Earth Heritage
Earth heritage conservation (or "Geoconservation") in
the UK involves recognising, protecting and managing sites and
landscapes identified as important for their fossils, minerals or
other geological and geomorphological features of
interest.
The JNCC is involved in Earth heritage work at the UK,
European and global levels
The JNCC's principal domestic function is the
Geological Conservation Review (GCR), a major
initiative to identify and describe the most important Earth
science sites in Britain. The GCR programme began in 1977. It was
designed to identify those sites of national and international
importance needed to show all the key scientific elements of the
Earth heritage of Britain. The sites selected - GCR sites - form
the basis of statutory geological and geomorphological site
conservation in Britain. The results of the GCR programme are being
published in a series of 45 volumes, the Geological Conservation
Review Series.
Cliffs of the South Gower Coast,
Wales. A site of international
renown for its geology and
geomorphology.
© Stewart CampbellJNCC is also involved in devising and implementing strategies
for managing and disseminating
Earth heritage
information to the country conservation agencies, partner
organisations and the general public. The
GCR site database
held by JNCC, and created as part of the Geological Conservation
Review, is now available. This database contains basic information
on the GCR sites, and is a significant on-line source of
information on the distribution and nature of important geological
sites in Great Britain.
JNCC has an important
international role in promoting Earth heritage
conservation. JNCC has established working links with UNESCO, the
IUCN, the Council of Europe and the International Union of
Geological Sciences.
JNCC advises the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (DEFRA) in respect of geological conservation in Europe.
JNCC advises the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in
respect of the United Kingdom's obligations in respect of the World
Heritage Convention.