Geological tourism and protection of geological heritage: the UK experience

Mitchell, Clive ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5911-5668. 2019 Geological tourism and protection of geological heritage: the UK experience. [Lecture] In: 7th Fujairah International Mining Forum 2019, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), 18-21 March 2019. British Geological Survey. (Unpublished)

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Abstract/Summary

In an ever changing world with a growing population there is a constant pressure to build new houses and infrastructure – this requires land to be built on and resources to be extracted. The risk to our geological heritage is always present. There is also a new and growing demand for geological tourism. This is an aspect of Geotourism which is defined as “tourism that sustains or enhances the identity of a territory, taking into consideration its geology, environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.” Geological tourism focuses on the geology or geomorphology of a location In the UK, environmental designations exist to protect sensitive landscapes from development. These include National Parks, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONBs) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Regionally Important Geological (and Geomorphological or Geodiversity) Sites (RIGS) are locally designated sites for local, national or regional importance for geology. They are recognised for their rocks, fossils, minerals, or other geological or geomorphological features of interest. They are protected from development by the UK planning system. The sites are typically conserved and protected by volunteer groups. Other designations include; Limestone Pavement Orders to protect this environment from removal or damage; Special Landscape Areas which are defined by local authorities in development plans with a view to safeguarding areas of regional or local landscape importance from development; and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Global Geoparks which are internationally-recognised areas encompassing one or more sites of scientific importance in which the geological heritage is safeguarded and sustainably managed, with strong local involvement. UNESCO Global Geoparks are defined as “Single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development”. They are established with the aim of using their geological heritage in conjunction with other aspects of the natural and cultural heritage of the area to enhance awareness and understanding of: the sustainable use of the natural resources, mitigation of the effects of climate change, and reducing natural disaster-related risk Geoparks give local people a sense of pride in their region, create new enterprises which provide much needed local revenue and new jobs, and protect the geological resources of the area. Currently, there are 140 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 38 countries with the largest proportion in Europe (69, with 7 in the UK) and Asia (45, with 37 in China). Currently there is only one Geopark in the Middle East (Qeshm Island in Iran) and none in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE). The application process for aspiring UNESCO Global Geoparks takes several years with the starting point being the presence of geological heritage of international value and a legally recognised body that manages the Geopark. There is the potential for a UNESCO Global Geopark in the UAE as it has internationally recognised geology such as the UAE-Oman ophiolite. In addition, it has sites that are proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status including the coastal sabkha of Abu Dhabi, the cultural sites of Al Ain, Sir Bu Nair Island and Khor Dubai.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Lecture)
Additional Keywords:	UNESCO Global Geoparks
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	18 Oct 2019 08:44 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/525487

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