Impact 1-Fossil Collection

Inappropriate fossil or specimen collecting is a potential threat to the World Heritage Site (ie we don't people just digging up vast numbers of fossils and walking away with them..) Too many collectors have left unsightly marks in the rock where they have been digging But.... Not a major concern because there are SO MANY FOSSILS, so the activity is SUSTAINABLE (the sea constantly erodes new sections of cliff, exposing new finds of fossils) A CODE of GOOD PRACTICE has been agreed by collectors

A World Heritage Site

The Jurassic Coast- England’s first and only natural World Heritage Site.   so it needs looking after...

Tourism and the Economy-Gateways The Management Plan-Primary Gateway Centres to the coast. educate visitors about the coast’s unique geology show how the coast is conserved and managed in a sustainable way in line with World Heritage Site principles provide practical information on visiting the coast such as maps, activity providers and accommodation. Attract quarter of a million visitors a year,  generate £5.3m of visitor expenditure and support around 170 additional full-time jobs.  

Impact 3-Litter

 

TOXIC-Danger to sea creatures, damages local FOOD CHAIN and ECOSYSTEMSHealth RiskRisk of cuts on broken glass lying on beachUnsightly

Impact 5-Urban BlightIncreasing tourism brings "blight", ie the building of large and inappropriate structures, eg hotels, leisure centres along previously unspoilt coasts. Large caravan parks in prominent headlands look unattractive; make surrounding roads congested Marinas built in sheltered harbours; with car parks, boatyards, new buildings, noise-loss of amenity Towns grow along coast and may merge, creating unbroken urban strip. Loss of amenity

Impact 4-Water Sports

Sub-Aqua divers collect vulnerable species e.g. Pink Sea Fan and Ross Coral; may cause damage to fins of  rare species of fish Jet Skis disturb wildlife – noise e.g. waders feeding in Poole Harbour and can Damage wildlife e.g. to sea grass beds at Studland; Coastal marina developments, especially by reclamation, and by pollution from sewage, bilge water and litter.  Windsurfers trample over rare species in sand dunes   

Impact 2-Coastal Squeeze"  human activity limits habitat-eg new buildings, sea defences such as the wall to protect against erosion in the second diagramcrowd out the habitat 

Fossil hunters' paradise

Charmouth  

famous for fossils,  attracts many visitors to the area. In addition to fossil collecting, Charmouth is used for beach activities, bathing and rock-pooling.

Lulworth Cove -  

privately owned. Up to ¾ of a million visitors a year  

see the internationally recognised  features of the Cove, Stair Hole and Durdle Door.  The pebble beaches of Lulworth Cove, Man O’War Cove and Durdle Door are popular for beach activities, rock-pooling, bathing and water sports.

Solutions

Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas.  There are a number of voluntary areas in the South West, focusing on different aspects of the marine environment.  Zoning-Poole Harbour Aquatic Management Plan 

This plan identifies the southern Harbour as a ‘Quiet Area’ It separates the commercial shipping channel, the main recreational craft channel and the small boat channel from the designated windsurfing area and the Jet-ski area.   

Attractions of Jurassic Coast  

Studland and Shell Bays owned by the National Trust.  

Up to 1.5 million visitors a year, attracted by the fine sandy beaches and a range of beach and water-based activities.   

but what IMPACT do all these people have? Good and Bad...