Marble Arch Caves Geopark
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An Application to Expand the Marble Arch Caves European Geopark on an International Basis into County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. (Application submitted as a joint co-operative venture by both Fermanagh District Council in Northern Ireland and Cavan County Council in the Republic of Ireland) Обработено от Хинко www.hinko.org An Application to Expand the Marble Arch Caves European Geopark on an International Basis into County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. (Application submitted as a joint co-operative venture by both Fermanagh District Council in Northern Ireland and Cavan County Council in the Republic of Ireland) An Application to Expand the Marble Arch Caves European Geopark on an International Basis into County Cavan in the Rep. of Ireland Обработено от Хинко www.hinko.org Contents page A. Marble Arch Caves European Geopark- Introduction 1 A.1. Name of the Region 1 A.2. Location 1 A.3. Description of the Proposed Expanded Marble Arch Caves European Geopark 1 A.4. Description of Management Partners 2 A.5. Marble Arch Caves European Geopark Organisation 2 A.6. Enclosures 2 B. Scientific Description of the European Geopark Territory 3 B.1. Introduction 3 B.2. Full Geological Description of the Area 3 B.3. List and Description of the Geological Sites 9 B.4. Details on the Interest and International, National or Regional Significance of these Sites 9 B.5. Current or Potential Pressure on the Geopark and these Sites 10 B.6. Current status in Terms of Protection of the Sites 10 B.7. Site Management Data 12 B.8. List and Description of Non-geological Sites 12 C. Arguments for Nominating the Region as a European Geopark 13 C.1. Analysis of the Region’s Economically Sustainable Geotourism 13 D. Management Structure 14 D.1. Marble Arch Caves European Geopark 14 D.2. Strategic Participants 15 D.3. Supporting Organisations 15 E. Description of Existing Geological Institutions and Activities 17 E.1. Geological Organisations 17 E.2. Educational and Scientific Activities 17 E.3. Marketing, Public Relations and Community Integration 24 F. Policies for the Protection, Enhancement and Economic Development of the Geological Heritage 25 F.1. Policies for the Protection, Enhancement and Economic Development of the Geological Heritage 25 G. General Information on the Territory 26 G.1. Economic Activity 26 G.2. Provision for the Protection of the Region 27 G.3. Analysis of the present status of protection of the region 27 G.4. Existing Facilities 27 G.5. Future Facilities Planned 27 H. Conclusion 29 Appendix 1 Complete Site List Appendix 2 Designations Appendix 3 Panels and Facilities Appendix 4 Publications Appendix 5 Map of Earth Science Review Sites (ESCR) within the Marble Arch Caves European Geopark in County Fermanagh Appendix 6 List of the Irish Geological Heritage Sites for the Geopark in County Cavan Appendix 7 See Appendix 7 file on disc Appendix 8 Interpretative Panels at Proposed Geopark Sites in County Cavan Appendix 9 Finance An Application to Expand the Marble Arch Caves European Geopark on an International Basis into County Cavan in the Rep. of Ireland Обработено от Хинко www.hinko.org Section A Marble Arch Caves European Geopark - Introduction A1 Name of the region This proposed expansion phase of the Marble Arch Caves European Geopark falls within the administrative boundaries of Fermanagh District Council in Northern Ireland and Cavan County Council in the Republic of Ireland. A2 Location The Marble Arch Caves European Geopark is located in the northwest of the island of Ireland, approximately 2 hours drive west from Belfast and 2 hours drive northwest from Dublin. The international border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland forms the southern boundary of the existing Geopark and is also the boundary between the respective counties of Fermanagh and Cavan. The joint, respective geographical boundaries of both Fermanagh and Cavan are also the respective administration boundaries for both Fermanagh District Council and Cavan County Council. Maps are shown in Figures A2.1 to A2.2. It should be noted that, unlike most other European countries, the public do not have the right to walk on private land in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland due to the specific public access and trespass laws that exist in both countries. The Councils must avoid giving the impression that some private land is included in the Geopark without the owners’ permission as this would create public resentment against the Geopark by including large areas of private land within it. Therefore, in accordance with the provision agreed by both UNESCO and the European Geoparks Network in relation to the September 2007 expansion of the Geopark within Fermanagh, a notional boundary encompassing all the Geopark sites in County Cavan is shown in Map A2.1. It should be noted that this boundary does not imply that all of the land within the boundary constitutes the Geopark as this is clearly not the case. It is not the intention of either Fermanagh District Council or Cavan County Council to impose the Geopark on private landowners without their agreement or to invite the public to walk on private land without the owner’s permission. Of course, there are large geological, geomorphological and landscape features such as mountains, cliffs, lakes and moorlands on private land contained within the notional geopark boundary in Cavan. While the Geopark will not necessarily permit public access to these features many of them will be interpreted at a distance from viewpoints, on scenic drives, in publications and from vantage points on guided walks. In these regards the proposed cross-border Marble Arch Caves European Geopark is exactly the same as any other Geopark. A3 Description of the proposed expanded Marble Arch Caves European Geopark All of the existing Marble Arch Caves European Geopark is in County Fermanagh, which is situated in the southwest of Northern Ireland bordering the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland and Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Fermanagh is a largely rural county of 170,000 hectares and has a population of approximately 57,000. The existing Marble Arch Caves European Geopark (as at September 2007) covers more than 10% of county Fermanagh. Fermanagh District Council developed Marble Arch Caves as a geotourism facility in 1985 and the caves are now established as one of the leading tourist attractions in Northern Ireland, having attracted over one million visitors from over 100 countries since opening. In 2001, Marble Arch Caves and the Cuilcagh Mountain Park jointly became the first area in the United Kingdom to be awarded European Geopark status, which was followed in 2004 by UNESCO Global Geopark status when UNESCO extended its Geopark strategy on a worldwide basis. Fermanagh District Council made a successful application in February 2007 to both the European Geoparks Network and UNESCO, for a second phase expansion of the Marble Arch Caves European Geopark in the west Fermanagh region of Northern Ireland. County Cavan is situated in the north midlands of the Republic of Ireland, bordering the counties Meath, Monaghan, Leitrim, Westmeath and Longford in the Republic of Ireland and Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. Cavan and Fermanagh are both in the province of Ulster and both have been designated as a border counties for regional development purposes. Cavan is an inland county covering 189,000 hectares and is primarily a rural county, with only 16.8% of its population of 64,000 living in urban areas. An Application to Expand the Marble Arch Caves European Geopark on an International Basis into County Cavan in the Rep. of Ireland 1 Обработено от Хинко www.hinko.org Section A Marble Arch Caves European Geopark - Introduction Fermanagh District Council and Cavan County Council wish to apply, to both UNESCO and the European Geoparks Network, to expand the Marble Arch Caves European Geopark into West Cavan, extending from the highlands and dry limestone lands of Cuilcagh Mountain to the lowlands and wetlands of Lough Oughter in the centre of County Cavan. If this application is successful then this could be the first international cross-border Geopark anywhere in the World and thus, will provide a platform to create further social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits, which will be of strategic importance in the Irish Border Region. This international approach to developing the Marble Arch Caves European Geopark is a model of best practice for other regions of the world where countries share common borders. Given the recent history of conflict in Ireland, the cross-border expansion of the Geopark will be widely regarded as a symbol of hope for peace by people in other countries where conflict still exists. Fermanagh and Cavan share a rich natural landscape featuring expanses of brooding, unspolit lakeland punctuated by breathtaking mountainscapes. The area stretches from the heart of the Cavan Lakeland, in the centre of Cavan with its internationally significant ribbed glacial moraines to the globally rare blanket bog habitat of Cuilcagh Mountain in the west. Landscape character assessments have been carried out for the entire region. Fermanagh and Cavan are renowned for their rich cultural identity and strong sense of community. The county towns of Cavan and Enniskillen are the two administrative centres within the proposed expanded Marble Arch Caves European Geopark. Fermanagh District Council and Cavan County Council in partnership with the vibrant Fermanagh and Cavan communities have adopted and maintained a responsibility to sustainable local development. This will be best achieved by addressing local issues with resilience and confidence, creating a sense of commitment and optimism for the future. A4 Description of both Management Partners Fermanagh District Council and Cavan County Council will be the only management partners for the Geopark.