The reasons for the creation of the association

According to scientific experts, the underground is the last continent that remains unknown to us. Although today more than 25,000 km of subsoil (twice the equatorial earth diameter) is known worldwide, estimates indicate that 70-80% is unknown to us. Most caves appear in the karstic areas of the Urgonian era and karst covers 15/20% of the world's land surface. These karstic areas are formed in soluble rocks, which create unique landscapes with characteristic surface and underground shapes (caves, lapiaz, regattas that disappear...).

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The millions of years of water work have caused the karst cavities to acquire the Gruyère cheese structure. The rainwater penetrates the subsoil and after crossing underground roads of unknown kilometers by the mountain's rías, it is found with permeable clays that emerge in the springs. Thus, in lands dominated by the karstic structure, groundwater and lakes constitute genuine reserves of water. By filtering this water inside the soil, thanks to the vegetation and the work of the rock that crosses it, it comes out clean and mineralized in the springs, and has always been highly appreciated between neighbors and neighbors. If that were not enough, the long periods of drought that we are experiencing as a result of climate change are causing greater autonomy and esteem. In this sense, unlike reservoirs, groundwater does not suffer from evaporation, so they have become a strategic resource for dealing with water shortages in the near future.

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Karstic aquifers are strategic resources in many regions of the world. In the Basque Country, these areas cover significant areas of the territory and connect with aquifers with significant potential in terms of resource extraction, as well as the karstic aquifer of Albiztur, the base of the Sanitarian spring.

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However, this underground world is very vulnerable to pollution. The rainwater that enters the aquifer on the surface runs from the caves into the interior. This risk increases if karstic depressions are used to deposit all types of waste, such as Txorrote or Leizeaundia.

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In Tolosaldea there are several karstic aquifers (Albiztur, Elduaien, Gatzume, Ernio, Aralar...). Over the years, and today, much of the population has been supplied with drinking water. Furthermore, we cannot forget the importance of archaeology as a cultural and historical heritage in the karstic areas. However, it is difficult to care for and protect the unknown.

The use of groundwater in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, in the form of supplies, industrial and irrigation water, is more important than expected. There are currently many municipalities that get water from groundwater and there are several projects underway to improve supply using underground resources such as Tolosaldea. This situation shows that the protection of groundwater should be a priority objective.

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The protection of groundwater is and will in future be one of the most important challenges facing our society. In this regard, the use of the territory as a repository of all types of waste has caused significant groundwater pollution in many areas. This situation could worsen in the future if appropriate action is not taken.

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In particular, from a hydrogeological point of view, the most dangerous pollutants are those that bind to natural water flows, which can be harmful to living beings. Therefore, beyond the problems of the quantity of water supply, the water quality itself has enough weight to pay the attention it deserves, as it is a vital resource and lacks substitutes.

 

Due to the accumulation of garbage in caves and simas over decades and the contamination of purines by livestock activity, these clean and mineralized waters are in danger. Due to the intrinsic characteristics of the subsoil, the constant temperatures, the humidity near the point of saturation, the inaction of the sun's rays... this pollution/garbage hardly gets rid of and can last for centuries causing damage.

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Over decades, caves and earthquakes have accumulated. As if this were not enough, I believe that its influence on the underground fauna is also remarkable and if very few studies have been carried out. The wildlife data cited below have been obtained by lowering to a maximum depth of -100 m, but the actual existing is much wider. Thus, if the investigations extend to -300 m, according to the doctor and expert in bioespeleology Enrique Beruete, the data can multiply. In this sense, the documents published by the bioespeleology doctor Carlos Galan of the Society of Sciences Aranzadi collect 400 different species that use caves in Gipuzkoa. 116 of them are Troglobs from 34 different families. That is to say, the faunal diversity shown by Gipuzkoa is enormous. Gipuzkoa has a faunistic diversity of 2,000 square kilometers, a thousand times greater than the world average. Thus, Gipuzkoa is among the 5 most fun points or areas in the world. From a biogeographic and evolutionary point of view, some Gipuzkoa troglobe species are paleoendemic. The percentage of endemism in and around the counties of Gipuzkoa is 81% and 48 species are exclusive to Gipuzkoa.

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The troglobes we know in Gipuzkoa are almost exclusively arthropods: collemboli, amphipods, arachnids... The main problem with this fauna is the shortage of food as a consequence of living in a mineral biotope. So in order to get food, they depend on the organic matter entering the outside. In this sense, it seems a sensible hypothesis, that the negative impact that garbage and pollution can have on them can be enormous. In other words, this spectacular biodiversity and species of sheep still unknown to science can be endangered. However, it is essential to open new lines of research. From the point of view of our species and at the time of modern biotechnology, the genes of these animals that have survived for millions of years can be an invaluable treasure for medicine.

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In short, the cleaning and recovery of caves and simas is intended to prevent the contamination of groundwater and preserve or maintain the faunal diversity of caves, so that present and future generations continue to enjoy these natural resources. In short, the cleaning and recovery of caves and simas is intended to prevent the contamination of groundwater and preserve or maintain the faunal diversity of caves, so that present and future generations continue to enjoy these natural resources. In these times when archeology is the door of our past and water is on everyone’s lips, we believe it is time to take action on karst and start taking the necessary steps. It is not a question of finding guilty, but of analysing the situation, identify needs and establish a work plan with clear objectives, always with the main objective of protecting the subsoil. The work area and the bank test for the first phase of the general project will be fixed in the caves and simas of Tolosaldea, obtaining the necessary experience and setting the protocols. Thus, the objective of the project is to extend the framework of action to the whole of Gipuzkoa as the objectives are achieved.