To
achieve its objectives, the society is organized into sectors,
including those for Underwater
Speleology (cave diving), the History of Speleology,
Environmental Education, and Photography, as well as the
Department for the Protection of the Speleological Heritage.
It also participates in the national commissions for the
Measurement of Caves, Vertical Techniques, and Cave Rescue.
The
SBE organizes the National Register of the Caves of Brazil
(CNC), with more than 5,000 cavities already registered, and
maintains the Guy-Christian Collet library, containing books and periodicals, as well as videos
and maps of caves.
It
is responsible for three publications: the InformAtivo
SBE, which prints
material and news of interest to the speleological community,
the Espeleo-Tema, which prints scientific articles, and the electronic
bulletin SBE Noticias,
aimed at the lay public and beginning cavers, which provides
news related to speleology and the environment.
In
addition to these services, the SBE is also responsible for the
following:
-Realization
of the Brazilian Congresses of Speleology and other meetings and
events in the area; the most recent of these have been the 13th
International Congress of Speleology (Speleo-Brazil 2001) held
in Brasilia DF,
with the presence of 500 participants from 43 countries, the 28th
Brazilian Congress of Speleology in 2005, held in Campinas, SP,
with more than 200 participants from Brazil and various foreign
countries, and the 29th Brazilian Congress of
Speleology, held in the Federal University of Ouro Preto in
2007.
-Collaboration
with environmental organs in the monitoring and protection of
the Brazilian speleological heritage, especially with the
Secretaries of the Environment of the various states and the
National Ministry of the Environment (IBAMA/CECAV).
-Collaboration
with the Brazilian National Council for Research (CNPq) and
other governmental organs in the evaluation of foreign
speleological expeditions in Brazil (norms available
at the following link: http://www.cavernas.org.br/informacoes_visitacao_e.asp
At
present the Society consists of more than 1,700 speleologists
and 120 associated groups in 22 of the Brazilian states, the
Federal District, and 5 foreign countries.
The
SBE provides representatives in the Brazilian Commission on
Geological and Paleobiological Sites (SIGEP)
of UNESCO, the Specialized Council for Cave Diving (CEMEC) of
IBAMA, the Consultative Council of the State Touristic Park of
the Upper Ribeira (PETAR), the Consultative Council of the State
Park of Jacupiranga (PEJ), and the Consultative Council of the
National Park of the Caves of Peruaçu (PARNA).
Internationally,
the SBE maintains a formal agreement with the Portuguese
Federation of Speleology (FPE) and the Spanish Federation of
Speleology (FEE) for the periodic provision of courses for
Brazilian speleologists offered by international instructors.
Moreover, it maintains direct contact with speleological
organizations in some twenty other countries.
Via the SBE, Brazil is a full and active member of the
International Speleological Union (UIS) and one of the founding
members of the Speleological Federation of Latin America and the
Caribbean (FEALC).
Brazilian Society
of Speleology
Address:
Po.
Box 7031- Parque Taquaral
Zip
Code:
13076-970 - Campinas - SP - Brasil
Phone/Fax:
+ 55 19 3296-5421
www.cavernas.org.br
- secretaria@cavernas.org.br
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