BASSETT, M. G., KING, A. H., LARWOOD, J. G., PARKINSON, N. A. & DEISLER, V. K. (eds) 2001. A Future for Fossils. National Museums & Galleries of Wales, Geological Series no. 19. 156 pp. Cardiff: National Museums & Galleries of Wales. Price £14.50 plus postage and packing (paperback). ISBN 0 7200 0479 9

Abstract

This volume represents the printed results of the international conference ‘A Future for Fossils’, which was promoted by English Nature with financial and logistical support of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, Cardiff University, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Palaeontological Association. It was held in Cardiff on 14–15 October 1998. The rather vague title disguises an important volume which examines ethics and morals of palaeontological collecting. Its aim was to see if further legislature was necessary in an age of reduced access to small temporary exposures, of increased public interest, and increasing depth of pocket for those building collections. The volume contains 25 individually authored contributions, complete with abstracts and an index. Section 1, ‘National Perspectives and Policies’, was introduced by Andy King. Euan Clarkson reviewed the palaeontological resource of Great Britain indicating the significant contributions which have been made in each period. Tony Weighell examined the role of the government agencies such as the Joint Nature Conservation Committee in managing the fossil resource. He recognized two types of sites used in UK classification: integrity sites which have finite collecting potential where collecting must be controlled or the palaeontological value will be lost, and exposure sites where there is replenishment as in active quarrying or coastal sections. In international terms such sites may be raised to UNESCO World Heritage Site or Geopark respectively. Andy King & Jonathan Larwood examined ‘Operations Likely to Damage’ in the most fragile of Sites of Special Scientific Interest of which there are 55 such sites in England. Informing those likely to have an interest was paramount, such as landowners, tenants, environmental agencies, planning authorities, and the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and Regions. John Harvey discussed the policies of organizations including the National Trust. The National Trust has an actively restricted …