Springs are important to the humanity because they provide potable water to many locations in the world, thus ensuring health, sanitary conditions, food production and economic development. Karst and mineral water springs are particularly important, but springs emerging from karst aquifers are by far the largest-some are even discharging entire underground rivers-whose flow sometimes exceeds 100 m(3)/s. Having caused the establishment of permanent settlements and nearby cities, especially in the Roman times, many springs are also historically important. Although some of the best-known karst springs are actively used and very well protected from pollution, many others around the world have been contaminated, devastated by over-pumping or impounded by reservoirs. Taking advantage of the opportunity provided by the 50th anniversary of the IAH Karst Commission (KC) and the involvement of UNESCO in our karst research, this initiative (project MIKAS) aims to bring together both the KC members and many national experts to work, on a voluntary basis, to: 1. develop criteria for the selection of most important karst springs, which inter alia should include historic, aesthetic and scientific values; 2. establish the list of springs; 3. create the Code of Practice for these springs' utilisation and protection; and 4. promote these springs by their in situ labelling and Internet publicising. The idea to identify and protect selected springs does not imply prevention of their further use. To the contrary, this initiative intends to highlight their importance, defend them against possible devastation and ensure that any further intervention considers their protective status.
