"The
one process now going on that will take millions of years to correct is
the loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural
habitats.
This
is the folly our descendants are least likely to forgive us." (E. O. Wilson)
.
The "PROTEUS PROJECT"
- 2000-2031
"Successfully
Researching and Protecting the Karst Conduit-aquifer Ecosystems
and the Rare,
Endemic and Highly Endangered Hypogean Species of Eastern Hercegovina since
the year 2000."
(in
three 10-year Phases)
"Oh
Hello!..We
cannot see you but we know you are there. We need your help because our
very existence is being threatened by humans."
Interview
with and image of this Hercegovinian Proteus, (who is a regular member
of our "hypogean team"),
was
recorded by Gergely Balázs,
(Hungarian Cave Diving & Technical Support Team),
September 2008 !!
As
a result of the present world financial crisis, we have witnessed the sudden
collapse of recent sponsorship arrangements to support Grant-Aid Applications
for this Project
and
the on-going situation is preventing us from successfully locating alternative
substantial donors.
We
are, therefore, urgently seeking donors to support the purchase or acquisition
of a wide range of scientific and technical equipment to assure the ongoing
successful operational
strategy
of the "Proteus Project" into the coming years through the current Phase
2., covering the cross-over time period 2011- 2020.
The
Society is seeking either to raise the necessary funds to purchase the
required equipment or to acquire the equipment as donations directly via
the donors.
The
"Proteus Project" in Eastern Hercegovina is already a successful Joint-International
multi-disciplinary scientific operation between :-
the
Project's designated Local Co-ordinator Group in Eastern Hercegovina,
Speleološko
društvo "Zelena Brda", based in Trebinje;
the
Project's UK Co-ordinator Group, The Devon Karst Research
Society, based in Plymouth, UK.
and
the "Proteus Project's" Hungarian Cave Diving & Technical Support Team,
"Caudata
Hungarian Cave Research" who are based in Budapest, Hungary.
Since
2000, these organizations have been working together developing a successful
operational strategy to prevent the extinction of many rare, endemic, cave
species by thoroughly researching
and
identifying the hypogean habitat problems across Eastern Hercegovina and
embarking upon pilot or trial habitat-restoration and conservation sub-Projects.
The
field work also involves the compilation of qualitative and quantitative
audits and inventories of the various hypogean species and is also responsible
for initiating new and ingenious methods for
studying
and recording the hypogean species in their natural habitats, together
with the characterization of the hypogean habitats.
The
list of rare, endangered endemic hypogean species is headed by the unique
cave salamander Proteus anguinus anguinus (Laur. 1768),
followed
by :- Congeria kuščeri (Bole); Troglocaris
(Speleocaris) pretneri (Matjašič 1956); Marifugia cavatica
(Absolon & Hrabě 1930); Troglocaris hercegovinensis
(Babić 1922);
Troglocaris
anophthalmus anophthalmus (Kollar 1884); Monolistra hercegoviniensis
(Absolon 1916); Niphargus hercegovinensis (S. Karaman 1950)
..... and many others ...
All
the threats to the survival of these already rare and endangered species
are caused by threats to their natural cave habitats or to the surrounding
karst environment.
As
usual, these problems all originate from human activities.
Unlike
the conservation work supported or proposed to be undertaken by many other
Organizations or Institutions, the Partnership described above comprises
Voluntary-sector NGO's whose
Members
are the Project Workers or Research Assistants and who are not paid
wages or salaries to undertake the necessary work. All administrative costs
are absorbed by the internal funds of
the
Project's UK Co-ordinator Group. Such costs include, for
example, the production of all sub-Project Level Reports, but not travel
and accommodation expenses.
The
Research
Assistants on this Project are the extraordinary speleologists
and karstologists who provide a range of expertise, skills and resourcefulness
to enable a range of technical investigations to proceed
which
are relevant to the objectives of specific sub-Projects. Such technical
investigations often involve karst hydrological work (incl. hydro-physico-chemical
and biological sampling & analysis and underground
water
tracing); karst hydrogeological interpretation; the application of
physical speleology in the exploration of previously unrecorded or unknown
cave systems (incl. deployment of speleological techniques such
as
cave surveying, cave-diving, above- and under-water photography & macro-photography
& videography), speleo-biological investigations;
We
are expanding the diversity of our investigative operations through an
ever-increasing level of co-operation with Institutions of research and
educational excellence external to the Project.
Details
of the "Proteus Project"
can be found on the Society's Website using the following Link :-
Proteus
Project
The
scientific and technical equipment we already possess to undertake this
multi-disciplinary programme, does not last forever and periodically requires
replacing or upgrading.
Thus
we require equipment of specific manufactured types and models, suitable
for operation within the rigours of the karst environment, both above and
below ground !!
Our Appeal for help and assistance can be met by donations of either money or preferably by donations of the required equipment.
We
therefore appeal for contributions or donations from ....
interested
individuals, whether speleologists, general
karstologists, biologists, ecologists, environmentalists, zoologists, (who
may also wish to become actively associated with this Project, either indirectly
or directly)
-
and -
in
return for free advertising & promotion of their commercial services
/ products, we appeal for contributions or donations from relevant commercial
organizations such
as equipment manufacturers or
suppliers,
so
why not exhibit your Company's products and services into a developing
and growing economy?
-
and -
we
appeal for contributions or donations from educational
and
scientific institutions and others, who
would like to become associated with this prestigious Project,
in
return for a unique opportunity offering direct or indirect, long-term
or short-term involvement in a very successful multi-disciplinary karst
environmental conservation and protection project.
Details
of all unconditional or conditional offers of either materials assistance
or funding assistance should be sent either by post or by
e-mail to :-
Contact
Postal address :-
The
Devon Karst Research Society, (PP-Appeal), Office & Library, 46, Morley
Court, Western Approach, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 1SJ., England, U.K.
Contact
e-mail address :-
karstcentral@netscape.net
All
offers will be met by an e-mail and postal response from the Society.
Materials
/ Equipment Donations are preferable to Money Donations, insofar as
the Donor may be eligible for tax relief on the value of the Equipment
Donation
and
the Society would not have to pay VAT on the equivalent retail purchase.
If
money is to be sent, Cheques, UK Postal Orders; International Money Orders
etc. should also be sent to the above address and made payable to "The
Devon Karst Research Society"
All
such donations must be in GB £Sterling; Euros or US$. (NB. cash should
not be sent in the post)
Additionally,
cash donations / contributions can be safely and accountably sent using
the Western Union Cash Transfer Service.
In
this case, we would need to be sent immediate details in an e-mail message
of the necessary MTCN No...given
on the "To Send Money" form.
Unless
annonymity is specifically requested, details of contributors and / or
their contributions will be posted in an associated Web-page.
Again,
unless annonymity is specifically requested, details of contributors and
/ or their contributions will also be made public via the international
Press, Television and Radio
during
the annual Public Presentation of the Project in Europe, in the popular.."Stevo
Čučković Memorial Lecture" series,
held in Trebinje and also in related events in the UK.
We
are prepared to discuss details of requests for appropriate direct involvement
in the Project, if required.
So, we invite
to help us make a change for the better in this world to protect planetary
bio-diversity and support or become part of an
actual and accountable.environmental
research and conservation project in the Classical Dinaric Karst of Bosnia
& Hercegovina !!
Why should you
help?
No-one else but
those in this International Partnership is doing anything at all to protect
these highly endangered species and their habitats in Bosnia & Hercegovina.
We have 10 years
experience of successfully working with this situation and with suitable
re-equipping and financing, are in a well-placed position to achieve the
objectives.
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