Projects
CURRENT PROJECTS
Movile Cave, Mangalia, Romania
Research has been ongoing in Movile Cave since its discovery in 1986. Today, researchers continue to discover new species unique to this ecosystem. The cave is only accessible through an 18 m deep shaft, which is protected from the outside atmosphere by a sealed gate. This has ensured that the underground environment has remained undisturbed since its discovery. For complete information about Movile, click here.
Sulfur Cave, Covasna, Romania
Knowledge of the properties of the sulfurous environment and the structure of the bacterial community in the Covasna Sulfur Cave could contribute to a better understanding of potential life forms in similar extreme environments on Mars or other extraterrestrial locations. With a total area of ​​5,993 ha and an average altitude of 914 m, the Ciomadul-Bálványos Site of Community Importance (SCI) (ROSCI0037) is now part of the EU network of protected natural areas Natura 2000.
Underground Research Lab,
Mangalia, Romania
Building an Underground Research Laboratory in an old hand-dug sulfuric well in Mangalia would allow: experimental work in conditions as close as possible to Movile Cave; continuous monitoring and data collection; video monitoring of fauna for behavioral studies; real-time access to data collected via the internet; etc. Furthermore, the opportunity to carry out such work in a well will reduce the number and duration of scientific expeditions to Movile Cave and will lead to better protection of this fragile underground ecosystem.
Sulfur wells, springs, creeks
and lakes, Dobrogea, Romania
In an effort to improve our knowledge of the unique ecosystems that exist in sulfur-rich waters, GESS researchers, along with scientists from partner organizations and universities, regularly conduct sample and data collection trips, particularly during the warmer months of the year. These trips frequently lead to new discoveries and often yield surprising results.
Mellisotrypa Cave, Thessaly, Greece
Melissotrypa Cave is located in northern Greece, near Elassona. It is a large cave, of hypogean origin, containing three lakes, one of which has sulphurous water. The cave is inhabited by rich and diverse communities of cave invertebrates. The terrestrial fauna appears to rely mainly on allochthonous food of photosynthetic origin, which falls into the large entrance shaft or is brought by bats in the form of guano. Our preliminary investigations suggest that the aquatic communities rely on food produced in situ by chemoautotrophic sulphur-oxidizing bacteria.
Sulfur Caves, Albania
Several sulfidic caves have recently been discovered and explored in Albania and northwestern Greece. Thermo-mineral sulfidic water emerges from springs in the Vromoner and in the Pixaria canyons, which were carved by the Sarandaporo River in limestone outcrops near the border between Greece and Albania. The largest spring is located in the deep recesses of Sulfur Cave, which straddles the border between the two countries in the Vromoner Canyon.
PAST PROJECTS
Izverna Cave
Mehedinti, Romania
In 2004, Izverna Cave in Mehedinți County was declared a nature reserve as a result of the efforts of GESS. GESS became the custodian of Izverna Cave, Movile Cave, Hergheliai Marsh and Limanu Cave. GESS also became a member of the Natura 2000 Ecological Coalition.
Movile Cave,
Mangalia, Romania
1994 - 1995 Movile Cave is declared a protected area and is included in the list of Natural Monuments of the Romanian Academy, as a direct result of the GESS efforts.
Bat Protection
Southern Carpathians, Romania
2001-2004 A LIFE/Natura 2000 project for bats and the protection of their habitat, carried out by GESS in alliance with Green Cross Romania, the "Emil Racovița" Speleological Institute and the "Grigore Antipa" Natural History Museum.
Cerberus
1994 - 1995 GESS and the "Piatra Altarului" Society initiate procedures for declaring valuable karst sites as new protected areas and establishing guidelines for their conservation for future generations.
A Lifebuoy for
the Black Sea
2003 A project to protect the Black Sea area and the Romanian coastline. The aim of the project was to raise public awareness of the problems affecting the Black Sea and the Romanian coastline by organizing seminars and producing a two-part documentary film.
The Bright Face
of Romania
1993 - 2002 GESS, in collaboration with the Shell Corporation, initiated a campaign to restore interest in the beauty of local nature among Romanians, by organizing a series of photographic exhibitions and slide shows.