The International Organization for Standardization has released the first global technical standard for monitoring karst zones. Led by China, the framework focuses on hydrological, geochemical, and biological processes across seven different climate categories, from tropical to polar regions. This new standard is built on research into karst carbon cycles and carbon sinks. It establishes a systematic approach for monitoring network setup, data collection, and quality assurance to help address water scarcity and land degradation in these unique geological terrains.
