Pursuit of UNESCO designation for Fundy geological area on hold for now

An application to have UNESCO recognize part of the Bay of Fundy region as an area of geological significance has been placed on hold.

The Cumberland Geological Society, which operates the Fundy Geological Museum in Parrsboro, N.S., has been working for more than two years to establishthe Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global GeoPark.

But the society recently learned that if the UNESCO designation is granted, the museum may not be allowed to continue sellingrocks and minerals in its gift shop and may be required to stop sponsoring the Nova Scotia Gem and Mineral Show, a significant tourist draw in the area.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are areas with international geological significance,and protection of the resource, as well as education and sustainable development, are among the key criteria.

Oralee O'Byrne is the treasurer of the board ofthe Cumberland Geological Society, and is also a member of the committee overseeing the application.

She said the designation would bring global attention to the geological significance of the area and would be a "great marketing tool."

"There's not one of us on the board who doesn't think it would be a phenomenal thing for the area. It's just we're concerned about this one clause,"O'Byrnesaid.

The board of the museum has written to the Canadian GeoParksNetwork to seek clarification on the rules about commercial use of geological material, and to make its case for being allowed to collect and sell that material.

The museum does not sell fossils whichcan only be collected with a permit butit does sell rocks and minerals. The gift shopmade about $60,000 in retail sales last year.

O'Byrne said the Nova Scotia Gem and Mineral Show is a "big economic boost" for the area, drumming up business not just for vendors at the show, but also for restaurants, gas stations and motels. She said it would be a "great loss" if the museum was not able to hold the event, which has taken place for more than 50 years.

But aside from those financial concerns, O'Byrnesaid she wouldn't want the designation to hamper the efforts of citizen scientists, whodiscover specimens such as Nova Scotia agate, stilbite, amethyst and copper in the area.

Preservation concerns

Helen Tyson, who ownsTysons' Fine Mineralsin Parrsboro, echoed that sentiment. Shehas owned the shop with her husband Rod, who is the chair of the Cumberland Geological Society, since 2007.

"Every single day we have people coming in here and their parents say this is the highlight of their summer,this is the highlight of their trip. That can't be damaged for anything."

But it's not the financial impact on the store that she's worriedabout. Tyson said she just wants to ensure that people are able to come to the area, pick up a rock, and "take it home, study it, love it."

"The joy of geology is something that is such a treat," she said. "That thing is millions of years old. When you break that little rock open and you see that tiny little crystal in there, no other human being has ever seen that. I mean, how often do you get that in your life?"

Tyson added that while she understands the push to protect the area, collecting mineralsis a form of preservation because otherwise, the tides will take the specimens away.

"Once they are exposed,the clock is ticking," she said."If you leave it alone, erosion is going to turn it into mud on the bottom of the bay. And for some of these things, that is simply unacceptable. We are stewards of this material. We need to make sure that it's preserved for future generations."