Expedition Name (& Club): Cave now...work later (the long way round the Med)

Destination country: Lebanon
Region: +Morocco, Tunisia, Libya

Lat: 33.8547 Long: 35.8623 Elevation: m
MEF funding: none

Leader: Emma Porter

Brief Expedition objectives:

List a short summary of the main Expedition objectives.

Lebanon - Continuing exploratory work with Speleo Club du Liban (SCL). Morocco - Working with local cavers to explore Middle & High Atlas Mountains. Tunisia - Researching & photography of new & known caves with Speleo Bizerte. Libya - Exploration around the mega doline area of Jabal Akhdar (Green Mountains).

How can the GPF support your Expedition?:

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

This is a unique expedition combining four expeditions into one, with real commitment from the 3 key members having taken sabbaticals. The idea stemmed from Emma and Mike's desire to spend more time caving in Lebanon, having been given membership of SCL and their wish to explore the karst of other Arab countries without having to fly back to go to work just when the breakthroughs had been made! The flexibility of up to 9 months will enable us to achieve our objectives plus allow us to explore caves in other countries en route. This will also enable us to establish long-term relationships with local cavers, assist in caver and rescue training and "Cave now ...work later".

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. Each area/country of exploration will be recorded, photographed & surveyed where new, or where there is little English information available. Lebanon - connecting the potential Antelias & Jihad systems, after successful exploratory work in April 2009. Plus further ongoing work with local cavers. Morocco - exploration of caves in Middle & High Atlas Mountains. Tunisia - working with local cavers on projects and establishing future contacts. Libya - exploration of the gypsum karst around Bi'r Al-ghanam and dolines of Jabal Akhdar plus other smaller areas of karst. 2. Establish long-term relationships with local cavers & this will include training with Speleo Bizerte and an ongoing project of advising Lebanese cavers on all rescue aspects. This includes transporting ex-GCRG rescue equipment to Lebanon and the distribution of SRT rope from a donor to cavers in Morocco and Tunisia.

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.

Lebanon - E Porter, M Clayton April & July 04, March 05, April 06, Dec/Jan 06/07, March 08, April 09 together with Speleo Club du Liban & ALES. Libya - much of the expedition's work will be based on John Middleton's explorations in Nov 07.