Cave Protection
Clay, rocks, water, karst, abysses - millions of years old - fascinating habitats hidden deep beneath the earth. Humanity has long been captivated by the underground world.
One of the main pillars of VHM is cave protection. Since the association was founded in 1954, VHM has focused on protecting the sensitive habitat and geotope of caves, at a time when the term "environmental protection" was still largely unknown. As cave explorers, we have made both the exploration and the protection of underground habitats and natural monuments our mission. Undiscovered caves, untouched and unexplored, are naturally the best protected. Even so, curiosity and the urge to explore continue to draw us underground. VHM tries to deal responsibly with this tension.
As cave explorers, we are in contact with regional associations, official institutions such as conservation authorities, and cave explorers from other associations, and we work closely with them.
Since 2020, VHM has taken part in the European "Clean Up the Dark" initiative. Our cave explorers invest considerable effort to remove rubbish from caves that does not belong there. This is documented photographically, communicated with landowners and local municipalities, and archived in our cave register.
The aim is to convey the fascination, fragile beauty, and aesthetics of caves, speleothems, and calcite formations, as well as respect for a delicate ecosystem full of protected and endangered living creatures.
You should enjoy nature, leave behind only beautiful thoughts, and take away nothing more than lasting impressions.
If we can awaken even a small amount of interest in each individual, a great deal has already been achieved in the spirit of cave protection. The Cave Protection section of VHM e.V. can be reached by e-mail at .
