Back to the Future: Putting geology in the service of conservation policy

Charnwood is a loosely defined area of about 70 square miles between the cities of Nottingham and Leicester. It comprises a wealth of geological assets, spread across multiple individual sites - all with different landowners and levels of protection. Many local people and visitors are unaware of its importance, and there is a growing pressure to build homes in the area. This complex arrangement means that some geological assets are at risk, but as with many areas in the emerging field of geoconservation, there is a lack of research to inform policy decision-making.

Now Jack Matthews, an Oxford researcher, has created a science-led framework for managing and conserving Charnwood's geological features. It is the result of working in partnership with two organisations sponsored by the government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra): Natural England, which is responsible for regulating and conserving nature and landscapes; and The National Forest Company, a charity which is facilitating a wider Landscape Partnership to protect Charnwood’s natural characteristics.

Jack made several recommendations to the Landscape Partnership and Natural England. These included deploying previously unused powers to make byelaws for the first time, to protect extremely rare fossils

In the framework, Jack made several recommendations to the Landscape Partnership and Natural England. These included deploying previously unused powers to make byelaws for the first time, to protect extremely rare fossils in situ.

He also staged a number of geoconservation workshops, attended by over 100 members of the local communities, as well as other stakeholders.He also suggested controlling public access to sites at risk; and setting up a network of people and time-lapse cameras to monitor assets and generate data to inform policy-making. Both initiatives will generate evidence about the risk to sites from natural and manmade processes.

As part of this project Jack also supported a bid by the Landscape Partnership for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. He attended a field evaluation, which was a key part of the bid, and has led to the securing of a multi-million pound funding package to implement their plans over the next five years.

The OPEN Fellowship has given me the space to explore these concepts and further develop a body of knowledge that will not only be helpful in Charnwood, but also elsewhere in England

The Charnwood study was carried out under an Oxford Policy Engagement Network (OPEN) Fellowship, funded by the University’s allocation from the Higher Education Innovation Fund.

It is hoped that Jack’s approach, which suggests that policies be more effectively underpinned by research evidence and expertise, could influence practice beyond the region, and become a national blueprint for conserving important geological sites facing multiple threats.

Jack's work was informed by a three-year geological study he carried out at the Mistaken Point UNESCO World Heritage Site in Newfoundland, Canada, a site which dates back to the same Ediacaran period.

His research there aimed to understand how fossil sites could be sustainably used as a tourist destination without damaging the geological heritage. Outputs included a study (Matthews and McIlroy, 2019 Geoheritage) that resulted in the provincial government changing its management policies for the fossil site.

Jack’s approach, which suggests that policies be more effectively underpinned by research evidence and expertise, could influence practice beyond the region, and become a national blueprint for conserving important geological sites

During the course of the fellowship, one of the other sites Jack has worked with was awarded UNESCO Global Geopark status, which he discussed in an interview with CBC TV News. The status is awarded to areas with internationally significant geology, who then combine this with their cultural and natural heritage, to support education and sustainable economic development.

Now Jack is enthusiastic that Charnwood Forest may also be in a position to receive the same accolade in future. He has discussed the idea with local communities throughout the project and is hopeful that they will develop it over the coming years to further enhance the region.

Lessons Learned

The project involved several challenges, including a requirement to work with a diverse network of stakeholders, and manage complexity, when sites across Charnwood are protected by different local and national conservation designations – many of which are inter-related.

Another key challenge was to persuade stakeholders about the value of geoconservation research. The discipline has suffered from an historic lack of funding: unlike with sites of biological importance, there are very few studies to provide the science to underpin policy and management decisions at geosites.

Jack draws three main lessons from his experience:

1. Bring together policy and science 
   In the UK, many universities have researchers investigating topics in conservation and heritage, but there are very few individuals focusing on the geological aspects of those topics. To maximise impact, Jack carefully combined previous research outcomes with local experience, and a knowledge of the legislative landscape for geoconservation. He said: 'It can often be difficult to find practical answers to problems within geoconservation, which is still considered to be a niche subject.
   
   'It’s a perfect storm. Conservation policy-makers can sometimes be unaware of the geological significance of a site, while geologists are often unacquainted with the policy toolkit available to recognise and protect important rocks. This project aimed to bring together those disparate areas of knowledge and apply them holistically within Charnwood Forest.
   
   'My experience is that adding regulation isn’t always the answer to protecting geological assets,' said Jack. 'Sometimes it's more important to change the culture of how sites are managed. The OPEN Fellowship has given me the space to explore these concepts and further develop a body of knowledge that will not only be helpful in Charnwood, but also elsewhere in England.'
   
   
2. Adopt a consultative approach
   The project had a diverse stakeholder group, including the Charnwood Forest Regional Park – a single voice representing local authorities, agencies, user groups, and land management organisations.
   
   'On a project like this, there are so many competing interests and conflicting views, that it can become a bit of a minefield,' said Jack. 'You have to cultivate relationships from the earliest possible stage in order to establish trust, which creates a safe environment to explore and adapt ideas. Trust also allows for important, candid conversations: my life was made so much easier thanks to some frank discussions.
   

   You have to cultivate relationships from the earliest possible stage in order to establish trust, which creates a safe environment to explore and adapt ideas

   
   'There are no ‘one size fits all’ answers in geology – every rock is different – but the need for community involvement is universal,' he said. 'It is important to stress to communities that these are their assets: The message is "Help us to help you keep them safe
   
   'It’s important to stay humble. I positioned myself as a "fresh pair of eyes" – which in many senses I was – able to carry out an evaluation which would help others see and develop the possibility of a future in which policy, informed by the best available scientific evidence, enables a beneficial balance between educational opportunity, tourism, and passionate pride in this remarkable geological heritage,' he said.
   
   
3. Communicate carefully and clearly
   'Geology can be complicated and the use of one small word in the wrong way can lead people down the wrong track. You have to refine the approach based on who you’re talking to,' added Jack. 
   
   'It’s important to avoid ambiguity – for example with words like "sustainability" that can be easily misunderstood. When discussing the sustainable use of geological heritage, I prefer to talk about "passing the site onto the next generation", which reinforces the local connection and also the timescales we have to consider in geoconservation.