GEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK, GEOCONSERVATION, AND THE LAW

Geoconservation is becoming an increasingly important sector of conservation work across the world; protecting geological and geomorphological sites with scientific, historic, aesthetic, and cultural significance. With this comes the need to properly protect areas and regulate activities, and therefore legislation is often required. These laws have the potential to greatly impact on geological fieldwork, but are often unknown or poorly understood among the geological community. Jurisdictions have taken different approaches to geoconservation, and a number are herein compared and contrasted, including examples from the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, and Antarctica. The history and development of geology in law is also examined, exposing different jurisdictions’ concepts around questions such as ‘What is a fossil?’ or ‘Who owns ex-situ rock?’

With many of the most studied sites now having some form of geoconservation designation, it is essential that the legal aspects of fieldwork are properly communicated, especially to trainee geologists. It is therefore highly recommended that all geological degree programs contain material on legislation as it applies to fieldwork, and guidance on the protocols within applicable laws. While many pieces of geoconservation law remain untested in court, it is only a matter of time before this changes. The next generation of geologists should be properly informed of their responsibilities – both for the sake of themselves, and conserving our geoheritage.