Geodiversity strategy

Introduction
An understanding and appreciation of the Earth's finite resources and geodiversity is essential to achieving the sustainable development of the world we live on.

"Geodiversity is the variety of geological environments, phenomena and active processes that make landscapes, rocks, minerals, fossils, soils and other superficial deposits which provide the framework for life on Earth. Geodiversity is the link between people, landscapes and their culture through the interaction with biodiversity, soils, minerals, rocks, fossils, active processes and the built environment."

Exploitation of the Earth's resources (minerals, rocks, aggregates, coal, oil and gas) and the maintenance of naturally active systems and processes are fundamental to the achievement of more sustainable development. Balancing the conservation of these finite resources with sustainable exploitation, waste management and climate change is a major challenge to decision makers, society in general and Earth scientists in particular.

The need for a coherent strategic approach to Earth science conservation 'geoconservation', has prompted this wider, holistic vision to provide the framework for geoconservation, within the conservation movement, and the sustainable management of the Earth's resources and geodiversity. The strategy continues the work stemming from the RSNC Royal Charter and brings the original aim "to promote geological and physiographical features" into the 21st century.

Vision:
'Working to promote, develop and integrate the Earth's resources, geodiversity and their sustainable management into everyday life, through all aspects of conservation and education, in the British Isles and beyond.'

This vision places education at the heart of the programme, and one of the main delivery mechanisms will be an expanded Rockwatch programme to ensure more active involvement from young people and families.

To realise the vision six aims, the purpose, are incorporated, which in turn produce a Geodiversity Action Plan to achieve the aims; they are:

1. To conserve the Earth's resources and geodiversity of the British Isles through raising awareness, understanding and sustainable management.
2. To maintain, enhance and promote the geodiversity of the British Isles.
3. To improve the awareness and enjoyment of geodiversity by involving individuals, communities and organisations through promotion, education and increased access.
4. To inform, advise and lobby others on policies and practices in order to achieve sustainable use of the Earth's resources.
5. To encourage co-operation within the Earth science community, promoting unity and partnership.
6. To encourage improved understanding of the fundamental reliance of biodiversity on geodiversity.

Method:
The vision and aims will be achieved by developing, promoting and sustaining relations with bodies that have interests in geoconservation (Earth heritage conservation). It will also be necessary to raise public awareness and to achieve this there must be linkages with lifestyle, culture and landscape. To achieve this vision, it will therefore be necessary to:

• Develop partnerships with statutory, non-statutory and private organisations to promote geodiversity, the Earth's resources and their sustainable management.
• Maintain an Earth science office with well motivated, committed and enthusiastic staff to manage the projects outlined in the Geodiversity Action Plan.
• Create new posts to promote geodiversity throughout the British Isles and beyond.
• Provide support to other organisations as a centre for information, advice and funding.
• Develop, promote and sustain effective working relations with local, regional, national and international bodies with direct and indirect interest in geoconservation .
• Seek funding, other resources and development opportunities to ensure effective and efficient promotion of geodiversity in the British Isles and beyond.

Geodiversity Action Plan

This is arranged in four main themes:

1. Public awareness of Geodiversity,
2. Public Access to Geodiversity,
3. Sustaining Geodiversity,
4. Geodiversity Education and Training.

These themes cover the six aims of the strategy, broadly public awareness and access themes are Aims 1, 2 and 3 with sustaining geodiversity and education and training in Aims 4, 5 and 6, which fit within this overarching Earth science strategy. Each project is costed with start dates, which are indicative and the budget breakdown is found below.

1 Public awareness of Geodiversity

Project 1.1
Creation of a partnership organisation, Earth Trust, for those who care about the unique rock and landscape heritage of the British Isles and its importance to everyday life. Ideas for Earth Trust are in appendix 1.

Project 1.2
Promotion of Geodiversity through a project or projects to highlight the geology and geomorphology i.e. landscape, of Britain through railway carriage or coach windows. To be achieved with sponsorship with Railway companies and production of leaflets describing the landscape.

Project 1.3
Produce information leaflets on the geology and landscape of the National Long Distance footpaths such as the Pennine Way.

Project 1.4
Create a new long distance footpath based on the extensive Chalk wolds and hills of England starting at Flamborough Head. To be known as The Chalk Way, it will be an environmental educational trail linking archeology, geology, history, natural history and the built environment.

Project 1.5
Produce information leaflets for the general public to understand the simple geology, fossils and landforms of the various Heritage coasts such as The Yorkshire Dinosaur Coast. Project 1.6 Series of web-books, printed books on the Geology of Towns, Understanding Landscape (natural areas descriptions) etc. similar to the series produced by Scottish Natural Heritage in partnership with BGS.

2 Public Access to Geodiversity

Project 2.1
Create new exciting but safe geo-reserves for the public to explore for fossils, rocks and minerals. Quarries with good fossil or mineral collecting would have experts on hand to explain the Species found and any new to science or specimens would be given to the local museum. The sites would also be used to train Earth scientists and be used by schools, colleges and the public for life-long learning.

Project 2.2
To create a Geodiversity Action Fund to allow for the purchase of new geo-reserves, for improved access to sites, for site clearance, education and interpretation.

Project 2.3
Study Centres set up in active quarries, where schools and the public can learn about their local geology, landscape and why that quarry is necessary. These centres could be linked to new geo-reserves for the safe access to fossils, rocks and minerals. This is also a public relations mechanism so badly lacking in the Minerals industry and a real community benefit.

Project 2.4
After school clubs, which could be based in Quarry study centres and schools, linking Rockwatch with Geodiversity and working together with the Earth Science Teachers Association, National Stone Centre and other education organisations.

Project 2.5
Promotion of RIGS, Rockwatch and the new sites created in Programme 2, through the Natural History Museum, Museum of Scotland, National Museum of Wales, Ulster Museum other museums, libraries, shopping centres, prestigious buildings and extensively via the media including newspapers, journals, television, radio and the web sites.

Project 2.6
To promote and encourage art in town and country using local Earth resources and maintaining local distinctiveness.

Project 2.8
Create post of Geodiversity Development Officer to manage projects on Public access and Sustaining Geodiversity

3 Sustaining Geodiversity

Project 3.1
Promotion of campaigns to ensure conservation of the key Habitats in the United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan which are geological in nature, such as Limestone Pavements.

Project 3.2
Promote the use of Site Management plans for RIGS sites, which together with SSSI's, NNR's and National Parks (the Prime Geodiversity areas) will form the basis of the Geodiversity network for the British Isles. This project would be in partnership with UKRIGS and the Conservation agencies and would produce guidelines for site interpretation, best practice for site management plans and training workshops.

Project 3.3
Create online database of best practice work in sustainable management, and policies including access manuals and similar material

Project 3.4
Seminar programme to inform the decision makers about geodiversity and sustainability. This project would be in partnership with the Conservation Agencies.

Project 3.5
Production of local authority and industry packs on what is and how to improve the sustainable management of geodiversity through Geodiversity Action Plans (GAPs) and encourage promotion in Regional Planning Guidance and Policy Planning Guidance.

Project 3.6
Completion of RIGS Handbook and production of the UKRIGS Development Strategy.

4 Geodiversity Education and Training

Project 4.1
Education awareness study to ascertain the best way to target educational establishments to promote Geodiversity.

Project 4.2
Produce Education packs for Key Stages I - 4 with ESTA, Geologists' Association and National Stone Centre to promote Geodiversity.

Project 4.3
Organise series of seminars to encourage joint working of the various Earth science bodies to avoid duplication of effort, improve communication and maximise resources.

Project 4.4
Encourage the Earth science community to join Wildlife Trusts so that there is Earth science expertise in each organisation.

Project 4.5
Provide training for Wildlife Trusts, Conservation Agencies staff and members to understand Geodiversity and Geoconservation.

Project 4.6
Create a post of Geodiversity Promotion Officer to ensure improved communications and to produce a unified calendar of events, happenings, projects to avoid duplication and to promote Geodiversity and Geodiversity information in 'Geodiversity Update'. The post holder will manage projects on Public awareness and Education and Training.

Project 4.7
Improving Geodiversity information provision through co-operation and partnership with the Conservation agencies and BGS to ensure consistent and accessible data. Production of an accessible database with links to biodiversity, archeology and the built environment to create an holistic one-stop resource.

Project 4.8
Produce " Geodiversity Update", quarterly publication 8 page full colour, to promote Geodiversity and sustainability to decision makers, shapers, Earth scientists and other target audiences. News items, funding, local and regional Geodiversity developments, main article, book news, main events, photographs and general interest. Free distribution to about 5000 initially with evaluation.

Appendix 1 Earth Trust.

There is a great need for an inclusive membership organisation for the general public to help to deliver the Earth science strategy as no present body or organisation has the remit, or is sufficiently well organised or motivated, to present a coherent and inclusive view of Earth science and its importance to everyday life. The interested amateur and the professional are already well catered for by existing societies and associations, but not the public who clearly do need to be informed of the importance of the finite nature of Earth resources and Geodiversity.

Earth Trust will seek members from the public who may later, when their interest is heightened, wish to join a particular geological organisation. Clearly Earth Trust should be a partnership organisation joining with others to interest the public.

We feel that RSNC should build on the success of Rockwatch to create an inclusive membership organisation and take the Earth science potential into the 21st century. We have discussed a possible name for the organisation and have picked Earth Trust as one, which encompasses all the aims of the strategy. The suggested strap line for the trust is:

EarthTrust 'geodiversity means the Earth to us'

This would be a membership organisation for those who care for the unique rock and landscape heritage of the British Isles. Working with conservation bodies it would be a voluntary educational trust set up to promote awareness of geodiversity through providing access and information to the Earth's resources of the British Isles and the wider environment.

Families could visit safe quarries to search for and find fossils, rocks and minerals (the fossil, mineral and rock heritage); understand the landscape that they love and cherish; learn what makes your local area special; find out what climate change will bring in the near future; listen to experts talking about the search for oil and gas, and many more topical and interesting issues relating to the Earth and its resources.

"You will be able to hear where and when special events, exhibitions, town trails and lectures are happening through 'EarthNet'- your electronic access to the Earth's resources."

"See exciting and wonderful images on 'EarthNet' and book your geotourist holiday to see those places and features."

"You and your children will be able to make a large contribution to maintaining geodiversity by helping your local 'EarthTrust' group manage sites for educational use, or visit sites just to admire the view."

"Become a part of the national grid for learning and help future generations understand the environment in which we all live."

"Become a member of 'EarthTrust' today via 'earthtrust@rsnc.co.uk' or telephone for a membership form."

Members would join as individuals from an early age or as part of a family membership and have access to all partnership member organisations, whose own members could pay a reduced rate and join Earth Trust.

Members could join the local EarthTrust group and help to look after sites with the local RIGS group, monitor sites and the local geodiversity, have hands-on experiences by clearing faces, involving local communities (schools, colleges and universities and other groups such as the scouts, brownies, WI's etc) and many more things we have not even thought of!

Annual membership would be set at a realistic level of £30 for a family or individual at £5 junior, £15 senior and £10 adult concession. This would include the quarterly 'Geodiversity Update' and a 'What's on' or something similar.

Mick Stanley