Introduction to the National Center for International Research on Karst Dynamic System and Global Change

In line with the requirements of the Ministry of Science and Technology and  China Geological Survey under the former Ministry of Land and Resources (now the Ministry of Natural Resources) on the International Joint Research Center on Karst Dynamic System and Global Change (hereinafter referred to as the "Center"), the center, which is housed at the Institute of Karst Geology of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, adheres to the principle of " facing the world based on karst, innovating theory and serving the economy". Depending on the advantage of China in terms of karstology and the international team who has successfully implemented IGCP projects under UNESCO for 25 years, the Center aims to establish an international scientific and technological cooperation mode in karst field combining "project-talents-base", deepen the basic research on karst dynamic system and global change, and help China and even the whole world to cope with global climate change and its resulting resource and environmental challenges.

 Goal of the Center:

l  to give full play to the "Three-in-One" advantages of the Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences; the International Research Center on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO; and National Center for International Research on Karst Dynamic System and Global Change;

l  to fully depend on the 10 major plans, 50 programs and more than 300 projects organized and implemented by China Geological Survey;

l  to actively organize and work with other countries with advantages in international karst research to create four platforms, i.e.: leading innovation , international cooperation, talent training and social service;

l  to make the International Joint Research Center on Karst Dynamic System and Global Change become a cradle of modern karstological theory, lead the study of global karst dynamic system and global change, and set a model for karst countries in the world to address karst resources and environmental challenges caused by global change.

Main research areas of the Center:

l  the significance of karst process to global carbon cycle and carbon sink effect;

l  high-resolution paleoclimatic records with cave stalagmites;

l  response and restoration of vulnerable karst ecosystem to global change;

l  assessment and protection of karst landscapes and geosites.

Overall work progress and roles:

Since its establishment in September 2013, the Center has actively

l  developed an international karst research platform and signed 15 cooperation agreements with foreign universities and research institutions with advantages in karst research;sponsored and co-organized 11 international academic conferences and conducted academic exchanges with more than 200 scholars from 40 countries;organized four international training courses, which were attended by more than 100 trainees from more than 30 countries; built39 stationson karst carbon cycle monitoring around the world.

l  built 11 field scientific observation and research bases (four of which are field scientific observation and research bases under the former Ministry of Land and Resources) , which are used to study karst dynamic system and its resources and environmental effects, and are visited by 60 foreign experts every year.

l  launched the International Big Scientific Plan on "Global Karst Dynamic System Resources and Environmental Effects" , for which scientists from 11 countries signed letters of endorsement; carried out international comparative research and scientific activities of IGCP project "Formation, Material Circulation and Sustainable Function of Karst Critical Zone", and established global network and information system of monitoring stations in Karst Critical Zone; and conducted overseas geological survey projects on karst resources and environmental issues in the representative karst area of Tethys region in the world, so as to serve the national strategy of "the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)" in China.

l  has made achievements in five key areas, including the operation pattern of karst dynamic system (modern karstification), karst carbon cycle and global change, high-resolution records with stalagmites and paleoenvironment reconstruction, karst ecosystem and rocky desertification control, karst landscape and geosites assessment. In particular, the Center has taken the lead worldwide in terms of carbon cycle and global climate change, and the reconstruction of karst ecological environment under climate change. Therefore, the Center has become a core driving force leading the international karst research.