The International competition “KARST UNDER PROTECTION – GIFT FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION” is a Bulgarian initiative, held since 2005. In 2012 it received support from UNESCO.

Traditionally the competition is held in the framework of international scientific forums about protected karst territories (2005, 2012, 2015, 2019) and it is included into their schedules. The competition results are published in various specialized editions, on forum research Internet sites, as well as the specialized site of the International scientific network ProKARSTerra.

The competition is a part of the Pilot Educational Strategy ProKARSTerra-Edu and aims at motivation of participants from different age groups, mainly young people (pupils and University students) to develop serious interest in the natural phenomenon of karst and its unique diversity. Knowledge about karst and problems of karst territories refracted through the soul and emotions of the participants and communicated through modern art tools and techniques suggest not only original works, but also continued interest in karst and all its aspects. It will help karst to take its rightful place in the modern educational strategy of “Lifelong Learning”.

The competition, which is getting more popular, becomes a creative laboratory for exchange of knowledge, skills and ideas. It is a part of the Bulgarian initiative (2013) to declare an INTERNATIONAL YEAR of KARST. When the International Union of Speleology (UIS) announced the International Year of Caves and Karst (IYCK) in 2021, the fifth edition of the competition was included in its program.

We see a lot of preparation and genuine enthusiasm for the development of the competition works. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all participants. We remain with the hope that they will keep their interest in karst and its secrets. And what could be better if after a time they become our colleagues in Karstology…

Peter Stefanov
Competition initiator and chief organizer