Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site Jurassic Coast Sustainable Transport Improvements and Actions (2009 – 2014) (WORKING DOCUMENT, April 2010) Please contact: 1 Sally King, Visitor Manager, Jurassic Coast Team T:01305 225091 E:
[email protected] Ref: Jurassic Coast Transport Improvements and Actions, April 2010, Final draft 1. Introduction World Heritage Sites are places of global significance, recognised by UNESCO as having ‘Outstanding Universal Value’. The Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site (commonly known as the Jurassic Coast) is England’s only natural World Heritage Site and was designated in 2001 due to its unique and internationally significant geology and geomorphology. The Site stretches from Orcombe Rocks near Exmouth in the west, to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage in the east. Within this 95 mile (155 km) stretch lies a near continuous sequence of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous exposures, representing approximately 185 million years of Earth history. In addition to its designation as a World Heritage Site, the coast and its adjacent coastal corridor are included in both the Dorset and East Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). A wealth of further designations demonstrate the national and international significance of the coast and adjacent land in terms of its landscapes, wildlife, geology and heritage. Designations include three Heritage Coasts, Special Areas of Conservation (SAC’s), Special Protection Areas (SPA’s), RAMSAR, National Nature Reserves (NNR’s), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s), Regionally Important Geological sites (RIGS) and Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM’s), amongst other forms of special protection. The area is truly of global importance and attractive to visitors on many levels.