An Introduction

Conserving geodiversity is part of nature conservation, which has been defined as ‘the protection, preservation, management or enhancement, and the improvement of understanding and appreciation of flora, fauna and geological and geomorphological features’.

The East of England has a rich and significant geodiversity, however there are many threats to the integrity and accessibility of this heritage, and conservation is needed to protect and promote it for posterity.
 

Installing an interpretation panel at the Blakeney esker SSSI, Norfolk

The statutory conservation of geological and geomorphological features is part of the duties of National Parks, National Nature Reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it is embedded in government planning policy through PPS9. The government agency Natural England is responsible for managing SSSIs, and is also managing the implementation of the European Landscape Convention.

The non-statutory conservation of geodiversity sites is mainly carried out under the Regionally Important Geological / geomorphological Site (RIGS) scheme, which is managed by local groups, while Local Geodiversity Action Plans (LGAPs) also provide a framework for voluntary geodiversity conservation at a local level. Many local landowners routinely conserve local geodiversity features as a part of managing landscape, habitat and historic features on their land.

The Earth Science Conservation Classification system is a useful framework for understanding the theory and practice of geodiversity conservation.

Click here for an overview of geodiversity conservation in the region.