The Shoreline between Nature and Society, a Changing Heritage - Vulnerability of Coastal Ecosystems and Adaptation - page 173

5
The Shoreline between Nature and
Society, a Changing Heritage
5.1. Introduction: the coastal “heritage”, a new concept
Although the protection of particular coastal sites can be
considered as relatively old, the last four decades have shown a
constant effort in that respect on the part of States, dynamic and
careful associations and, at the top, the international community. This
effort derives from a growing awareness - long-established in the
United Kingdom, where the National Trust, founded in 1895, was
established to protect monuments and sites, not necessarily situated on
the coasts - of the specificity of shorelines, of their originality, both
biological and geomorphological, and of their vulnerability as a result
of the increased pressure from humans, attracted by the richness of the
environment and scenic beauty. This “heritagization” is in line with
the primary objectives of the National Trust. In order to ascertain this,
let us visit a famous site, the Giant's Causeway in Ulster.
The Giant's Causeway is a natural wonder. The beauty of the site
is remarkably well showcased. Isolated at the northern end of the Irish
coast and dominating the sea off its high basalt cliffs, the site
expresses first of all the beauty of its natural surroundings. The