| |
Governmental organisations
Countryside Council for Wales
Natural England (English Nature until October 2006)
Scottish Natural Heritage
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Northern Ireland Environment Agency (Environment and Heritage Service until July 2008)
The statutory nature conservation agencies listed above provide advice to UK Government and promote and enhance the conservation of wildlife and 'natural features' (a term which includes geological and geomorphological sites). The agencies are supported by Government grants and are helped in their work by a wide variety of people and organisations involved in nature conservation. Their work includes the conservation and management of nationally important Earth heritage sites as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Britain and Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) in Northern Ireland. The SSSI/ASSI designation means that all site owners and occupiers, and the relevant Local Authority, are informed about the nature of the 'special interest'. The relevant agency must be consulted prior to any development that might damage the features of special interest. Once a local authority is notified about an SSSI/ASSI in its area by an agency, it is able to protect the site from adverse development under the controls provided by the Town and Country Planning Acts.
Scientifically important Earth heritage sites were assessed and selected for long-term conservation as SSSIs and ASSIs through the Geological Conservation Review (GCR) in Britain and the Earth Science Conservation Review (ESCR) in Northern Ireland. The authority to confirm GCR status of a particular locality rests with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The authority to designate a GCR site as an SSSI rests with the Council/Board of the relevant country conservation agency. The JNCC is responsible also for GCR publications and for promoting agency Earth heritage conservation efforts internationally. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has sole responsibility for confirmation of a site's ESCR status and its subsequent designation as an ASSI.
In addition to the enhancement and promotion of nature conservation and the conservation of SSSIs, SNH, CCW and NIEA also have responsibilities which relate to the conservation, use and enjoyment of the countryside more generally. In England, this function was provided by the Countryside Agency, but since October 2006 it has been provided by Natural England, which brings together English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Agency.
British Geological Survey
The British Geological Survey is the largest component body of the Natural Environment Research Council. It carries out the geological survey of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the surrounding continental shelf, as well as commissioned research for Government departments, local authorities and industry. The BGS is custodian of extensive data collections of records collated over the last 160 years. Its staff offer wide ranging scientific expertise and local geological knowledge. The BGS maintains working national collections of fossils, rock and mineral specimens. Major libraries, which also house collections of geological photographs are open to the public at its Keyworth and Edinburgh offices. The BGS publishes memoirs, reports, regional guides and maps, together with a wide range of popular publications on notable geology throughout the UK. Through its enquiry service the BGS provides geological advice of direct relevance to local and national planning, landscape and site conservation and resources assessment.
English Heritage
English Heritage is the statutory agency responsible for the preservation of historic buildings and ancient monuments in England, the promotion, preservation and enhancement of conservation areas and promoting of the public enjoyment and understanding of the historic environment. These responsibilities bring English Heritage into contact with Earth sciences in a number of areas. Examples include Quaternary ('Ice Age') deposits in caves, river gravels and inter-tidal zones, where human activities interface with geological and palaeoenvironmental evidence, and mining and quarrying where it is geological character which has led to exploitation of natural resources. English Heritage advises Government on the statutory protection of ancient monuments and historic buildings officially designated for preservation, and works in close association with local authorities on these issues and those relating to conservation areas. Funding from Government also provides for a number of grant programmes to assist owners and occupiers of historic buildings and ancient monuments to conserve these heritage assets. English Heritage also manages, often in partnership with local bodies, approximately 400 historic properties in Crown and other ownership; these are open to the public and attract many thousands of visitors every year. In Scotland and Wales comparable functions are carried out by Historic Scotland and Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments, which are executive agencies of the Scottish Office and Welsh Office respectively.
Back to top |
|
| |
Non-governmental organisations
British Geomorphological Research Group
The aim of the group is the advancement of education in the science of geomorphology, through the promotion of research. The group works with kindred organisations to promote co-operative research projects and publish the results. The BGRG is affiliated to the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) and the Geological Society of London. The group was instrumental in establishing the International Association of Geomorphologists. It holds regular meetings and organises research training courses and symposia for graduate students, and also supports numerous national and international conferences each year. The BGRG has established an education working party to raise the profile of geomorphology in the school curriculum. In association with the Field Studies Council it is developing ways to encourage teachers to participate in the teaching of geomorphology in the field and to provide recognised qualifications through the design of a BGRG/FSC Certificate Course for Teachers. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms is the journal of the Group, and field guides, technical bulletins and symposia series have featured as major publications.
British Institute for Geological Conservation
The Institute was founded in 1987 and since 1992 has been a registered charity. It aims to provide a forum for the development of ideas about geological and geomorphological site conservation, with special emphasis on sites of national and international significance. The membership, open to all who have a demonstrated interest in site conservation, includes a wide range of experts from industry, universities and museums. Many were active participants in the GCR Programme in the 1970s and 1980s (see section on Governmental nature conservation agencies in this leaflet), and therefore bring considerable expertise in the problems of site selection. Members with a special knowledge of the subject are invited to become Fellows. The Institute is currently involved in the International Union of Geological Sciences and UNESCO 'Geosites' programme to develop a worldwide list of internationally important Earth science sites. Geological Curators' Group
The Geological Curators' Group was founded in 1974 to improve the standard of geological curation, displays and information in public museums and other institutions. The Group is dedicated to the better care, maintenance and use of geological collections. The Group aims to improve access to, and knowledge of, such collections for all purposes, from leisure and tourism to education and science. One of the Group’s major initiatives is the National Scheme for Geological Site Documentation. Record centres throughout the country collect, maintain and disseminate information about geological sites. Such information is used by educationalists, planning authorities, conservationists and scientists. Membership of the Group is open to all those with an interest in, or responsibility for, the collection, conservation and interpretation of geological specimens and information, and the conservation of geological sites.
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society was founded in 1807 and is the oldest geological society in the world. It has over 9000 members worldwide and is both a learned society and a professional body, offering Chartered Geologist status to appropriately qualified Fellows. The Geological Society sponsors over 100 conferences a year covering all aspects of the Earth sciences. The Society has a network of specialist groups and joint associations, as well as a network of regional groups across the UK. These include the British Geomorphological Research Group, the Environment Group, the Environmental and Industrial Geophysics Group, the Geological Curators’ Group, the History of Geology Group, the Hydrogeological Group, and the Joint Association for Quaternary Research. A biennial Geoscience conference provides a forum for the whole Earth science community. The Society has a Publishing House based in Bath which produces the Society's monthly magazine Geoscientist, as well as its three journals (Journal of the Geological Society, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, and Petroleum Geoscience). There is also a successful book publishing programme. The Society Library is one of the most comprehensive Earth science libraries in the world, including 800 journals. The Society also runs a successful sponsorship programme bringing in multinational companies and small consultancies alike.
Geologists' Association
The contribution of the Geologists' Association to Earth heritage conservation lies in two main areas. First, there is an unrivalled connection with the regional geological societies and natural history clubs throughout Britain. This network brings awareness of conservation issues and contact with active volunteer groups that have considerable experience of practical fieldwork, such as RIGS groups and naturalist trusts. Second, is the ability to assist financially in conservation projects through its Curry Fund: a committee reviews applications, makes awards and passes on advice. The Association also has a record of initiating the first widely used Code for Geological Fieldwork, and led in the campaigning against charges for access to key Earth science field areas and the protest against the fresh quarrying of limestone pavement stone. It is a member of the Peat Symposium that seeks to reduce the working of peat commercially from surviving wetlands in this country. The Association reviews Local Plans in local government, promoting the inclusion of geological assessments in planning. It is active in the geological contribution to the teaching of science in the National Curriculum, offering workshops to teachers, science advisers, and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV). The Association is an adviser in The Living Churchyard scheme.
UKRIGS
There are many interesting Earth heritage sites that fall outside the nationally important series of geological SSSIs, but which have considerable scientific, educational and cultural value. Volunteers across the country have set up a series of local geological conservation groups to select and conserve these sites as RIGS (Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites). The RIGS groups are playing a crucial role in harnessing the enthusiasm and expertise of local people in identifying and promoting the conservation of accessible regionally important sites. Many RIGS groups are affiliated to, or work closely with, local geology groups, Wildlife Trusts, universities, museums, local authorities and environmental record centres. Each group works independently, but shares the objectives of selecting and recording RIGS, informing site owners and local authorities about RIGS locations and their importance, managing sites, and promoting RIGS to the local people; for example, through interpretative material and geological trails.
Geology Trusts
The Geology Trusts is a national umbrella organisation for Geoconservation and Earth Heritage groups. It is a county-based association working in a similar way to the Wildlife Trusts.
The European Association for the Conservation of the Geological Heritage (ProGEO)
This group is involved in pan-European Earth heritage conservation.
The National Trust
The National Trust was founded in 1895 due to concerns about the impact of uncontrolled development and industrialisation. It was set up to act as a guardian for the nation in the acquisition and protection of threatened coastline, countryside and buildings. It cares for over 250,000 hectares of countryside in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, over 1000 km of coastline, and more than 200 buildings and gardens of interest and importance.
Quaternary Research Association
The QRA is an organisation comprising archaeologists, botanists, civil engineers, geographers, geologists, soil scientists, zoologists and others interested in research into the Quaternary.
Back to top |
|
