From Deepest Cave to Highest Peak - Karst Landscape Exploration in Laos - Ecologist Dr. Terry Bolger

The Plunge with Garrett Hayes

Dr. Terry Bolger is an ecologist specializing in karst landscapes and caves, with 40 years of experience in North America, Australia and Southeast Asia. He has extensive experience in the exploration, mapping, resource inventory, conservation and management of caves and karst, including over 25 years of experience in Southeast Asia (Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) in many of the largest, longest and deepest caves in the region.

Dr. Bolger has worked with government agencies, non-government organizations, the private sector and local villagers to manage cave and karst resources for conservation and for ecotourism development. He is coordinating the geoheritage aspects of a World Heritage nomination for a karst National Park, and identifying and describing significant geoheritage features for a potential Geopark in another karst protected area, in central Laos.

Dr. Bolger has written technical reports and popular articles for books, journals and magazines about the caves and karst of Laos and Thailand. He has also given numerous presentations on this subject to a range of audiences, from community and school groups to government officials and international conferences. These experiences have provided him with a broad knowledge about the caves, the karst landscapes and their ecosystems, and the lifestyles and cultures of the people who live in these landscapes.