geo LOGIC A complex environment Karst environments are renowned or their diverse array o rare and interesting eatures, the most notable being caves, which on a global scale attract millions o visitors each year . What is oten overlooked or misunderstood however, is the important and oten pivotal relationship between karst environments and biological lie, including human lie. We depend on karst The vast majority o the world’ s population is dependant on ood derived rom agricultural activities. Karst environments can contain unusual soils that are particu larly suited or growing olives and grapes. Caves, in par ticular, oer excellent conditions or a number o agriculturally-based activities such as aquaculture, mushroom growing and cheese production. It is estimated that a quarter o the world’ s population gains its water rom k arst environments, either rom discrete springs or groundwate r aquiers. This relationship has inuenced the settlement patterns o many cultural groups and led to the habitation o otherwise i nhospitable areas. In more recent times, irrigation ventures, hydro-electric schemes and fsheries have relied on water derived rom karst environme nts. In addition to their use in agriculture and as a source o water, karst environments provide places or human recreation and welare. In certain parts o the world, including Australia, caves are used as places or shelter, reuge and as sanatoria or those with respiratory and other illnesses, particularly where hot springs are present. Karst environments are also used as sources or limestone which is used or agricultural, building and other purposes. So do our fora and auna Karst environments provide habitat or rare and threatened plant and animal species and communities both on and below the Ear th’ s surace. It is or this reason they are critical to biodiversity conservation. In NSW, karst environments contain soils and bedrock which support a number o ora species including: tree species such as • Brachychiton populneus, Eucalyptus bicostata and Eucalyptus viminalis small tree and shrub species such as • Bursaria spinosa, Hymenanthera dentata and Notelaea neglecta ground cover species such as • Adiantum aethiopicum, Asperula conferta , Austrodanthonia racemosa and Carex inverse vines and climbers such as • Clematis glycinoides and Glycine clandestine . 4 K arst en vironm en ts: m ore than ca ves and pretty r oc k s Li f e , including human li fe, can o f ten depend on the r e s our ces pro vided b y k ars t en vironments f or sur v i v al . Powerful owl. Karst and Geodiversity Unit. DECC Blue lake, Jenolan. ©R.Commins
