Acintyacunyata Speleological Club (ASC) participated in The 5th Trans Disciplinary Karst Conference, held on the 5th floor of the Graduate School Building at Gadjah Mada University. ASC is an organization actively involved in raising awareness about the preservation of caves and their ecosystems, as well as supporting conservation efforts. With an office in Yogyakarta, ASC has conducted more than 30 explorations and expeditions to caves across Indonesia. This reflects ASC’s commitment to preserving natural resources in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in ecosystem protection and climate change mitigation. In addition to cave exploration, ASC members also contribute to conservation and rescue efforts.
Seven photos of cave ornaments were exhibited to participants and speakers during the Karst Conference from August 12th -14th, 2024. These seven photos were the work of Ahmad Saroni, a member of ASC. The photos displayed various cave ornaments captured during his expeditions, including karst formations in Sewu Mountain, the fault line in Selapan Cave, the condition of underground rivers, waterfalls inside caves, and moments from a cave expedition in Slovakia.
In An interview on Tuesday, August 13th, 2024, Ahmad Saroni expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the Karst Conference. “This Karst Conference is truly extraordinary. I am personally very pleased to have the opportunity to meet and listen to presentations from speleology experts from around the world. It’s a great opportunity for us at ASC to promote and showcase our existence. We have eagerly anticipated this conference as a platform to promote and present our work,” said Ahmad.
Ahmad’s enthusiasm was shared by the participants and speakers at the Karst Conference, who were seen visiting the exhibition to view the photos on display. One participant even expressed interest in purchasing Ahmad’s photos. Ahmad added that although his intention was not to sell his work, he would be open to doing so if anyone was interested.
“The most memorable presentation for me was by Andy Eavis, a speleology expert who conducted research on the condition of Sewu Mountain. I paid close attention to his report and findings. I hope that conferences like this can become an eagerly awaited annual event for all of us in the speleology community,” Ahmad concluded.
Keywords: climate change, ecosystem protection, conservation, preservation, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water, SDG 15: Life on Land
Author: Asti Rahmaningrum