Registered Charity Number 1016312 Company Registration Number 02775501
About the British Institute for Geological Conservation The origins of the Institute The British Institute for Geological Conservation was founded in 1987, at the October meeting on palaeontological site conservation at Burlington House. The creation of an independent group of geoscientists committed to the conservation of geological and geomorphological was first suggested during the last days of the Geological Conservation Review (GCR) Unit. The GCR had had a significant impact on the development of geoconservation in Britain, as it was the first time that a wider community of geoscientists had become directly involved in such a countrywide conservation project. Geoconservation had previously been a minority interest, but the GCR brought it into the main-stream of geoscience activity in Britain. As a consequence, a much larger number of geoscientists became actively interested in the practice and principles behind geoconservation. While the GCR Unit was operating it acted as a focus for this network of conservation-minded geoscientists. However, when the Unit was contracted and eventually disbanded, a group of former GCR researchers decided to maintain independently the important network of contacts that had been developed, and thereby continue to reinforce the scientific basis of geoconservation in Britain. In 1991, the Institute was registered with the Charity Commissioners, and in 1992 it became a registered company. The aims of the Institute In the Memorandum of Association, the aims of the Institute are given as follows: To promote or develop for the benefit of the public the pursuit of geological conservation. To promote research into geological conservation and to publish the useful results of such research. Our aim is, therefore, to provide a forum for discussing aspects of geoconservation, covering such matters as site selection, conservation principles and practice, public awareness and requirements, and the role and activities of the various conservation agencies. The discussions can take various forms, including internal meetings, external liaison, and open meetings or symposia. A newsletter provides a means of extending the discussions, particularly for those who are unable to attend the meetings. The organisation of the Institute The organisational structure as outlined in the Articles of Association is three tiered. The Council, which is the ruling body of the Institute including the Executive Officers. The Fellowship is the core of the Institute, consisting mainly of experienced and recognised authorities in geological conservation. Membership of the Fellowship is by invitation. The Membership includes any other individual who wishes to support and identify with the activities of the Institute. Council meets at least twice a year, and there is at least one general meeting a year. The Council currently (January 2007) consists of: Professor M. J. Benton - Chairman (University of Bristol) Dr C. J. Cleal - Secretary (National Museums & Galleries of Wales) Professor B. A. Thomas - Treasurer (University of Wales, Aberystwyth) Dr K. Page (University of Plymouth) Dr W. A. P. Wimbledon (University of Reading) Mr J. Macadam (Bodmin) Dr T. Hose (Buckingham University) Activities of the Institute During the early years of the Institute, activity was mainly centred on monitoring the activities and effectiveness of the UK governmental nature conservation agencies (initially the Nature Conservancy Council; since the early 1990s the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, and the Countryside Council for Wales). This included monitoring the progress of publication of the results of the GCR. There were also wide-ranging investigations into the state and selection of metallogenesis sites in Britain; and into the status of geoconservation in the strategies of the planning authorities throughout Britain. In more recent years, the Institute has been involved in two main activities. Firstly, investigating the role of geological trails in raising awareness of geological heritage and the need for its conservation. To this end we have been negotiating with a number of potential partner organisations. Secondly, the Institute has been co-ordinating the British activities in the IUGS Global GEOSITES Project, especially through the development of the comparative frameworks. During the last few years, the Institute has been investigating the possibility of acquring important geological sites as a means of providing them with long-term protetction. Crucially, from October 2000, the Institute has been formally recognised as the official focus for ProGEO activities in Britain.