Background
The Jurassic Coast Trust is a small organisation with big ambitions and a significant role to play in the future safeguarding, management and support of the Dorset and East Devon World Heritage coastline, the Jurassic Coast.
We are going through an exciting period of change as we move towards taking over full management responsibility for the World Heritage Site from our County Council partners in April 2017. This is a long term programme of work, developed collaboratively with our funders, partners and stakeholders, and signals an exciting new phase in the life of the Jurassic Coast, fifteen years since its UNESCO inscription in 2001. The Heritage Lottery Fund have also just provided significant transition funding to support our work over the coming nine months.
With a transitional Chair of Trustees in place, a revised Articles of Association ready to be adopted, and a new Committee structure soon to be put in place, we are looking to enhance our Board of Trustees with a range of professionals who can bring the skills, experience and leadership we need to succeed.
The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
The Dorset and East Devon Coast, popularly known as the ‘Jurassic Coast’, was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in December 2001 in recognition of the international importance of the geological processes which shaped the coast, its rich fossil record and its importance in the development of the earth sciences. The site was also nominated for its exceptional landscapes and natural beauty and while not inscribed by UNESCO for this reason, the national importance of this feature was recognised.
The Jurassic Coast Trust
The Trust’s proposed new Objects (still subject to final adoption) are: To promote the protection, conservation and presentation, for the benefit of the public, of the Dorset and East Devon Coast (Jurassic Coast) World Heritage Site (the “Site”), recognised by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (“UNESCO”) as having such Outstanding Universal Value that it warrants being inscribed on the World Heritage List through the powers of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) (“World Heritage Convention”), and in particular (but without limitation) to undertake the following:
(1) the advancement of environmental protection of the Site and its setting;
(2) the enhancement of the Outstanding Universal Value of the Site and of its setting;
(3) the education of the public in respect of the significance and values of the Site and the World Heritage Convention;
(4) to promote and contribute for the benefit of the public to the advancement of culture, heritage and science pertaining to the Site;
(5) to prepare, review, monitor, implement and coordinate the delivery of the Management Plan relating to the Site as agreed between UNESCO and the UK Government and as amended and updated from time to time (the “Site Management Plan”);
