Funny how the "Park Officials" have no problem collect a pay check from the public pay roll.
If the cave is on public land the owners should get a chance to see their cave.
The Cave Research Foundation is a bit elitist.
They do good work but think that only they can do good work and they work well with the Park Service in excluding others from contributing to exploration and study of public caves.
Note that no specific reason for the cave's importance is given to we the American public. It is they who will decide what is best for the cave and themselves.
Dang. My sentiments exactly, as I just posted before I read yours.
Back when I could bend around the rocks I did some caving down there. I remember when a new entrance was found to a known cave system. It had a beautiful glistening white flowstone "glacier" just inside the entrance. When walking across it to get to the other side we all took out boots off to keep it white. Alas, with so many wanting to get to the other side, in time it became just as muddy as the rest of the cave.
They say that man always kills the things he loves. This is especially true with wilderness beauty. We always want to see and experience that beauty but when too many have seen and experienced, it is no longer beautiful.