Views, As Well As Affect Important Migratory Birds, Bats, Fish and Marine Mammals in the Area
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IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Stevns Klint - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment Stevns Klint 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment SITE INFORMATION Country: Denmark Inscribed in: 2014 Criteria: (viii) This geological site comprises a 15 km-long fossil-rich coastal cliff, offering exceptional evidence of the impact of the Chicxulub meteorite that crashed into the planet at the end of the Cretaceous, about 65 million years ago. Researchers think that this caused the most remarkable mass extinction ever, responsible for the disappearance of over 50 per cent of all life on Earth. The site harbours a record of the cloud of ash formed by the impact of the meteorite – the exact site being at the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. An exceptional fossil record is visible at the site, showing the complete succession of fauna and micro-fauna charting the recovery after the mass extinction. © UNESCO SUMMARY 2020 Conservation Outlook Finalised on 02 Dec 2020 GOOD The site’s features providing evidence of the meteorite impact and its outstanding fossil record are well preserved and the site has been and will remain of iconic scientific significance. Stevns Klint World Heritage site benefits from a strong legislative framework, effective collaboration of a number of local organizations that cover its management and a very strong support and engagement of the local community and private landowners. The current threats to the site’s values are very low and well regulated. The anticipated increase in visitation will need to be properly addressed and will require additional resources. The possible extension of a chalk quarry between the site's two component parts, as well as the potential construction of a wind farm, also need to be closely monitored. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Stevns Klint - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment FULL ASSESSMENT Description of values Values World Heritage values ▶ A globally exceptional testimony to the impact of Criterion:(viii) meteorite on the history of life Stevns Klint is a globally exceptional testimony to the impact of meteorite on the history of life on Earth. The property provides a globally exceptional representation of the evidence of the Chixulub meteorite impact that took place at the end of the Cretaceous Period, c.65 million years ago. This impact is widely believed by modern scientists to have caused the end of the Age of the Dinosaurs, and led to the extinction of more than 50% of life on Earth. Stevns Klint is highly significant in terms of its past, present and future contribution to science especially pertaining to the definition of and explanation of the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary (World Heritage Committee, 2014). Stevns Klint forms the best known exposed Cretaceous−Tertiary boundary section in the world with the exceptional boundary layer being easily recognisable immediately beneath a pronounced topographic overhang, which separates the underlying soft Cretaceous chalk from the overlying, harder Tertiary limestone. The thin black boundary clay layer found in the up to 40 m high, white cliff clearly marks the fall in primary production and makes the exceptional boundary layer visible even to the inexperienced eye (IUCN Consultation, 2020). ▶ Outstanding fossil record Criterion:(viii) The outstanding fossil record at Stevns Klint provides a succession of three biotic assemblages including the most diverse end-Cretaceous marine ecosystem known. The million years recorded in the rock at Stevns Klint provides evidence of a climax preimpact community, fauna that survived a mass extinction event, and the subsequent faunal recovery and increased biodiversity following this event. The fossil record shows which taxa became extinct and which survived and reveals the tempo and mode of evolution of the succeeding post impact fauna that diversified to the marine fauna of today, thus providing important context for the main K/T boundary layer exposed at Stevns Klint (World Heritage Committee, 2014). Other important biodiversity values ▶ Natura 2000 - hosting some of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats Stevns Klint is one of few areas in Denmark where the nature type chalk grasslands can be experienced. Specific species of mosses, lichens, mushrooms and plants that are all linked to chalk grasslands grow here. The area is a protected natural habitat and hosts rare fauna such as amphibian, lizard and viper. The former, crested newt (Triturus cristatus), is registered on the EU's Habitats Directive Annex II and IV, and requires that special efforts have to be made for its habitat. In addition, rare spiders and ground beetles are found, which are known only in few places elsewhere in Denmark. Stevns Klint is also a "hot spot" for breeding bats, and houses 11 out of 17 Danish species. Some of the species are protected according to the EU's Habitats Directive. ▶ Important bird migration route The site lies on an important bird migration route between Scandinavia and southern Europe and Africa (IUCN, 2014). It is one of very few sites in Europe where hundreds of endangered raptors pass during IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Stevns Klint - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment migration from Sweden to continental Europe. Assessment information Threats Current Threats Low Threat The current threats to the site’s values are mainly limited to one active chalk quarry located between the two components of this serial site and impacts of tourism. The quarry is subject to strict regulations and does currently not pose any threat to the site’s values. The level of visitation to the site has shown a marked increase after the designation as World Heritage. Development of a plan for guiding the visitors has been initiated in order to control the movements of visitors by guiding them to defined visitor areas. The Management Plan aims to ensure a sustainable development of tourism services over the next years and regulate what type of activities that can take place along the cliff, however, the management measures related to tourism and visitation would benefit from a revision in the years to come in order to reflect potential further increases in visitation (Stevns Municipality and World Heritage Stevns, 2017). Fishery is not a threat to the core values of the site, however may impact on other important biological values and the seabed. Landslide and/or erosion are not considered a threat. ▶ Tourism/ visitors/ recreation Low Threat (Impacts of tourism) Inside site, scattered(5-15%) Visitation levels have increased from about 100,000 per year in 2013 to about 140,000 in 2018, which seems to be within the carrying capacity, although this need to be better understood for strategic planning (Stevns Municipality, 2018). A worry has been that further increase in visitation could lead to increasing impacts due to uncontrolled fossil collecting, however, monitoring in 2018 showed that contrary to previous years, less 'alarming' activities were being observed. In addition to uncontrolled fossil collecting, issues such as littering and wear and tear are also being continuously monitored (Stevns Municipality, 2018). Threats are managed through the legislative framework for protection of natural heritage in Denmark and regional and municipal planning to support the protection of the site (World Heritage Committee, 2014; IUCN, 2014). The framework was strengthened in 2019 with Stevns Municipality’s new Tourism Strategy 2019-2022 and a new development plan for Stevns Klint (Stevns Municipality, 2019a). In addition, the Management Plan aims to ensure a sustainable development of tourism services over the next years, implement a traffic plan and regulate what type of activities that can take place along the cliff (Stevns Municipality and World Heritage Stevns, 2017). ▶ Mining/ Quarrying Low Threat (Exploring for, and developing raw material of chalk for industrial Outside site purpose) Stevns Klint is a serial World Heritage site with a small gap between the two components at Sigerslev Kridtbrud where an active chalk quarry exists, including a quay for seaborne export. Permission to extract in the specified areas has been granted to OMYA A/S and runs for the time being until 2033 (IUCN Consultation, 2017). In February 2017 OMYA A/S applied for permission to extend the existing quarry with 29ha and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is currently being undertaken (Region Sjælland, 2017). Shipping associated with the export is very limited and well regulated, but requires continued supervision. The quarrying area is not part of the World Heritage site and the activity is currently not regarded as having negative influence on the site. The quarry is the only active one in the Municipality of Stevns (IUCN, 2014; State Party of Denmark, 2012). ▶ Fishing / Harvesting Aquatic Resources Very Low Threat (Fishing) Outside site Fishing within the area of the World Heritage site is restricted to sport fishery and angling. Stevns Municipality is part of a project - Fishing Zealand - a large cooperation project consisting of several municipalities on Zealand and surrounding islands and volunteer sport fishermen who work together IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Stevns Klint - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment with local businesses and tourism organizations to develop sustainable sport fishing tourism and improve fishing opportunities