Royal Alberta Museum - Degree of Threat Evaluation Form

Degree of Threat Evaluation Form Text Image

This evaluation has a maximum score of 40 points (50 points for fossil, mineral, or rare rock localities)

#1. Present Condition of Site

The present condition of a site is evaluated in terms of degree of human disturbance or abuse that is threatening or destroying the integrity of the feature or site. Examples of disturbance might include paving, logging, quarrying, blasting, mining and vandalism.

• (20) poor condition (site is or has been abused by man, or obscured by man-made features)

• (5) moderate condition (site is somewhat disrupted, but disturbance does not totally mask original feature)

• (1) outstanding condition (unaltered from its original state; with little or no human disturbance)

FRAGILITY

For questions 2 and 3, features are evaluated according to their ability to withstand damage, from either natural or human influences. The vulnerability of a feature depends upon the type of impact or disturbance such as wind, water, ice, human activities, and the inherent characteristics of the feature itself.

#2. Susceptibility to Change due to Natural Influences

Natural influences include erosion and weathering.

• (1) low (feature able to withstand natural disturbances, and its characteristics are not altered)

• (5) moderate (feature changes in response to natural influences, with some loss of characteristics)

• (10) high (feature is easily disturbed and characteristics can be lost)

#3. Susceptibility to Change due to Human Influences

• (1) low (feature able to withstand disturbance and not be altered)

• (5) moderate (feature changes in response to human activities, but with little loss of characteristics)

• (10) high (feature is easily disturbed and characteristics are being lost)

Questions 4 and 5 are to be answered for paleontological, mineral, and rare rock localities.

A separate scoring system will be applied to these localities.

*#4 Are there fossil, mineral, or rare rock specimens subject to easy removal or vandalism?

A "Yes" answer receives the highest score.

• (5) Yes

• (1) No

*#5 Are the fossil, mineral, or rare rock specimens plentiful?

A "'No" answer receives the highest score.

• (1) Yes

• (5) No

*Given the present regulations in the Alberta Historical Resources Act governing fossil collecting, the answers to these questions neither condone nor condemn this activity. The intent of the questions is to identify areas where removal of fossils would be detrimental to the site or to the fossil itself. Decisions regarding fossil sites should always involve members of the earth science community to evaluate and develop policies.

Total Score for Degree of Threat=