Application for Grant Aid

Submitted on: 31 Aug 2008


Expedition details (GPF2008b-003)

Expedition Name (& Club): Bijie 2008
Destination country: China
Region: Bijie
Lat: 27.2969 Long: 105.3064 Elevation: m
MEF funding: none

Leader: Ged Campion
Total cavers: 13
Cavers ≤25 yrs old: 0
Cavers 25-35 yrs old: 0
UK/nonUK cavers: 9/4
Eligible for grant aid:
Alex Pitcher nominations: 0
Expedition dates: 18th Oct 2008 - 15th Nov 2008
Duration (days): 29
Man-days in field: 234 Man-days travelling: 0
Brief Expedition objectives:

List a short summary of the main Expedition objectives.

To explore a new karst area in Bijie region where extensive catchments of rivers exist and many caves and karst features are located
How can the GPF support your Expedition?:

Please explain the aspects of the trip which make it eligible for Ghar Parau funding.

This expedition is part of the original China Caves projects which was started in the 1980s. This group, with additional foreign members, is an experienced team who have caved in China over the past 9 years and have explored and surveyed new cave systems in Guangxi and Hubei. The team has regularly conducted scientific research in geology, biology and chemistry and have always published expedition reports that are available on the BCRA publications list.
Detailed description of objectives:

Give a more detailed account of the purpose of the trip, including any particular known caves you intend to visit, specific areas where you will explore for new cave, and scientific experiments you will attempt.

1. Survey caves in the area and advising Chinese on the possibility of tourist potential and with consideration for the important issues of protection and conservation 2. Taking extensive photographs of the caves and karst features in the area 3. Conducting scientific research in terms of geology, cave biology and water chemistry
Previous work in this area:

Give details of any previous work in this area by your own and other teams. Include references to reports and articles published on the area, and the names of any local cavers or academics with whom you have discussed the Expedition.

No previous visits to this area by existing team, however information has been obtained from French reconnaissance expedition in 2001 which only managed to explore limited caves in the area. Also, a previous China Caves project passed through this region but did not exploration. However we have geology maps and information from the Guilin Karst Research Institute about the area and they are in touch with geologists and other interested parties in Guizhou.

Expedition Finances

Travel

Travel plans:
Direct flights to Beijing, China and internal flights from Beijing to Guiyang. Euipment to be conveyed from Guilin Karst Institute to expedition site by train and road transport. Expedition members will be transported to expedition site by road.


# from UK: 9 Travel costs breakdown (for personnel leaving from the UK):
Total costs from UK: £5,850 Flights

# from outside UK: 0 Travel costs breakdown (for personnel leaving from the UK):
Total costs from outside UK: £0

Travel total: £5,850 Travel p.p. from UK: £650
Travel p.p. from outside UK: £0

Subsistence

Total: £8,370 Comments:
Subsistence p.p.: £644 Food, accommodation and transport (infrastructure)

Gear

Total: £2,900 Comments:
Gear p.p.: £223

Special 1

Total: £2,990 Comments:
Special 1 p.p.: £230 Insurance & Visas
Exped Total: £20,110 Exped cost p.p. travelling from UK: £1,747
Exped cost p.p. travelling from outside UK: £1,097
Mean Exped cost per person: £1,547

Other Funding

Total: £0 Comments:
Total shortfall: £0 Mean shortfall per person: £0

Referees and Report

Please give the names, addresses and phone numbers of two suitably qualified people whom the Committee can contact. You should ensure that they are aware of the objectives of your trip, and that you have their permission for the Committee to contact them.

Referee 1: John Middleton
Affiliation:

Reason:

Permission obtained?: No
Referee 2: Andy Eavis
Affiliation:

Reason:

Permission obtained?: No

Expedition report author:

Attachments

No files have been attached to this application.