| Springfield Plateau Grotto of the NSS | |||
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Springfield Plateau Grotto of the NSS (SPG) is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of southwest Missourians who share a common interest in the conservation, survey and management of caves. SPG is a member grotto of the National Speleological Society (NSS) - grotto number 000455. Ours is a project-oriented grotto that works in tandem with public agencies and private landowners in better understanding caves and fostering a growing awareness of the importance of conserving the cave environment. SPG is working in cooperation with the Missouri Speleological Survey to document, map and study caves. |
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| SPG is helping to conserve caves by educating landowners and members of the general public about cave resources, how important karst resources are to the quality of life for both people and ecosystems, and how those resources should be conserved and protected for future generations. SPG also conserves caves by performing restoration work on vandalized caves and teaching members of the caving community how to restore damaged caves. |
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| Several members of SPG are involved in the mapping of caves. Mapping caves and their features enables us to better understand the caves and how they relate to the landscape, and provides a framework for those who study the biology, hydrology and geology of caves. Because cave features are protected from the harsh natural environment outside of the caves, they can provide “windows to the past” whereby they can be studied to learn climatic and environmental conditions of the past. |
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| Members of SPG also assist some landowners in the management of their caves by helping to look after them, monitor them and advising landowners on the proper care of their caves. Cave gates are sometimes utilized in assisting landowners in the management of caves by keeping out those who trespass or vandalize caves. |
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