The geological conservation of glaciofluvial sand and gravel resources in Northern Ireland: An integrated approach using natural areas

Abstract

This chapter concerns the conservation of glaciofluvial landscape resources in Northern Ireland. Natural areas describing the components and attributes that make up landscape character can be used to monitor local environment change. Landscape conservation practices, as a management process, are needed to resolve conflicts between landscape user groups and to sustain landscape resources including its character. The procedure of natural area assessment emphasizes that integrated landscape resource planning requires pragmatic and adaptable policies to be applied within and between landscape subdivisions on different scales so that the landscape and its ‘character’ can be conserved. Landscape and geological conservation in the British Isles became important in the late 1970s due to the perceived fear of a world-wide resource shortage particularly in non-renewable resources. In Britain, the Geological Conservation Review used a standardized methodology of site assessment for geological conservation purposes.