NATURAL AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPES:
THE GEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION.

DECLARATIONS ADOPTED BY DELEGATES
at the Conference in Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland,
September 9–11, 2002

Sustainability of our environment relies upon informed, integrated and balanced decision-making on all land use issues relating to our natural and cultural landscapes. Therefore, the delegates will work to promote the geological heritage as a central and essential consideration in the management of landscape.

To achieve this, we
  • commit to developing an integrated, holistic approach by establishing a Forum open to all individuals and organisations interested in the geological heritage of Ireland.

  • acknowledge that local landscapes can best be managed through the participation of all stakeholders in the decision-making process. Opportunities need to be identified whereby all stakeholders can benefit from a caring approach to this heritage.

  • advocate that maintenance and conservation of geological heritage sites in private ownership be placed upon the same footing as that attaching to archaeological and architectural sites.

  • commit ourselves to producing easily understandable geological information, and making it readily available to individuals, communities and organisations.

  • advocate that public bodies include earth science considerations in their decision making, and seek appropriate professional advice on such matters.

  • recommend that all geological site documentation be prepared to a transparent and common standard for dissemination.
  • endorse the initiatives advanced by UNESCO, the IUGS Geosites programme, ProGEO and the European Geoparks Network, as complementary mechanisms to advance conservation of geological heritage in Europe and elsewhere.

Agreed and adopted in Dublin, September 11, 2002.

APPENDIX

We also consider that:

  • the European Landscape Convention, ratified by the Council of Europe, provides a framework to further enhance awareness of the geological foundation of all landscapes.

  • the Geodiversity Strategy statement developed by the Royal Society for Nature Conservation, UK, provides a constructive set of principles for consideration and application elsewhere.