Cynthia V. Burek

The history of geoconservation

This book is the first to describe the history of geoconservation. It draws on experience from the UK, Europe and further afield, to explore topics including: what is geoconservation; where, when and how did it start; who was responsible; and how has it differed across the world? Geological and geomorphological features, processes, sites and specimens, provide a resource of immense scientific and educational importance. They also form the foundation for the varied and spectacular landscapes that help define national and local identity as well as many of the great tourism destinations. Mankind’s activities, including contributing to enhanced climate change, pose many threats to this resource: the importance of safeguarding and managing it for future generations is now widely accepted as part of sustainable development. Geoconservation is an established and growing activity across the world, with more participants and a greater profile than ever before. This volume highlights a history of challenges, set-backs, successes and visionary individuals and provides a sound basis for taking geoconservation into the future.

The history of geoconservation: an introduction

In many parts of the world, the regeneration, econ-omic growth and social changes that took place inthe two decades that followed the Second WorldWar, led to increased leisure time and tourismand a greater awareness of the world around us.In addition, the realization of our ability todestroy both ourselves and the environment inwhich we live, clearly evident during the ColdWar years, led to a greater appreciation of thefragile nature of the natural environment. By thelate 1960s, increasing loss of countryside to devel-opment, and the ability to see our planet fromspace, led to an enhanced regard of the fragilityof the environment in which we live. By the1970s an environmental revolution, with conserva-tion at its core, was in full swing, highlighted bythe pioneering 1972 United Nations Conferenceon the Human Environment held in Stockholm.By the 1990s the Earth Summit, held in Rio in1992, had placed the environment, through itsrole in achieving sustainable development, on theglobal political and social agenda. Today, it isclimate change that reminds us that we have thepower to do irreparable damage to the naturalenvironment that supports us.This book provides the first collection of paperstoaddressthehistoryofgeoconservation.Itseekstoexplore the origins of the subject and the conceptsthat helped to define it; it describes the history ofgeoconservation in the UK, looks more widely tothe Republic of Ireland, mainland Europe and Aus-tralia and explores the evolution and impact ofglobal conservation initiatives including WorldHeritage sites and Geoparks. In doing this, it high-lights the invaluable contributions to geoconserva-tion made by academics, geological societies,governments, conservationists, volunteers andlocal communities. The papers demonstrate thatthe origin and development of this subject is inter-esting and informative in itself but more impor-tantly, through revealing the history ofgeoconservation successes and failures, theyprovide us with an increased understanding ofhow we got to where we are now; invaluableknowledge in helping geoconservation meet thechallenges that lie in the future.Geoconservation is now a growing and wide-spread activity that is well established in the UK,Europe and many other parts of the world. Priorto the conference held in Dudley, England, inNovember 2006, there had been little thought ormaterial published on the history of geoconserva-tion. There are a number of reasons for this. Thefirst is that geoconservation is a relatively new dis-cipline that has had a low profile until the lastcouple of decades during which it has grownrapidly. Anotheris thatthisexpansionhasbeensus-tained bya forward lookingapproach rather thanonlooking back at the history of the subject. Thispattern of slow steady growth, with more recentrapid expansion, is well illustrated in the UK.Here, a few early but isolated examples of geocon-servation can be identified prior to the twentiethcentury; conservation legislation and a nationallycoordinated and structured approach to geoconser-vation was in place by 1950; and the rise of thevoluntary sector in the form of Regionally Impor-tant Geological/geomorphological Sites (RIGS)groups (Regionally Important Geodiversity Sitesin Wales) boosted activity levels and participationingeoconservationbythe1990s.Bythetwenty-firstcentury, the appearance of European Geoparks hasled to another step-up in geoconservation activitylevel. In many other parts of the world, activitylevels have risen even more rapidly, jumping fromrelatively low levels to relatively high levels asGeoparks have opened up new opportunities andenthusiasm for geoconservation.Geoconservation is undoubtedly an expandingand dynamic activity. It is ‘happening today’ andthrough Geoparks is growing a strong internationalcommunity involving more countries than everbefore. It is an exciting time for those interestedin geoconservation. It is possible to demonstratehow geoconservation can inform an enlightenedpublic and how geological and geomorphologicalfeatures, processes, sites and specimens can con-tribute to the environmental, social and economic

The role of the voluntary sector in the evolving geoconservation movement

Abstract The role of the voluntary sector in geoconservation has a long history. However, its involvement in biodiversity conservation is even longer. A contrast is made between the biodiversity and geodiversity voluntary sectors through time. With the start of the movement arguably by the National Trust in the late nineteenth century, the baton (or hammer) has been taken up by geological societies locally and nationally, by individuals and more recently by the RIGS initiative. The word voluntary in no way diminishes the work undertaken and achieved by these people. It can be argued that without them geoconservation would not exist. This paper explores their contribution using case studies: National Trust and UKRIGS as national organizations, the RIGS movement as a local initiative, the Chester Society of Natural Science as ‘local’ interest and the work of individuals through time. The latest Local Geodiversity Action Plans (LGAPs) development as a recent historical phenomenon is explored and the importance of local as context for geoconservation illustrated.

The Role of LGAPs (Local Geodiversity Action Plans) and Welsh RIGS as Local Drivers for Geoconservation within Geotourism in Wales

Local Geodiversity Action Plans (LGAPs) and Regionally Important Geodiversity Sites or Regionally Important Geological/geomorphological Sites (RIGS definition depends whether the acronym is used in Wales or elsewhere in the UK) can act as local drivers for geoconservation. An analysis of seven LGAPs across the UK shows that geotourism is either explicitly mentioned or implied within the set Objectives. The overarching aim is normally seeking to maintain and enhance the geodiversity features in a defined local area. LGAPs are therefore fundamental to local geoconservation. RIGS are another government geoconservation initiative aimed at the local level. Two of the criteria for RIGS (education and aesthetical appeal) can be included within the geotourism definition used in this paper. These criteria can be widely interpreted as to encourage education at all levels and this can by implication be tourists. Often, it is the very aesthetic nature of a site which tourists, especially geotourists, find appealing for example, the Giant’s Causeway. This is taken further by looking at a particular area and testing the local achievement of geoconservation within geotourism. In Wales, the success of bilingual geodiversity town trail leaflets to forward this objective in North Wales is assessed. The trails are assessed by the public (by popularity) and proven to achieve the aim. The intricate entwining of local geoconservation and geotourism is established.

An overview of extra‐curricular education for sustainable development (ESD) interventions in UK universities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent and type of extra‐curricular ESD‐related practice in UK universities and to record opinions about the utility of such work.Design/methodology/approach – A postal questionnaire survey of all UK universities was undertaken in 2006. Over half (51 per cent) of the UKs 140 universities with degree‐awarding powers responded.Findings – Extra‐curricular ESD‐related interventions were found to be widespread and in 31 per cent of cases were the primary approach to ESD. Respondent opinions highlight a paradox whereby the voluntary nature of extra‐curricular interventions can both extend and limit the reach of ESD.Research limitations/implications – The survey approach gathers impressions of UK practice at one point in time, only. Further case study research to look at the impact of such practice is now under way.Practical implications – In the UK, much recent work to support ESD has focused on efforts to support curriculum change. The paper suggests that ...

The Role of Women in the History of Geology

Where were the women in Geology? This book is a first as it unravels the diverse roles women have played in the history and development of geology as a science predominantly in the UK, Ireland and Australia, and selectively in Germany, Russia and US. The volume covers the period from the late eighteenth century to the present day and shows how the roles that women have played changed with time. These included illustrators, museum collectors and curators, educationalists, researchers and geologists. Originally as wives, sisters or mothers many were assistants to their male relatives. This book looks at all these forgotten women and for the first time historians and scientists together explore the contribution they made to this male-dominated subject. There are individual profiles on remarkable women: Catherine Raisin, Dorothea Bate, Cuviers daughters, Grace Prestwich, Annie Greenly, Nancy Kirk, Margaret Crosfield, Ethel Skeat, Maria Ogivlie Gordon, Marie Stopes, Anne Phillips, Muriel Arber and Etheldred Bennett. Pulling together this extensive research uncovered common issues and generated emergent themes. The Editors have brought this new research together under these themes and tried to answer the question Where were the women in Geology? They go on to discuss how these role models can be applicable to todays society.

The life and work of Emily Dix (1904–1972)

Abstract Emily Dix was a leading British palaeobotanist during the first half of the 20th century to deal with the stratigraphical distribution of macrofloras. She helped transform the use of fossil plants in defining biostratigraphic units in the Carboniferous strata in Britain; her plant-based zonation remains the foundation of Carboniferous macrofloral biostratigraphy today. She addressed several problems that came to dominate Carboniferous stratigraphical research during the second half of the century, including the mid-Carboniferous boundary and the Westphalian-Stephanian boundary. Her career was tragically cut short by mental illness when she was only in her early 40s.

Forgotten women in an extinct saurian (man's) world

Abstract Despite dinosaurs becoming significant ‘icons’ in our culture, few women have made major contributions to the study of fossil vertebrates, especially reptilian taxonomy, by specializing in the dinosaurs and related ‘saurians’. Most who were involved over the first 150 years were not professional palaeontologists but instead wives, daughters and pure (and usually unpaid) amateurs. Here we salute some 40 of them, showing how some kept alive childhood dreams and others fell into the subject involuntarily. As usual nineteenth-century female practitioners are virtually unknown in this area except for one icon, Dorset girl Mary Anning of Lyme Regis, who significantly contributed to the palaeontology. Only in the early twentieth century did women such as Tilly Edinger conduct research with an evolutionary agenda. Before the modern post-1960s era, beginning with Mignon Talbot, few were scientists or conducting research; others such as Mary Ann Woodhouse, Arabella Buckley, the Woodward sisters, Nelda Wright were artists, photographers and/or writers, scientifically illustrating and/or popularizing dinosaurs. Like many other women, they often battled to get from first base to job, appear fleetingly in the literature then disappear; or exist as anonymous presences behind eminent men. In contrast, the modern era offers better prospects for those wanting to pursue dinosaurs and their relatives, even if it means volunteering for a dino dig, watching a live ‘Time team’-type dinosaur dig on TV or entering the Big Virtual Saurian World now on the Internet. This paper considers the problems and highlights the achievements of the oft-forgotten women. Supplementary material: Additional references and list of books and publications by or about deceased women related to ‘saurians’, including these mentioned in the text, are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18419.

The first female Fellows and the status of women in the Geological Society of London

Abstract Women were first permitted to become Fellows of the Geological Society of London in 1919. Eight joined in May of that year and then in June a further two were admitted. By February 1922 there were 21 female Fellows. The Geological Society had opened its doors to women and, after an initial rush, there was a slow trickle. However, there were a number of highly regarded female geologists before this time, and several of them received grants, medals and, indeed, submitted papers, although they were not always permitted to read these themselves. Some of the first female Fellows have disappeared without trace, but the contributions of others are significant. As well as being educationalists, they were expert in many different areas of geology, with palaeontology and stratigraphy featuring strongly. Few, however, stayed on in this male-dominated arena once they married and had children. It seems there was no common reason for these women to seek membership of the Geological Society, other than their love of geology, but membership brought them recognition and status. They led the way as role models for future female Fellows and were the first of many women to play a significant role in the Geological Societys history.

The historical problems of travel for women undertaking geological fieldwork

Abstract From unsuitable clothes to lack of chaperones, from sexual harassment to lack of proper funding, throughout history women geologists have encountered difficulties travelling to their field locations or working in the field, whether these locations were close by or abroad. From Etheldred Benett to the present day, problems were often sociological and political as well as logistical. Most early women geologists were able to avoid many difficulties because they were protected through working locally, where their high social standing was known and respected, or because they worked in a team with husband, father or brother. However, the problem developed virulence in the second half of the 19th century, when women started to appear as students and professionally trained geologists. The single travelling woman geologist had to face discriminating attitudes, ranging from pity to disregard and even to sexual harassment. Benevolent society also had its problems with these women, when, for example, professors needed their wives as chaperones to take women students on field trips. While women geologists out in the field certainly had and have to face problems because of their gender, those problems have also been used as an argument against employment of female geologists out of paternalistic concern, i.e. a discriminating strategy which is possibly the most difficult to reject. This paper explores the difficulties of women geologists undertaking fieldwork from the late 18th to the mid-20th century by looking at specific examples and deducing the social and logistic reasons behind these problems.