The karst landscapes cover approximately 45% of Greece's surface, with the presence of carbonaceous rocks up to 70%, such as limestone, marble, dolomite, and gypsum, which are abundant, making it a "karst nation." Karst, although commonly known for its caves, is a complex system that incorporates karst surface and subsurface resources, critical for humans and the environment, as it directly affects the quality and quantity of drinking water, the stability of surface constructions (roads, buildings), the presence and abundance of certain minerals and oil deposits, the diversity of the ecosystem, while the study of it also contributes to archaeological research.

The rich tourism industry of Greece heavily depends on karst, with six world heritage landscapes: the Acropolis of Athens, the Cave of the Apocalypse (Monastery of St. John the Theologian on the island of Patmos), the temple of Delphi, the area of Meteora (Thessaly), the peninsula of Mount Athos, the area of Mycenae, as well as other sites whose formations are directly or indirectly related to the process of karstification.

The preservation of the integrity and sustainable use of karst resources, which are among the most vulnerable, depends on the sustainable management of the karst environment. In this context, the primary aim of the book is to compile and present the fundamental theory of Environmental Karst Geomorphology, providing the essential knowledge, characteristics, and information about karst landforms, while also highlighting the problems of the karst environment, contributing to the appropriate management of the karst areas of Greece.

In the 1st part (Chapters 1-5), karst processes, karst rocks, and types of karst are presented. Subsequently, in the 2nd part (Chapters 3-4), surface and underground karst forms are presented along with their hydrological functioning. Finally, in the 3rd part (Chapter 5), the Management of the Karst Environment is presented (vulnerability and main sources of pollution and contamination of karst aquifers, natural risks, primary uses of karst, and key environmental issues).