The International competition “Karst under protection – gift for the future generations” is a Bulgarian initiative. The main organizers are the Institute of Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (since 2010 Department of Geography of the National Institute for Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography - BAS) and the Foundation Center of Karstology “Vladimir Popov”. The first edition of the competition was in 2005. In 2012 it received support from UNESCO.
The competition is a part of the Pilot Educational Strategy ProKARSTerra-Edu and aims at motivation of participants from different age groups, mainly young people (pupils and University students) to develop serious interest in the natural phenomenon of karst and its unique diversity. Knowledge about karst and problems of karst territories refracted through the soul and emotions of the participants and communicated through modern art tools and techniques suggest not only original works, but also continued interest in karst and all its aspects. It will help karst to take its rightful place in the modern educational strategy of “Lifelong Learning”.