Coastal cliff conservation and management: the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site

The 155 km long Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site is recognized for its 250 million years of earth history, including internationally renowned coastal geomorphological landforms and processes. It is a naturally active coast ranging from vertical ‘hard’ cliffs to very active landslides, protected by both national and international conservation designations. The primary conservation focus of the Site is geoconservation, but its cliff ecosystems also provide outstanding examples of natural resilience to rapid change as well as preserving very important communities. One of the key features of the Site is that its dynamics allow a constant renewal of the visible geology and exposures of fossils, Erosion is accepted as normal. It is a heavily used tourist location with cliff-top paths in use all year and there are concerns about safety, especially for visitors beneath cliffs and crossing mudslides. Management of the Site deals with such issues as fossil collecting and conservation, access, education, coast protection and through a management plan.