The “EuroSpeleo Protection Label” is a European speleological award managed by the ECPC and financed by the FSE. The EuroSpeleo Protection Label will help to promote amongst the speleological clubs of Europe, cave and karst protection activities that are designed in an integrated ecological way, taking into account besides FSE charta and rules also EU environmental directives, the principles of administration of the Natura 2000 sites and the IUCN Guidelines on caves and karst protection.

With what kind of project can you apply?

The EuroSpeleo Protection Label will be awarded every year to one unique cave and/or karst protection project. A European speleological jury established by the ECPC Board will make the selection. Any project aiming at protecting caves and/or karst developed by a club, a local committee or a national commission from a member country of the FSE can apply. 

Watch out this space for the callout of the ESPL which will be each year in January.


o Current guidelines: Please find the ESPL 2023 Guidelines in English and in French

o ESPL 2023 Application Form: Please find the application form in English only.


o Previous ESPL awarded Projects (click on the Project title for the report)

2022; Microplastic pollution in karstic and cave aquifers MPKCA; TETIDE APS, Associazione di Promozione Sociale; IT

2021; CaveLife App; German Speleological Federation; DE

2020; Phreatic Project Sardinia; Phreatic A.S.D.; IT

2019; Center of excellence – Cerovačke cave – sustainable management of natural heritage and karst underground; Nature park Velebit – Zagreb Speleological Union; HR

2018; Cleaning up the darkness – Puliamo il Buio (PiB); Italian Speleological Society (SSI) IT


o Prize Take-over Pictures

Ernest Geyer
ESPL 2018 @Ernest Geyer
©unknown
ESPL 2019 ©unknown
ESPL 2020 ©Ernest Geyer
Csaba Egri
ESPL 2021 ©Csaba Egri
ESPL 2022 ©Ernest Geyer

The European Cave Protection Commission would like to thank the FSE sponsors for their kind donation for the ESPL each year.