Аннотация:The monograph “Preserving karst environments and caves” is the result of IGU Karst Commission activities in the frame work of project “Saving karst environments and caves” starting from 1991, which is continued currently. The history and the scientific base of this project are presented. The specific international agreements in order to recognize and protect the karst objects are considered. It is underlined that the monograph “Preserving karst environments and caves” is addressed not only to karst researchers and cavers, but is of wider interest to geographers and geologists, who are worried about the future of karst regions. It also addresses administrators, politicians and conservation activists, who are not specialists in karst science, but whose activity has substantial influence on the practical realization of international conservation agreements.