Geological World Heritage

IntroductionFigure 1: The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Property (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).The Giant’s Causeway lies at the foot of basalt cliffs along the sea coast on the edge of the Antrim plateau in Northern Ireland. It is madeup of some 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea. The dramatic sight has inspired legends of giants striding overthe sea to Scotland. Geological studies of these formations over the last 300 years have greatly contributed to the development of theEarth sciences and show that this striking landscape was caused by volcanic activity during the Palaeogene, some 50–60 million yearsago. Tourism Northern IrelandIn 2005, IUCN published a report entitled, Geological WorldHeritage: A Global Framework, (Dingwall et al., 2005) andhereinafter referred to as ‘the 2005 report’. The aim of that reportwas to discuss and advise on the role of the World HeritageConvention (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Convention’) inrecognising and protecting geological and geomorphologicalheritage. By using a thematic approach, the 2005 report aimed to: assist States Parties in undertaking global comparativeanalyses of properties prior to and as part of newnominations under criterion (viii); assist the World Heritage Committee and its advisors toidentify possible gaps in coverage of the World Heritage List; assist the World Heritage Committee and its advisors intheir evaluation of new nominations of properties undercriterion (viii) (to be outstanding examples representingmajor stages of Earth’s history, including the record oflife, significant on-going geological processes in thedevelopment of landforms, or significant geomorphic orphysiographic feature).Since the publication of the 2005 report, an additional 22properties have been inscribed on the World Heritage List,using criterion (viii), which is used to recognise geologicaland geomorphological properties under the Convention. Thisbrings the total number of geological World Heritage Properties(December 2020) to 93. Furthermore, in 2015, UNESCOadopted the new International Geoscience and GeoparksProgramme (IGGP), which recognises a new site-leveldesignation, the UNESCO Global Geopark, which are territoriesof internationally significant geological heritage. As of June2021, there are 169 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 44 countries.Additionally, since 2005 several of the themes identified in the2005 report have been subject to substantial individual studies.The UNESCO World Heritage Committee in both 2013 and2014 requested IUCN to revise its 2005 thematic study ongeological sites, the Geological World Heritage: A GlobalFramework, to refine the proposed 13 themes, articulatethe threshold of Outstanding Universal Value and clarify theGeological World Heritage: a revised global framework for the application of criterion (viii) of the World Heritage Convention 1

Introductiondifference between the criterion (viii) of the World Heritageand Geoparks. However, at that time Geoparks were notdesignated by UNESCO. That changed in 2015 whenUNESCO adopted the new designation of UNESCO GlobalGeopark and all pre-existing Global Geoparks becameUNESCO Global Geoparks.Accordingly, the aim of the present study is to fully revise andupdate the 2005 report and to look at the potential impactof the new UNESCO Global Geopark designation on futureinscriptions to the World Heritage List under criterion (viii).Central to this is a discussion on the concept of OutstandingUniversal Value and a reiteration that not all sites of significancecan make it onto the World Heritage List. This has beenfollowed by a thorough review of the 2005 report, in particularthe thematic approach to geology that the report used. Thereport identified 13 themes. The review has reduced thisnumber to 11 themes, some of them are the same as in the2005 reports, there is one new theme and some of the 2005themes have been re-named and/or combined.Criterion (i) - to represent a masterpiece of human creativegeniusCriterion (ii) - to exhibit an important interchange of humanvalues, over a span of time or within a cultural area of theworld, on developments in architecture or technology,monumental arts, town-planning or landscape designCriterion (iii) - to bear a unique or at least exceptionaltestimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is livingor which has disappearedCriterion (iv) - to be an outstanding example of a type ofbuilding, architectural or technological ensemble or landscapewhich illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human historyFinally, with the approval of the UNESCO Global Geoparkdesignation, this study provides a framework for assessingwhich designation, World Heritage or UNESCO GlobalGeopark, might be appropriate when considering geologicaland geomorphological sites for international recognition.Criterion (v) - to be an outstanding example of a traditionalhuman settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representativeof a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with theenvironment especially when it has become vulnerable underthe impact of irreversible changeHowever, as stated, before outlining the revised thematicstudy, it is essential to examine closely the idea of OutstandingUniversal Value, which is the core concept behind anyinscription to the World Heritage List.Criterion (vi) - to be directly or tangibly associated with eventsor living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artisticand literary works of outstanding universal significance. (TheWorld Heritage Committee considers that this criterion shouldpreferably be used in conjunction with other criteria)Outstanding Universal ValueCriterion (vii) - to contain superlative natural phenomena orareas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importanceAccording to the latest version of the Operational Guidelines forthe Implementation of the World Heritage Convention publishedby the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in 2019:“The cultural and natural heritage is among thepriceless and irreplaceable assets, not only ofeach nation, but of humanity as a whole. Theloss, through deterioration or disappearance,of any of these most prized assets constitutesan impoverishment of the heritage of all thepeoples of the world. Parts of this heritage,because of their exceptional qualities, can beconsidered to be of ‘Outstanding UniversalValue’ and as such worthy of special protectionagainst the dangers which increasingly threatenthem.”But what exactly is ‘Outstanding Universal Value’, or OUV, andhow can it be defined in the context of geological heritage?A series of criteria and conditions have been developed toevaluate OUV. Six criteria (i – vi) cover cultural properties whilecriteria (vii) – (x) cover natural properties (see below). Of course,a nomination can include both cultural and natural criteria. Theguidelines also state that for a property to be deemed of OUVit must also meet the conditions of integrity and/or authenticityand must have an adequate protection and management2system to ensure its safeguarding. It is therefore clear fromthe Operational Guidelines (UNESCO World Heritage Centre,2019) that OUV is a three-pronged statement where a WorldHeritage Property must fulfil one or more criteria (criterion (viii)for geological properties), it must fulfil the conditions of integrityand it must be adequately protected and managed. The full tencriteria are:Criterion (viii) - to be outstanding examples representing majorstages of Earth’s history, including the record of life, significanton-going geological processes in the development oflandforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic featuresCriterion (ix) - to be outstanding examples representingsignificant on-going ecological and biological processes in theevolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastaland marine ecosystems and communities of plants andanimalsCriterion (x) - to contain the most important and significantnatural habitats for in-situ conservation of biologicaldiversity, including those containing threatened species ofoutstanding universal value from the point of view of science orconservationFulfilling Criterion (viii): a revised thematic approachA key phrase from the Operational Guidelines (UNESCO WorldHeritage Centre, 2019) states that, “[t]he Convention is notintended to ensure the protection of all properties of greatinterest, importance or value, but only for a select list of themost outstanding of these from an international viewpoint.”Furthermore, “[i]t is not to be assumed that a property ofnational and/or regional importance will automatically be Geological World Heritage: a revised global framework for the application of criterion (viii) of the World Heritage Convention

Introductioninscribed on the World Heritage List.” This is the first keypoint to bear in mind. Just because a site may be of regionalor national significance, it does not mean that it is of OUV.The site must be absolutely exceptional at the global level inwhat it contains or displays, and among the priceless andirreplaceable assets of humanity as a whole.The most fundamental part of the nomination process isclarifying if a property could be considered to have OUV. Untilpotential OUV and the attributes conveying this value has beendefined, it is not possible to develop other essential aspectsof the nomination including the comparative analysis, thedefinition of boundaries and the protection and management,which should reflect the extent and character of the attributesthat convey the value.The 2005 report identified 13 themes to assist in determiningwhether a World Heritage Property fulfils the terms of criterion (viii).Based on consideration of the effectiveness of the implementationof these themes, and based on review by the study and chapterauthors, this report has reorganised the approach to geologicalWorld Heritage in relation to a reorganised list of 11 themes. Thestudy has also reviewed and classified all existing geological WorldHeritage Properties, considering their OUV in relation to these 11themes (Annex 1). Many properties contain features relevant tomore than one theme, but for brevity the list of ‘ancillary themes’in Annex 1 only includes significant contributions that warrantedmention in the Statement of OUV published on the World Heritagewebsite. Furthermore, it was apparent that the OUV of fiveproperties cover two primary themes. Therefore, the 93 WorldHeritage Properties inscribed under criterion (viii) are listed 98times under the 11 primary themes. In all of these themes, StatesParties must ask themselves if their proposed site really doesdisplay or contain something so internationally exceptional that isof true global significance.The 11 themes identified in this report are:Theme 1: History of planet Earth and the evolution of lifeTheme 1 documents major events in Earth history and thefossil record of life. It combines two related themes fromthe 2005 report: Theme 4 ‘Stratigraphic Properties ‒ Rocksequences that provide a record of key Earth history events’and Theme 5 ‘Fossil Properties ‒ The record of life on Earthrepresented in the fossil record’.Theme 2: Tectonic systemsThe Tectonic systems theme includes the ‘Tectonic andstructural features’ and the ‘Mountain systems’ themes asdefined in the 2005 report. This merger was justified by thefact that tectonics is the process that governs the movementof Earth’s tectonic plates at their boundaries as well as heat,energy and material transfer from the Earth’s interior towardsthe surface and vice-versa: seafloor spreading coupled withsubduction, rifting, mountain building, volcanoes, faults,earthquakes, erosion, etc., are direct or indirect expressionsof tectonic processes. However, with a view of providinga meaningful representation to the general public, wehave restricted the scope of the ‘Tectonic systems’ theme tomountain ranges, convergent plate boundaries (subductionzones), divergent plate boundaries (ocean ridges), slidingplate boundaries (transform zones), continental rifting valleysand cratonic shields, while keeping ‘Volcanic systems’ and‘Erosional systems’ as separate themes.Theme 3: Erosional systemsThe theme ‘Erosional systems’ was not explicitly present in the2005 report. One might argue that it is the equivalent of the‘Mountain systems’ with partial overlap with the ‘Arid and semiarid desert systems’, but there were already a number of WorldHeritage Properties inscribed under criterion (viii) which wereneither mountains nor located in drylands but were erosionalin nature. Additionally, a significant number of properties wereinscribed in recognition of their scenic beauty (criterion (vii)),although their justifications clearly highlighted geomorphologicalfeatures and processes more in line with criterion (viii). Therelevance of ‘Erosional systems’ for criterion (viii) is twofold.First, erosional systems show “significant on-going geological[in fact, geomorphological] processes in the developmentof landforms” and secondly, these processes may produce“significant geomorphological or physiographical features.”Theme 4: Volcanic systemsVolcanoes are true wonders of the planet; they are central tothe formation, evolution and sustenance of biological systems;they form some of our deepest and most significant culturalattachments to the land; and they attract large numbersof visitors for their aesthetic appeal. The theme Volcanicsystems was originally included in the 2005 report as Theme2. Furthermore, volcanic systems were the subject of the2009 volcano thematic study by Wood (2009). In 2019, IUCNpublished an updated report on World Heritage Volcanoes(Casadevall et al., 2019), which we draw on here for thisdiscussion.Theme 5: River, lake and delta systemsThe theme covers fluvial, lacustrine and deltaic landscapesand their associated features. These are systems resultingfrom large-scale fluvial processes, which have formed andinfluenced the development of valleys, flood plains, rivercorridors, wetlands, lakes and deltas, along with instreamfeatures and morphology (Ferrier & Jenkins, 2010). Spectacularfeatures such as waterfalls are also included under thistheme. The theme includes foremost alluvial landscapes anddepositional features, while erosional features, such as rivercanyons, are covered primarily by Theme 3. In terms of deltas,this theme only covers the special cases of inland and inverteddeltas, while coastal deltas are covered within Theme 7.There is also some overlap with Theme 9, as many importantfluvial, lacustrine and deltaic processes and landforms occurin glacial landscapes. The River, lake and delta systems themeis equivalent to the ‘Fluvial, lacustrine and deltaic systems’theme from the 2005 report. The main driving process forthe formation of all inland waters is the hydrological cycle.Water evaporates from the oceans and precipitates over thecontinents, where it flows back to the sea along rivers andstreams, reworking large amounts of sediments and formingsome of our most familiar fluvial landforms. Some of the waterresides in wetlands or lakes for many years, or in ice caps forGeological World Heritage: a revised global framework for the application of criterion (viii) of the World Heritage Convention 3

IntroductionMap out allgeologicalvalues of theproposedpropery Organisevaluesaccording tothe 11 themesof criterion viii Identify overlapbetween valuesof the proposedproperty andgaps of the WHL Write a briefsynthesisdefining value(s)and attributesfilling gapsof the WHL Performcomparativeanalysis basedon value,attributesand integrityFigure 2: Flow chart summarising the process that should be undertaken when assessing if a site or place demonstrates OUV.thousands or millions of years (Moss, 2010).Theme 6: Cave and karst systemsThe theme covers systems developed predominantly by theprocess of dissolution of soluble rocks. This mainly involvescarbonate rocks (limestone, dolomite, marble) and evaporiterocks (gypsum, salt). I

Geological World Heritage: A revised global framework for the application of criterion (viii) of the World Heritage Convention IUCN INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE WORLD HEADQUARTERS Rue Mauverney 28 1196 Gland, Switzerland Tel 41 22 999 0000 Fax 41 22 999 0002 www.iucn.org Geological World Heritage