Heard about our World Heritage To help protect the Outstanding Universal Value and Integrity of the World Heritage Site, download the Management and Action Plan and note any actions Site? which you or your organisation could contribute to e.g. • Could you be a potential funder? –Have a look at the projects and actions in the plan and notify the World Heritage Site Steering Group if you’d like to contribute. • Are you interested in sensitive land management? – Help the National Trust and DARD develop opportunities for sensitive farming within and The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast WHS meets UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee is responsible around the WHS. two selection criteria: for inscribing sites on the World Heritage List. World • Are you a tourism business unsure how best to Heritage Sites can be cultural like the Great Wall of • “It contains superlative natural phenomena or explain WHS status to your guests? – Direct them China, natural like the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic to the plan, give them a copy of this leaflet or tell Coast or mixed like Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park importance” (Criteria vii). them to contact CCGHT or the National Trust for (Ayers Rock) in Australia. • “It is an outstanding example which represents further information. It is not easy to become a WHS, there is a lot of work, major stages of earth’s history, including the • Are you a politician interested in improving processes, protocols and agencies involved. Sites must record of life, significant on-going geological protection for designated sites and landscapes in first make it onto a ‘tentative list of future nominations’. processes in the development of landforms, Northern Ireland? – Download, share, quote, use The World Heritage Committee makes the final decision or significant geomorphic or physiographic and promote the 2013-2019 WHS Management on the inscription of a Site. features” (Criteria viii). and Action Plan. If accepted a unique Statement of Outstanding Universal The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World • Visiting the Giant’s Causeway or know people Value is adopted. This outlines the inscription criteria Heritage Site occupies a unique place on the World who are? – Make sure to mention the Giant’s and an assessment of site’s Integrity or Authenticity, Heritage List. No other site will ever be inscribed for the Causeway and Causeway Coast is a UNESCO World World Heritage Sites are basically the physical condition or originality of the Site. same Outstanding Universal Value. The Giant’s Causeway Heritage Site. quite simply irreplaceable and Causeway Coast’s official Statement of Outstanding All World Heritage Sites must be of Outstanding Universal treasures of the natural and Universal Value can be found at: http://www.doeni.gov. Value and meet at least one of ten selection criteria. cultural world. The United Nations uk/niea/souv.pdf Education, Scientific and Cultural For further information about World Heritage Site status Organisation (UNESCO) define them as: at the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast contact Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust at: “Places of natural and/or cultural significance so exceptional that they transcend national E. [email protected] or Tel. +44 (0) 28 2075 2100 boundaries and are of common importance for To find out more about the World present and future generations of all humanity” Heritage Site and details of the day to day management visit; http://www.giantscauseway.ccght.org or scan the QR code. Managing Northern for ever, for everyone. The Benefits for All! What can you do for Ireland’s Only WHS Trust is responsible for the the Giant’s Causeway day to day operation of the Over 1 million people visited the The Giant’s Causeway and publicly accessible elements of Giant’s Causeway and Causeway and Causeway Coast Causeway Coast is Northern the World Heritage Site and is largely Coast WHS between July 2012 and World Heritage Site? Ireland’s only World Heritage Site responsible for the delivery of the August 2013. At least three quarters of these visitors used the new National Trust The Giant’s Causeway is so special that it is and was inscribed in 1986 as a natural Management Plan. protected by many designations. This means site in recognition of its geological and facilities. Records show visitors have been The World Heritage Site Steering Group, welcomed from 178 countries, demonstrating good management is even more important. geomorphological values, its history of scientific Visitor enjoyment must be balanced with health study and exceptional landscape values. which is currently chaired by Northern Ireland the international appeal of such a dramatic and Environment Agency, represents those with interests beautiful site. Throughout the UK as a whole 28 and safety needs, whilst also guaranteeing protection It is located on the exposed Atlantic Coast in County in and beyond the WHS boundary. The Management UNESCO World Heritage Sites generate £61 million for for the Site’s important habitats, species and geology. Antrim and covers 70ha of land, 160ha of sea and spans Plan brings organisations together to guarantee the the economy annually. UNESCO World Heritage status is a wonderful accolade 3km of coastline. The famous causeway stones, the conservation of the Site and make sure the benefits which everyone in Northern Ireland should celebrate, cliffs, natural processes and the Girona Historic Wreck of the WHS designation are realised. The most recent In 2012 4 million overnight trips were taken in Northern support and promote. Site are all part of the official World Heritage Site. It is Management Plan and Action Plan can be found at: Ireland generating £683 million in tourism expenditure. The Causeway Coast and Glens destination accounted estimated that there are 40,000 basalt columns, the www.giantscauseway.ccght.org for approximately one fifth of all visitor expenditure result of slow cooling of up to three lava flows in what during these stays. The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway was a water-flooded valley - or then again, maybe it was The Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust is a Coast WHS isn’t only an asset for the County Antrim all made by Finn McCool! charity devoted to promoting and enhancing the unique heritage of the coast, it benefits everyone. All World Heritage Causeway Coast and If in doubt about its significance, have a quick look Sites should have a Glens Area. CCGHT around and you are sure to see its influence. It is printed management and provides a secretariat on your money and we even have Finn McCool crisps. action plan. The service for the WHS Every department within the Northern Ireland Executive Causeway Coast and Steering Group and displays the columnar formations derived from the Glens Heritage Trust produces the WHS Causeway proudly on their logo. (CCGHT) and the Management Plan Giant’s Causeway and Action Plan. In addition to its economic and cultural influence, the and Causeway Coast WHS is a global research destination and a leader in World Heritage Site Every six years, the sustainable management of dynamic natural sites. S te e r i n g G ro u p the UK Government Cutting edge technology fuels research at the site and To ensure the Giant’s Causeway remains a leader in ( W H S S G ) produce provides a Periodic guarantees close ties with both Queen’s University protected area management and to secure sustainable this document for Report to UNESCO Belfast and the University of Ulster. revenue generation for everyone in Northern Ireland, the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World on the state of conservation of World Heritage Sites our politicians, policy makers, businesses and Heritage Site. It provides an agreed structure for under its jurisdiction. A report was submitted in Education underpins daily management. School local residents must value and protect the Site. management of the Site. The National Trust 2013 and it set out the emerging issues and children can experience first-hand, what is required to protect their environment. owns and cares for a large proportion of the opportunities for the Giant’s Causeway and There is an opportunity here to protect There are few other places in Northern World Heritage Site. The conservation Causeway Coast World Heritage Site. Any much more than the natural Ireland where one can see such charity has a remit to look after issues are reviewed and incorporated environment. Northern Ireland can a wealth of habitats, species, special places and landscapes into the new management plan show the world how it should geology and tourism activities like the Giant’s Causeway, and action plan for the WHS. be done. in a small area.