According to the Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Concerning the Establishment and Operation of the International Research Center on Karst in Guilin, China, under the Auspices of UNESCO, which was signed on February 11, 2008 in UNESCO headquarters, Paris, the International Research Center on Karst (IRCK) was set up on December 15, 2008. As the first category II centre concerning geosciences under the auspices of UNESCO and in the framework of the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP), the establishment of IRCK is of great significance to international geosciences. As one of the international institutes of the Chinese Academy of geological Sciences, IRCK is hosted within the premises of the Institute of Karst Geology (IKG), which provides contributions of material and otherwise to the establishment and operation of IRCK.

As the only international center on interdisciplinary research on karst in the UNESCO, IRCK will contribute to reach a better understanding of karst dynamic system on a global scale, to keep karst fragile environment ecologically sound, and to promote sustainable development of society and economy in karst regions, which are generally regarded as one of the world’s most fragile environmental systems. The center therefore will, advance karst dynamics through scientific research, publications, international cooperation; promote international communication and contacts and provide a platform for the exchange of scientific information about karst dynamics and sustainable utilization of karst resources and eco-environmental protection; and further provide advisory activities, technical information, education and training as a basis to develop and implement new integrated methods of rocky desertification rehabilitation and ecological restoration for karst regions.