General Expected Results from the Project

• A better understanding of the hydrological and geochemical behaviors of a wide range of karst dynamic systems in the context of karst aquifer evolution, the carbon cycle, the hydrologic cycle and element migration as bases for more reasonable and sustainable land use in karst areas.
• A better understanding of particular water supply and other environmental problems associated with human interaction with karst landscapes and aquifers, and using and sharing this information to synthesize new and cost effective solutions.
• A better understanding of the relationships between water movement and behavior in karst systems and its relationship to ecological behaviors and health.
• Widespread dissemination of the information obtained in the Project.

Specific Annual Goals are outlined below:

Year One, 2005. 1) Design and implementation of basic Project website and listserve, 2) communication to and addition of Project participants, 3) beginning of associated research efforts, 4) Project planning workshop and field excursions at IUS International Congress of Speleology, Athens, Greece, August.

Year Two, 2006. 1) Continued Project research, 2) Communication among participants via website and listserv, as well as conferences in Malaga Spain, Neuchatel Switzerland, and Pennsylvania, USA, 3) Organization and writing of first manuscripts, 4) publication of Vietnam special issue of Journal of Cave and Karst Studies.

Year Three, 2007. 1) Continued Project research, 2) Communication among participants via website and listserv, as well as joint international Karst Commission Conference of IGCP, IAH, IGU, and IUS in Kentucky, USA, with field excursion to Cumberland Plateau escarpment, 3) Mid-project reports, submission and editing of peer-reviewed journal manuscripts.

Year Four, 2008. 1) Continued Project research, 2) Communication among participants via website and listserv, as well as conferences/workshops and field excursions, potentially in England, China, and/or Serbia and Montenegro, 3) Planning for scope and outline of Project final report, 4) submission and editing of peer-reviewed journal manuscripts.

Year Five, 2009. 1) Continued Project research, 2) Communication among participants via website and listserv, as well as the Final Project conference/workshop and field excursions associated with the 15th International Congress of Speleology, 3) editing and submission of peer-review journal manuscripts, 4) final Project report.

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