On December 15, 2008, the International Research Center on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO (hereinafter as IRCK) was formally established in Guilin, China. It is also the first category II center concerning geosciences. Since its foundation, it has organized 11 international symposia, attracted over 200 foreign scientists from more than 40 countries for academic exchange, signed 16 international cooperation agreements with 14 countries. It has played an active role for international exchange, set firm foundation for cooperative projects. In Nov.2013, it passed the first six-year evaluation by the Experts Panel of UNESCO, who agreed that IRCK was an efficient category II center under UNESCO. On May, 12, 2016, the Renewed Agreement of IRCK was signed in Langfang, Hebei Province, indicating phase-II operation of IRCK started.
The objectives of IRCK shall be to:
(a) advance knowledge on karst dynamic systems through scientific research, publications, international cooperation;
(b)advance international cooperation and contacts and provide a platform for the exchange of scientific information about karst dynamic systems and the sustainable utilization of karst resources and environmental protection, between institutions worldwide within the framework of the International Geoscience and Geopark Programme (IGGP) of UNESCO, the karst commission of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), and the International Geographical Union (IGU);
(c)provide advisory activities, technical information and training, and raise social awareness on karst dynamic systems applications for integrated control of rocky desertification rehabilitation, ecological restoration and biodiversity, and global climate change, including society at large, NGOs and governmental institutions at central and regional levels;
(d) develop a network of demonstration sites for the implementation of karst dynamic systems theory to improve epikarst and subterranean water resources utilization, control rocky desertification rehabilitation, protect biodiversity to improve its capacity to adapt to climate change, study the karst process and carbon cycle, and examine the paleo-climate record with stalagmites, so as to provide services for karst areas’ sustainable development;
(e) promote monitoring, modeling and mapping systems on karst dynamic systems, gradually put into place a monitoring network and conduct comparative studies among different countries and regions.
The functions of IRCK shall be to:
(a) conduct technical, scientific and theoretical research on modern karst science; coordinate and organize international/interregional cooperative projects and provide guidance on experimental equipment and provide field experimental sites when necessary;
(b) revise and update the website of IRCK, and build a platform to facilitate the exchange of scientific and policy information at the international level; undertake science popularization and dissemination, actively organize and participate in international workshops, symposia and conferences related to karst science;
(c) cooperate with IGGP, IHP， MAB, government agencies, NGOs and decision-makers, in order to put the results of scientific research into practice;
(d)organize international training courses on karst science for postgraduate students, researchers, technicians and relevant managers, provide up-to-date progress, technologies and policies related to karst dynamic systems, arrange field visits, and promote in-depth exchange among participants;
(e) gradually develop guidelines and criteria on the investigation and research on karst dynamic systems, conduct comparative study, advance ecological education, rocky desertification rehabilitation, and biodiversity protection, address global climate change and sustainable development to raise public awareness.
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