Geology: From Antiquity to Modern Day Geoheritage and Geoconservation, with Britain as a Case Study - From Geoheritage to Geoparks - page 48

systematic inventory-based site assessment and selection of
SSSI and heritage themes resulting from the ongoing Geo-
logical Conservation Review, beginning in 1977. The sec-
ond strand began in the 1900s, overlapping in time, and
running parallel to the

important aspect to arise from this historical review is that, in
time, with knowledge and a growing awareness of the
importance of geoheritage, geoconservation as a cultural
process emerges in Western Industrialised countries, and
thereafter there is a sustained effort to identify, conserve and
manage sites of geoheritage signi

rst. There was recognition of the
need to identify and conserve sites of geoheritage signi

-
cance, and the development of methods and site selection
criteria, which resulted in the development of legislation,
conservation-friendly policies, practices, action plans, and
active voluntary local community-based geoconservation
groups.
In terms of its historical development in Britain, the
pattern of geoconservation that is of relevance to under-
standing the historical unfolding of events is summarised in
Table 5 . An understanding of these events can assist to
circumventing problems and perhaps avoiding similar
destruction of signi

cance.

cant milestones and pro-
gressive movements towards systematic geoconservation in
Britain than in other nation states (Brocx 2008 ). With its
relatively small land area and dense population, there are
many demands on the land that may con

There have been more signi

ict with site con-
servation. Whilst it is recognised that it is impractical to
conserve every rock exposure, it has been considered
essential to conserve sites making a unique contribution to
Britain s Earth Heritage (Weighell and Ellis 2001 ). Inter-

estingly, the completion of the GCR publication series and
the planned database for updating and disseminating Earth
Heritage information goes beyond its shores to the inven-
tory-based ProGEO programmes, and is a major milestone in
the development of Earth Heritage conservation in both
Britain and internationally (Brocx 2008 ).
Since the creation of the GGN, there has been an exten-
sive use of geodiversity and geoheritage for social and
economic development, and the promotion of Geoconser-
vation. The creation of the African Geoparks Network in
2009 came about as a contribution of the African Associa-
tion of Women in Geosciences to promote the geopark
concept on the African continent and the role that it could
play in geoconservation for

'

cant sites in countries that are in the
early stages of developing a framework for their inventory of
geological, geoheritage and geoconservation sites. The

Table 5 Summary of important milestones in geoconservation in the
Britain
1807 The geological society of London founded
1832 1st geological survey conducted at Devon
1835 The geological ordnance survey founded
1887 1st practical steps by local government in geoconservation of
a fossil site
1945 1st inventory of sites of scienti c interest
1977 Geological conservation review established
The national scheme for geological site documentation

the well-being of African

societies.
From this historical account it can be seen that since
antiquity, i.e., early civilizations, to modern society, different
values have been placed on geological phenomena. This
ranges from valuing precious stones and metals based on
economic exploitation and utilitarian use to academic pur-
suits, the identi

1987 The geoconservation commission was founded

The British institute for geological conservation founded

1990 Publication —Earth science conservation in Great Britain—a

strategy

1991 1st educational material earth heritage conservation

principles

c
interest, valuing geoheritage, and geotourism. Emerging
from the war, famine and plagues of the middle ages, in
Europe, the Age of Enlightenment overlapped with the
Industrial Revolution, with the development of the discipline
of Geology and Geoheritage, and associated academic pur-
suits far behind the development of techniques for mapping
mining and metallurgical extraction of metals and minerals.
While Britain stands as a case study for Western Society,
China has its own independent history of developing the
geological sciences, and is a world leader in establishing
National and global Geoparks.

cation and conservation of sites of scienti

1993 1st international conference on geoconservation

1994 1st recognition RIGS in planning policy

2001 CRoW Act: 1st time land ownership not an impediment to

geoconservation
1st world heritage site in the British Isles based on geological
values

2003 The concept of local geodiversity action plans developed

Geology trusts formed
1st European geopark established in the British Isles

2004 1990 earth science conservation classi cation under review

2005 Planning policy statement 9: biodiversity and geological

conservation Acknowledgments We wish to acknowledge the assistance of Stewart

Campbell (Countryside Council for Wales), Colin Prosser (English
Nature), and Michael Stanley in relation to providing historical infor-
mation for an earlier draft of the case study outlined in this paper.
Editorial feedback prior to the review process was provided by Chris
Cleal (National Museums & Galleries of Wales) and John Bailey

2006 Earth science conservation classi cation revised

Publication of Geological conservation a guide to good
practice: working towards natural England for people,
places and nature