republic
Czech Speleological Society / Česká speleologická společnost is the national organisation with many caving clubs as members.
Europe
The Fédération Spéléologique Européenne / European Speleological Federation (FSE) is the European organisation which federates the national caving federations/associations in Europe.
France
French Federation of Speleology is the national organisation with many caving clubs as members.
Germany
The German Speleological Federation was founded in 1955 and is the German member of UIS & FSE.
Greece
Hungary
The Hungarian Speleology Society was founded in 1926. Our society was reorganized by enlarging its profile in 1958 under the name of Hungarian Karst- and Cave Research Society (MKBT). MKBT carries out speleological research and exploration in Hungary. The national yearly publication is called Karszt és Barlang (meaning Karst and Cave).
India
The National Cave Research and Protection Organization is the Government Registered body for cave Research & their Protection in India.
Indonesia
The Indonesian Speleological Society (ISS) formed in 2015 with some 1000 members and is the Indonesian member of UIS. Their website is caves.or.id
Iran
The Iranian Cave and Speleology Association (ICSA) is a Nongovermental Organisation (NGO) consists cavers and speologist in Iran who are interested in exploring, surveying, researching and protecting caves of Iran. International Speology Union (UIS) helps to foundation of ICSA by training cavers and supporting them. It was founded in 2010 with permission on Ministry of Interior. Now a day ICSA helps governmental organisation (Such as Envoronment Protection Organisation, Tourism Organisation, Universities) and other nongovernmental organisation (like Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian Geologist Association, Iranian Photographer Association) in such issues.
Note: Iranian Federation of Montaineering and Sport Climbing is the governmental organisation of Mountain Sports and It looks to Caving as a sport, So they officially train cavers and focused of sport aspects of Caving.
Ireland
The Speleological Union of Ireland is the official representative body for cavers in Ireland. It is also affiliated with the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation which operates in both the Republic Of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Italy
The Italian Speleological Society is the official representative body for many cavers and Groups in Italy.
The Circolo Speleologico Romano was founded in 1904, is one of the oldest caving club in Italy. Currently more than 250 caving groups and clubs are present in the country, with about 4000 active cavers.
Kosovo
The Speleological Federation of Kosovo was formed in February 2011. In 2003 the first speleo association was formed (Aragonit speleo association), independent from the mountain association of Gjeravica from the western city of Peja (formed 1928), where it worked as a speleo-section. It is working on completing data for all the caves in this country, and also organizing different speleo-expeditions throughout the country. www.aragonit-speleo.org www.facebook.com/aragonitkosovo
Lebanon
Speleo Club du Liban was formed in 1951. It is considered one of the oldest caving associations in the Middle East.
Jamaica
The Jamaican Caves Organisation (JCO) is the national caving organisation for Jamaica, and a member of the Union Internationale de Spéléologie (UIS). Activities include speleological research, exploration, mapping, and pro bono assistance to the National Environmental and Planning Agency (NEPA), the Water Resources Authority (WRA), the University of the West Indies (UWI), and visiting researchers.
México
Mongolia
Netherlands
Speleo Nederland is the national organisation with four regional sections. The national 3 monthly publication is called "Pierk" (meaning stalactite).
New Zealand
The New Zealand Speleological Society is a national organisation with local clubs that represents the recreational caves.
Norway
Norsk Grotteforbund (The Norwegian Speleological Society) is the national organisation. It was established in 1980.
Pakistan
Chiltan Adventurers Association Balochistan and Pakistan Cave Research & Caving Federation the only National Caving Organization in Pakistan founded by Hayatullah Khan Durrani representative of Union of International Speleology(UIS), and British Caving Federation (BCA) through Orpheus Caving Club Derby UK.
Poland
Caving Committee of Polish Mountaineering Association (Polski Związek Alpinizmu) represents the Polish caving community as a whole.
In Poland, caving community has been traditionally tied closely to mountaineering. Polish Mountaineering Association gathers 26 local associations whose main profile is recreational caving and cave exploration.
Portugal
Romania
The Romanian Speleological Federation was founded on 28 May 1994 by the association of all speleological structures from Romania, having as goal to strengthen the national speleological activities. FRS is member of UIS (Union International de Spéléologie), affiliated to UNESCO.
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
The Swedish Speleological Society is the national body for caving in Sweden. It was founded in 1966 by the "Father of Swedish Speleology", Leander Tell.
Switzerland
The Swiss Society of Speleology was created in 1939 in Geneva.