ISSN 2184-8793 ISSNe 2975-9056 Bibliographique Speleologique) – Speleological Abstracts, which is a publication of the UIS (Union Internationale de Spéléologie) in which the international speleological bibliography is gathered. The record appears to start in 1983 and stop in 2005. The relevant links are no longer available. e) The internet research of caves through google led to the finding of very few websites of caves. Specifically, out of 30 caves (https://www.allovergreece.com/Caves/el) only 9 had their own website, while for others the information available was on websites of hotel units, local authorities or tourist offices. Also, there was a lack of information on the caves’ management bodies, on information regarding ticket prices, opening hours etc. 4. The institutional framework Greece, due to its special geological terrain, presents a wide variety of karst formations. There are more than 10,000 registered caves, which are located basically in the country’s main mountainous area, especially in areas with limestone and carbonate rocks, which play a regulatory role in hydrogeological basins. Most of these areas have been placed under the Natura 2000 protection status and the status of Special Protection Areas (Hellenic Speleological Society, 2010). The institutional framework concerning the protection, promotion, management and exploitation of caves in Greece appears to be labyrinthine and obscure. The database research showed that diverse stakeholders, both public and private, are involved in the sector. Furthermore, they vary in type, including for example the central government (Ministries/Ephorates), local self-government (Municipalities etc.) or limited liability companies (Public Properties Company). For example, the Alistrati Cave in the prefecture of Serres is a Municipal and Regional company with the main shareholders being the Municipality of N. Zichni which owns 80% of the shares and the Region of Central Macedonia which owns the remaining 20% of the shares. 4.1. The role of Central Government The Greek Constitution 1975/1986/2001/2008 includes provisions for the protection of underground resources, which include caves (Μυλωνόπουλος, 2001). Article 18 par 1 states: "Specific laws shall determine the ownership and management of mines, caves, archaeological sites and treasures, as well as thermal, running and underground waters and underground resources in general." However, to date, this specific law (provided for by the Constitution) to determine the ownership status of caves has not been issued. The first provision concerning caves was the Article 46 of Presidential Decree 941/77 on the organizational chart of the Ministry of Culture, according to which the Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology-Speleology is the competent authority for the excavation, study and protection of caves that present interest from a natural, archaeological, historical, paleontological and paleoanthropological perspective.
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