Conserving
Anglesey's Geodiversity
Geoconservation has a long history in the United Kingdom. Its roots
extend back to the late 1940s when the Nature Conservancy started to
oversee the designation of the first National Parks in Britain and the
development of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) series.
Although geological features were a component of both designations, the
first comprehensive and systematic review of geological sites in Great
Britain was started by the Geological Conservation Review (GCR) in
1977, under the auspices of Nature Conservancy Council (NCC). However,
it was not until the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) that it became
mandatory for the NCC to notify landowners, in addition to local
planning authorities, of geological sites on their land. In Wales, the
NCC was replaced by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) in 1991.
The CCW inherited the duty of notifying SSSI, including geological
sites identified by the GCR. In addition to the statutory conservation
of geosites, a more consensual approach began to emerge at this time
with the development of the non-statutory Regionally Important
Geological Sites (RIGS) scheme.
Geosite
Management - what we do with them
Well, in some cases, little or nothing! But geosites such as RIGS and
SSSIs are not always as robust or indestructible as many might assume.
They are subject to a wide range of natural processes (such as
weathering and erosion) and human influences (intentional or
inadvertent modifications), and therefore their condition can vary over
time. Sit management consists of identifying potential threats,
monitoring the sites where considered necessary and, in a few cases,
direct management whereby a site that has deteriorated for any reason
can be restored to a useable status.
Monitoring
geosites
Periodic checking of geosites is required to ascertain if they are in a
suitable condition for their intended purpose (e.g. research,
education, geotourism). If a geosite reaches the relevant standard, it
is said to be in 'favourable condition'. The country conservation
agencies (CCW, EN [now Natural England] and SNH) and their
co-ordinating body, JNCC, have invested much time and effort in
developing protocols and procedures for checking the condition of
geological sites (GCR sites/SSSI). Monitoring is taken here to mean any
activity, however cursory or detailed, that concerns checking or
ascertaining the condition of geosites. Monitoring of a geosite can
thus vary from a short visit to determine if the site is still capable
of fulfilling its intended use, to lengthy survey work to ascertain if
all the site's features and sub-features (e.g. individual beds,
fossiliferous horizons, mineral assemblages etc.) are in optimal
condition. Detailed work may involve the preparation of a site
management plan to identify the condition of all parts of the site and
outline measures for restoring or improving the site's condition.
The principal actions involved in any monitoring scheme are:
1. Determining a timetable for visiting and checking sites. Some types
of site require less frequent visits than others, and vice
versa. For example, large upland geological
outcrops in remote areas, where there are few pressures on the
geological features, will require monitoring less frequently than
certain mine or fossil sites where, for example, there has been a
history of illegal removal of mineral specimens.
2. Establishing what level of monitoring is required. For example, a
much-used research locality may require in-depth monitoring to
establish whether all key stratigraphic and fossiliferous horizons are
accessible. On the other hand, a RIGS identified for educational use
may well require a simple check to see if it remains safe and
accessible for use.
3. Establishing a baseline of site condition against which future
changes can be judged.
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4. Identifying what remedial/restoration or enhancement works are
necessary at a site. Although geological SSSI and RIGS may sometimes
have different purposes, the ethos involved in monitoring the sites
remains broadly similar. While CCW has carried out much work in this
field, the preparation of a strategy for monitoring RIGS remains a
priority.
Managing
geosites
From the previous section, it is clear that the condition of geological
sites can vary (deteriorate or improve) according to a variety of
natural processes and human influences. Site monitoring and
surveillance can help to establish whether a site is in a suitable
condition for its intended purpose. Although recommendations for site
restoration can stem even from a brief monitoring visit, it is more
usual to produce a detailed site management plan before trying to
restore a failing site to 'favourable condition'.
For GCR sites/SSSI, CCW geologists assess the condition of a site,
detail the preferred management and outline the nature of necessary
remedial and restoration works. Common problems on sites include
concealment of geological exposures by processes such as vegetation
growth and the accumulation of scree or talus, and man-made problems
such as fly-tipping. In such cases, remedial or restoration works might
include selective clearance of scrub vegetation and/or removal of talus
and tipped materials. Such works on GCR sites/SSSI always involves the
expert involvement of a CCW geologist working closely with the site
owner or manager. An external contractor may be employed to excavate or
re-expose critical strata or features, and to re-establish adequate
access to the site for research. CCW has a rolling programme for such
site works. These are usually carried out in winter, outside the
bird-breeding season, and also when vegetation is least dense. Such
works may also be carried out in advance of a major research programme
when international Earth Scientists may require full access to sites.
It is also common for works of this kind to be carried out by
volunteers from the geological community.
For RIGS, this process has not yet been carried out systematically in
Wales. In theory, such works will follow the same pattern of Monitoring
and Site Management Planning followed by site restoration and works.
This process will involve RIGS and other geological experts,
landowners, contractors and volunteers.
A distinction is made here between site restoration and enhancement
works. Restoration is taken to mean the return of a site to a condition
appropriate for its intended use, whereas enhancement is taken to mean
works carried out on a site to prepare it for an enhanced use, such as
for site interpretation or geotourism. In the latter case, the works
may be more concerned with ingress/egress at a locality or
modifications to ensure the safety of visitors.
Providing
advice about geosites
The successful conservation and protection of geosites require
authoritative, accurate and timely advice at all stages from site
selection through to management, monitoring and restoration of sites.
For geosites at the GCR/SSSI and RIGS levels, the requirements for
advice are broadly similar. Sites are selected using the broadest range
of expert advice possible. This includes experts from the Country
Conservation Agencies, British Geological Survey, universities,
museums, consultancies, research institutions, geological societies and
associations, and relevant individuals. The GCR site register for Great
Britain is maintained by the JNCC, which co-ordinates the addition of
new sites to the register and advises on the upkeep and monitoring of
the site series as a whole through its Common Standards Monitoring
guidance. In Wales, CCW advises the Welsh Assembly Government about the
management and conservation of GCR sites/SSSI. It also advises
landowners and tenants about all aspects of site management (including
Potentially Damaging Operations), and informs local planning
authorities about development proposals that may adversely affect these
nationally important sites.
Although most site management issues are resolved through giving advice
at the local level, more rarely CCW will provide advice at a public
enquiry where the fate of a site will be decided in the public
interest. CCW provides advice on geosites through its Earth Science
Officers, who can co-opt more specialist advice from academic and other
sources when required. RIGS groups are responsible for advising the
Welsh Assembly Government, local planning authorities, landowners,
tenants and other relevant bodies about geosites of regional and local
value. RIGS groups can also co-opt more specialist advice when required
and can give advice and evidence at a public enquiry.
No geosites on Anglesey are yet officially recognised at the
international level (although some SSSI and RIGS occur within European
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)). There is thus no current
requirement to provide specialist advice on geosites at this level.
However, it is anticipated that the current infrastructure for
providing advice on GCR sites/SSSI and RIGS would also satisfy the need
to provide advice on Anglesey's candidate international geosites.
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