Regionally important geological and geomorphological sites (RIGS) are locally designated sites of local, national and regional importance for geodiversity (

geology Geology (). is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical objects, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth ...

and

geomorphology Geomorphology () is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of topographic and bathymetric features generated by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or near Earth's surface. Geomorphologists seek to understand wh ...

) in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

and

Isle of Man The Isle of Man ( , also ), or Mann ( ), is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Govern ...

. These sites are also known by other names, such as regionally important geological sites, Regionally Important Geodiversity Sites (especially in

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

), County Geodiversity Sites in

Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...

, Local Geodiversity Sites in

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

and

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

, and as County Geology Sites in

Cornwall Cornwall (; or ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is also one of the Celtic nations and the homeland of the Cornish people. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, ...

and

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

and in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

Designation

RIGS may be designated for their value to Earth Science, and to Earth heritage in general, and may include cultural, educational, historical and aesthetic resources. The concept was introduced by the Nature Conservancy Council's publication ''Earth Science Conservation in Great Britain – A Strategy'' (1990). They are conserved and protected from development as a material consideration through the planning system by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. They do not have the statutory management protection enjoyed by Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Areas of Special Scientific Interest (Isle of Man).

Local Sites

Local geological sites including RIGS are locally designated. In many areas the selection and designation process relies on significant amounts of volunteer effort. Once designated through notification to the local planning authority, they are conserved and protected as a material consideration through local and national planning policies. There are currently over 50 geoconservation groups, plus 2 associated organisations, as members of GeoconservationUK. As of 2018 there was a 30 site candidate list, of Regionally Important Geodiversity Sites, for the Isle of Man.{{cite web, url=https://www.gov.im/media/1363394/ch-23-offshore-geology.pdf, publisher=Government of the Isle of Man, title=Manx Marine Assessment Coastal and Offshore Geology, date=October 2018, access-date=7 February 2023

Planning policies

RIGS are treated by the UK government's 'Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation' (ODPM 2005) (known as PPS9) under the category of regional and local sites. For more information about locally designated nature conservation sites in England see 'Local Sites - Guidance on the Identification, Selection and Management' (DEFRA, 2006). In England Local Authorities reported on the management of RIGS through the Local Sites National Indicator NI197 reporting to DEFRA until 31 March 2011, when this was changed to 160-01 reporting to DEFRA as part of the single data list. Depending on the decisions of the members of the local sites partnership, in some local areas locally designated sites including RIGS with substantive geological interest may now be called local geological sites (LGS).

References

External links

'Local Sites - Guidance on the Identification, Selection and Management' (DEFRA, 2006)'Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation' ( ODPM 2005)
* Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites (RIGS)

Designation

Local Sites

Planning policies

See also

References

External links