International Journal of Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Law Laboratory, the creation of a Bank of Rocks, the research paleontological sites, as well as the study of paleontological findings, caves and open sites. The department is also responsible for the mapping and topographical survey of caves and paleontological sites, for geotechnical studies, fixings, formation and exploitation of the caves and their surrounding area. 3) Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, responsible (among other) for the conservation of caves as well as the antiquities found inside of them. In summary, according to the archaeological law, the competent authority for the caves which are, according to evidence, linked with human existence is the Ministry of Culture and Sports. The rest of the caves, since there is no specific provision, fall under the provisions on the protection of the environment and in particular the provisions of Law 1650/1986 for the protection of the environment. According to Article 2 par 1 the environment is defined as "the sum of natural and anthropogenic factors and elements that are interacting and affecting the ecological balance, quality of life, residents’ health, as well as the historical and cultural traditions and aesthetic values. According to Article 2 par 5 of the above-mentioned law “all actions, measures and projects aiming at the prevention of the environmental degradation or restoration, maintenance or improvement” are considered as environmental protection. Furthermore, according to Article 19, par 4 (as amended by article 5, par 5b) of Law 3937/2011 on the conservation of biodiversity (Gov. Gazette A’60), which includes the criteria and principles of environmental protection, caves are included in the protected natural formations. The article stipulates that caves are included in the protected natural formations: "b) As protected natural formations are considered the components of nature or its individual creations, that have particular scientific, ecological, geological, geomorphological, or aesthetic value or contribute to the preservation of natural processes and the protection of natural resources such as trees, stands of trees and bushes, water, protective vegetation, riparian and coastal vegetation, natural fences, waterfalls, springs, canyons, dunes, reefs, caves, rocks, petrified forests, trees or portions thereof, paleontological findings, coral, geomorphological formations, geotopes (geotopes are considered by law, geologicalgeomorphological structures that are natural formations and represent important moments in the geological history of the earth, are important witnesses of its long evolution or demonstrate modern natural, geological processes that continue to evolve on the surface) and priority habitats of Community interest. The same article stipulates that the protected natural formations that have monumental character are specifically characterized as “Protected natural monuments”. The inclusion of caves in the protected natural formations is based on the categorization of Article 18, par 2 and 3 of Law 1650/1986 and indicates the intention of the legislation body to provide protection for natural formations (which include caves). Article 21 of Law 1650/1986 (and later article 6, Law 3937/2011, Gov. Gazette Α’60) provides for the procedure for the characterization of areas,
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