Conserving Quaternary geoheritage in Northern Ireland

Abstract

Northern Ireland has a rich and varied Quaternary geoheritage. Landforms and sediments from the last glacial phase of the Late Pleistocene are most prevalent, though the record extends from the last interglacial (MIS 5e) to the Holocene. The glacial record in the region continues to play a crucial role in the development of models of the last British-Irish Ice Sheet, with many sites having international significance. It is the role of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to legally protect and conserve this important Quaternary heritage, and a programme of statutory designation of these sites as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) has been in place for over twenty years. ASSIs are selected from the Pleistocene and Holocene themes of the Earth Science Conservation Review, the process through which geological sites in Northern Ireland are assessed to determine their importance to science, and so to geoconservation. This produced a significant series of reports that have contributed much to the grey and white literature for the Quaternary in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Quaternary geoheritage is recognised in the local planning system and existing and potential UNESCO Global Geoparks further serve to promote and protect this aspect of Northern Ireland's natural heritage. This paper summarises the Quaternary history of Northern Ireland, how ASSIs are selected to reflect this and how they are monitored and managed. It also considers how to ensure continued protection and recognition for Quaternary sites and features in the region.