Royal Alberta Museum - Management Considerations for Protection of Sites

Management Considerations for Protection of Sites Text Image

Geological Sites

Once a geological site has been identified as a candidate for protective action, emphasis will switch to the appropriate mechanism to ensure its preservation. Ideally, a harmonious balance needs to be reached between protection of a feature and its utilization. For most geological sites, an attempt should be made to protect and preserve the feature, while ensuring access for scientific research and education. An effective program can also contribute towards the public's understanding and appreciation of a site. For example, the Okotoks Erratic and the Frank Slide (both in Alberta) have protection as Provincial Historic Resources. Certain activities have been restricted but access to each site does exist and they have successful and popular interpretive programs. This type of protected site, with only slightly limited access, will need a management plan to monitor its status and condition on a regular basis.

Fossil Sites

In some situations, a feature may require protection as well as limited access. Sensitive fossil localities often fall into this category. Fossil localities form a distinct group of geological features with particular protection and preservation problems. Many fossils left in the field will eventually be damaged or destroyed by erosion and weathering. Fossils in resistant rock, however, are not necessarily threatened, and can be exposed to the elements for much longer periods and still remain intact. Thus, tactics can range from protecting fossils in the field to removing the specimens to an institution such as a museum, university or college for safe-keeping or research.

Most fossils have more educational and scientific value after they have been collected and removed to an institution where they can be prepared and studied. For this reason, there is a general consensus among paleontologists and in the literature that there be unimpeded professional scientific access to fossiliferous rocks for assessment and collection as long as a long-term preservation protocol for the collections is part of the research program. These issues make it a necessity for paleontologists to be involved in making a reliable evaluation of a fossil-bearing site.



		Geological Sites Once a geological site has been identified as a candidate for protective action, emphasis will switch to the appropriate mechanism to ensure its preservation. Ideally, a harmonious balance needs to be reached between protection of a feature and its utilization. For most geological sites, an attempt should be made to protect and preserve the feature, while ensuring access for scientific research and education. An effective program can also contribute towards the public's understanding and appreciation of a site. For example, the Okotoks Erratic and the Frank Slide (both in Alberta) have protection as Provincial Historic Resources. Certain activities have been restricted but access to each site does exist and they have successful and popular interpretive programs. This type of protected site, with only slightly limited access, will need a management plan to monitor its status and condition on a regular basis. Fossil Sites In some situations, a feature may require protection as well as limited access. Sensitive fossil localities often fall into this category. Fossil localities form a distinct group of geological features with particular protection and preservation problems. Many fossils left in the field will eventually be damaged or destroyed by erosion and weathering. Fossils in resistant rock, however, are not necessarily threatened, and can be exposed to the elements for much longer periods and still remain intact. Thus, tactics can range from protecting fossils in the field to removing the specimens to an institution such as a museum, university or college for safe-keeping or research. Most fossils have more educational and scientific value after they have been collected and removed to an institution where they can be prepared and studied. For this reason, there is a general consensus among paleontologists and in the literature that there be unimpeded professional scientific access to fossiliferous rocks for assessment and collection as long as a long-term preservation protocol for the collections is part of the research program. These issues make it a necessity for paleontologists to be involved in making a reliable evaluation of a fossil-bearing site. Royal Alberta Museum 780-453-9100 12845-102 Avenue, Edmonton, T5N 0M6 Copyright © 1999-2008, Royal Alberta Museum URL: http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca