Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast

The site is uninhabited, except for the Causeway Hotel, and mainly owned by the National Trust. However, there are a number of local communities close by. During the course of the last Management Plan (2013-2019), progress was made to involve the local community through, for instance, the addition of a community elected representative to the Steering Group and development of interpretation materials outlining the OUV and significance of the World Heritage site (CCGHT, 2012). Free admission is provided to locals and the National Trust run Community Open Days, training programmes and fund youth engagement. However, it is recognised that more needs to be done to increase understanding and awareness with the general public, especially communities local to the site. One of the five goals that the Steering Group hope to address through the lifetime of the 2021-2027 Management Plan is to better engage local communities and enable them to gain greater socio-economic benefits from the WH site designation (CCGHT, 2021). A Community Plan has also been developed by the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council (GBC, 2017), which provides a ‘key over-arching framework for partnerships and initiatives’ for the Borough until 2030.

There is no UK policy/direct legal framework/legislation for managing/conserving World Heritage sites. World Heritage site Management Plans are non-statutory. Statutory protections are granted via Planning Policy. According to the recent periodic report this presents challenges in recognition, buy-in and activities to World Heritage site management and protection (State Party of the UK, 2023). Nevertheless, the coastline at the World Heritage site has been legally protected since 1987 as a National Nature Reserve, and partly as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (since 2000). The entire Causeway Plateau is designated since 1989 as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In addition, the site had been designated a Special Area of Conservation and thereby given greater protection under the European legislation of the EU Habitats Directive (Protected Planet, 2012; UNESCO and IUCN, 2003), which has been upheld since Brexit. The overall legal framework of the site itself is still considered effective, while some concern exists about the protection status of its surrounding landscape.

Through the World Heritage Steering Group, for which the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT) act as Secretariat, there is ample opportunity to engage a range of stakeholders in the site’s management and protection. For example, the current management plan was developed in collaboration with, and on behalf of, the Steering Group and the State Party representative in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). A programme of consultation was delivered as part of this process. The Steering Group membership reflects conservation, tourism, economic, educational and landowner interests and is formed from landowner, community and organisational representatives (CCGHT, 2021).
NIEA financially supports the Secretariat, fulfilled by CCGHT via part-time role. The Steering Group collaborates on World Heritage site Management and Action Plans and meets tri-annually. The National Trust responsible for day to day management and operations of most of land WH site including the visitor facilities. The Crown Estate own the marine part and there is no formal day to day management in operation (State Party of the UK, 2023). Although there is coordination between the range of administrative bodies involved in the management of the property, but it could be improved across the higher governance levels – Northern Ireland, UK Government, International.

The management framework for the World Heritage site is integrated with 13 key policies and plans at different levels, including regional development, tourism development and spatial planning documents (Environment and Heritage Service, 2005). However, as mentioned in the ‘legal framework’ section, there is no UK policy/direct legal framework/legislation for managing/conserving World Heritage sites and the World Heritage site Management Plans are non-statutory. This means large-scale tourism or other developments in the immediate vicinity of the site remain a possibility, which may compromise its OUV.
The 2013 IUCN Advisory mission advised the State Party to strengthen the position and recognition of World Heritage sites in national law, including in all regions of the State, so that developments that create negative impacts on the OUV are not permitted (IUCN, 2013).
A specific section in the Regional 'Single Planning Policy Statement (SPS)' published in Sept 2015 is devoted to the World Heritage site stating "6.6 Development that would adversely affect the Outstanding Universal Value of a World Heritage Site (WHS) or the integrity of its setting must not be permitted unless there are overriding exceptional circumstances. 6.7 Inclusion of a WHS on a list published by UNESCO highlights the outstanding international importance of the site as a material consideration in the determination of planning and listed building consent applications, and appeals. Planning authorities must carefully consider applications affecting the Outstanding Universal Value of such sites, particularly taking into account the safeguarding of critical views to and from the site, the access and public approaches to the site and the understanding and enjoyment of the site by visitors." It also notes that: "WHSs are designated under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention of 1972 on the basis of their acknowledged ‘Outstanding Universal Value’. The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site is currently the only World Heritage site in Northern Ireland inscribed on the World Heritage list. It is inscribed because its natural and geological features are held to be of Outstanding Universal Value. Given their acknowledged international importance, it will be appropriate for a LDP having a WHS within the plan area, to identify the site and its broader setting and to include local policies or proposals to safeguard the Outstanding Universal Value of such sites and their settings from inappropriate development." Along with the Northern Area Plan 2016 these frameworks seek to protect the World Heritage site and its setting from inappropriate development. The majority of planning powers rest with local councils and a Local Development Plan will be fully adopted in 2026. The Department of Infrastructure retains some planning powers, which are guided by the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) Building a Better Future - an overarching statutory, strategic planning framework issued by the Department for Infrastructure. It addresses economic, social and environmental issues with a view to achieving and encouraging sustainable development. Several Regional Guidance (RG) and Spatial Framework Guidance (SFG) points relate to the World Heritage site.

The boundaries of this small (70 ha) site reflect the distribution of its values under criterion viii but are very narrow to effectively protect its scenic landscape values, the additional biodiversity values of the area and to account for the possibility of coastal erosion. A clearly defined buffer zone to achieve this was recommended by the 2003 Reactive Monitoring Mission (UNESCO and IUCN, 2003), and further by the 2013 IUCN Advisory Mission (IUCN, 2013). In 2016 the World Heritage Committee approved a minor boundary modification of an approximately 5 m increase running for most of the landward boundary to address the concerns that, should there be significant erosion, the cliff faces, which are key attributes of OUV, would no longer lie within the inscribed boundary (IUCN, 2016). Although the Distinctive Landscape Setting (DLS) operates as a de facto Buffer Zone at the World Heritage site and is recognised within Planning Policy, the recognition of the DLS/Buffer Zone could be improved, and further clarity is required over the relevance/importance of the DLS/Buffer for the OUV (State Party of the UK, 2023).

N/A

The 2003 a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission recommended to “…carefully review all zoning arrangements in order to preserve the landscape values of the Area of Outstanding Natural beauty surrounding the World Heritage site. No developments, which could potentially threaten these values, should be allowed”. The mission also recommended the establishment of a clearly defined buffer zone for the site (UNESCO and IUCN, 2003). These key recommendations, which were adopted by the Committee in its Decision 27COM 7B.21, were not followed (see National Trust, 2012a) in regard to the Runkerry Golf Resort development, which maintains the potential risk of future developments in the vicinity of the site with potentially harmful impacts on the OUV. Other requests and recommendations contained in Decisions 27COM 7B.21, 29COM 7B.27 and 32COM 7B.28 of the World Heritage Committee relating to information about the management plan and visitor centre redevelopment have been implemented by the State Party (World Heritage Committee, 2003, 2005, 2008).

The NI Climate Change Adaptation Programme 2019-2024 and 2024 Climate Adaptation Guidance (DAERA, 2019; National Trust, 2024) recognises natural capital as a key priority area and outlines government functions to support and develop mitigation measures. DAERA has initiated development of an Environment Strategy for Northern Ireland which presents an opportunity for climate change impacts and other key matters at the World Heritage Site to be recognised and actions attributed. The revised conservation management plans for the North Antrim Coast SAC and Skerries and Causeway Marine SAC will include information on climate change and appropriate management measures to mitigate against adverse changes. Both NIEA and DAERA, have a key role to play in raising awareness of the sites vulnerabilities and in supporting research, management and mitigation activities.

There are several climate-related research projects by the Geological Survey of NI (GSNI) including analyses of climate change on the World Heritage site e.g. Do UNESCO-designated sites have role to play in climate change adaptation within tourism sector in NI? Assessment of potential impacts of climate change on WHS including economic, social, environmental threats; Assessment of existing measures to adapt to climate change and evaluation of adaptive capacity; Evaluation of responsibilities of WHS to climate change measures and assessment of value of WHS designation in contributing to reduction of vulnerability and increased resilience. Through these investigations it was identified that heavy precipitation and waterlogging are both triggers for landslides at the World Heritage site and precipitation changes and increasing storm intensity and frequency could lead to increased occurrences (State Party of the UK, 2023). The Interreg project AGEO is developing good practice in the identification and monitoring of geological hazards that are increasingly common as a result of climate change. Using a combination of satellite data and onsite monitoring, with the help of National Trust staff, the project is helping to better protect and manage the site to reduce the risk from geological hazards such as rockfalls (AGEO, 2023). GSNI is a project partner and the World Heritage site is 1 of 5 pilot regions. The current status of the project in NI is unclear.

The World Heritage site is also researching a Climate Vulnerability Index format for relevance/applicability in collaboration with the Orkney WH site. Actions which will be included in the Action Plan 2024 focus on increasing and maintaining research via the Research Advisory Group (State Party of the UK, 2023).

The National Trust has also developed a natural hazard mapping tool which shows the climate hazard exposure for the World Heritage site for a range of natural hazards and their likelihood now and predicted in the future. This has already led to a better understanding of risks like flooding and coastal erosion (National Trust, 2025; State Party of the UK, 2023).

The site has many layers of statutory and non-statutory protection. The National Trust holds most of the land in inalienable ownership, with approximately 5% of the World Heritage site remaining in private ownership. A World Heritage Steering Group comprising relevant stakeholders provides the framework for implementation of the site’s Management Plan and represents conservation, tourism, recreation and the local community interests. The current Management Plan for the World Heritage site 2021-2027 provides an agreed framework and important actions for the sustainable management of the site and its environment (CCGHT, 2021). In combination with the regularly updated Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site Action Plan (most recent 2021-2023, currently being updated) concrete tasks and priorities are detailed to deliver the vision, aims and objectives of the management plan (CCGHT, 2021b). Furthermore, there is overlap with the management plan and 2020-2025 Action Plan for the Causeway Coast AONB with collaboration and communications channels clearly identified (CCGHT, 2020; CCGHT, 2013). The Beach Management Strategy is another example of efforts to improve collaboration across the coastal area that falls within the Antrim Coast & Glens AONB, Binevenagh AONB and the Causeway Coast AONB (McKenna et al., 2014).

The site is patrolled by wardens, contains information and warning signs and is difficult to access other than by approved routes (CCGHT, 2021). Measures appear effective in enforcing regulations overall, however instances of vandalism to the Causeway Stones demonstrates the need for some improvements (State Party of the UK, 2023).

Funding was assessed as insufficient by the State Party in 2006 (State Party of the UK, 2006). Additional funds were since raised for the construction of a new visitor centre, which opened in July 2012 (National Trust, 2012c). Sufficient resources proved a challenge through the lifetime of the 2013-2019 Management Plan as the Northern Ireland Environment Agency withdrew project funding in 2015 due to nationwide funding cuts. Thought has been given to resourcing the current 2021-2027 Action Plan while maintaining an ambitious outlook. The Steering Group and Project Manager will work to secure the necessary resource for delivery where it has not been identified (CCGHT, 2021).

The Government provides funding via the Northern Ireland Executive Agency (NIEA) for a part-time WH site project manager role, a modest project budget and funding to develop Management and Action Plans. This is equivalent to one full-time role when added together, provided to CCGHT. According to the most recent periodic report, the available budget is acceptable but could be further improved to fully meet the management needs (State Party of the UK, 2023). The existing sources of funding are secure over the medium-term and planning is underway to secure funding over the long-term as the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the reliance on tourist income for the site’s management. Covid-19 resulted in a major reduction in budget for the National Trust to manage the WHS. Visitor facilities closed for an extended period and visitor numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, therefore income is reduced. Impacts on staff levels, conservation activities and some projects are ongoing. Some funding is dependent on UK government budgets and so can fluctuate. Project funding tends to operate annually or on short term cycles and doesn’t provide long term stability.

There is a site-based capacity building plan/programme in place and being implemented to support the transfer of technical skills to those managing the property locally (CCGHT, 2021). According to the CCGHT website, there are 3 staff associated with the Causeway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including one Causeway World Heritage site Heritage Officer (CCGHT, 2025).

The National Trust runs a wide range of education and interpretation programmes at and around the site, including a website and well designed visitor centre with interactive exhibitions (National Trust, 2012c), school and student visits, guided tours and interpretative trails, and interpretation publications for a wide range of target groups and in eight languages.

A key challenge facing the National Trust is managing a popular visitor destination for conservation. Visitor numbers have rapidly risen reaching over one million in 2017-2019 compared to approximately 543,000 visitors in 2014 (Statista, 2024). However, since then there has been a 95% drop due to COVID-19, although numbers are gradually recovering from 140,000 in 2020 to 663,000 in 2023 (Statista, 2024; CCGHT, 2021). At peak times there is an increasing issue with tour coaches causing congestion on the rural roads and nearby villages and impacting negatively on the landscape character. Large tourism clusters heighten the impact of footfall, visual presence and noise within this area putting pressure on site management and the sensitive environment (CCGHT, 2021). A sustainability study has been commissioned to better understand the impacts of visitors on four areas (physical, ecological, experiential and socio-cultural). The study’s findings are expected to guide sustainable management that supports the OUV and help to realise the Steering Group’s vision (CCGHT, 2021), however the results are not available yet. Tourist facilities include a visitor centre with interactive exhibitions and cafeteria, a hotel run by the National Trust, parking and shuttle bus, trails and related facilities (National Trust, 2012c). Tourism remains seasonal with peak months being May – August. Increasing the quantity of visitors throughout the year and dispersing them better across the area continues to be a focus of the local council as reflected in the Tourism and Destination Management Plan 2015-2020; Key Objective ‘Generate more visitors, motivate them to spend longer in the area and visit throughout the year’ (CCGBC, 2015). As a means to reduce the concentration of visitors on the site and create a more diverse and sustainable tourism sector, diversification of the tourism offering has been advocated by the Steering Group (CCGHT, 2021). An overall coordinated tourism management strategy was recommended in 2003 (UNESCO and IUCN, 2003). Since then a Causeway Coast and Glens Tourism & Destination Management Strategy 2015-2020 Masterplan was published (Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, 2014) and a sustainable tourism strategy and action plan for the Causeway Coast & Glen 2011-2016 was also developed (CCGHT, 2011).

National Trust have long engaged with independent local tour guides/providers to collaborate at the WH site and beyond the WH site many shops, cafes and recreation activities are provided by local suppliers. Initial efforts are also underway to establish a UNESCO Global Geopark to support sustainable tourism as one aspect (North Antrim Geopark project) and there are various training and support services in places for local businesses and initiatives.
A World Heritage site Communication Strategy is also in development, including OUV messaging to key audiences which will hopefully address the vandalism mentioned in the threats section (State Party of the UK, 2023).

This very small World Heritage site consists of mainly coastal cliffs and foreshore and is not important for sustainable use other than tourism (UNEP-WCMC, 2011).

The National Trust undertakes a range of monitoring activities on the natural environment of the WH site and the adjoining protected sites (CCGHT, 2021). A comprehensive monitoring strategy and framework including several indicators on geology/geomorphology, landscape, ecology, cultural heritage, socio-economic and visitation trends, and the management of the wider setting of the site, was included in the previous management plans of the site (Environment and Heritage Service, 2005). However, no monitoring results appear to have been published and there is no such framework in the current management plan. It has been concluded that the site is vulnerable to impacts caused by climate change and the 2013 IUCN Advisory Mission recommended that “Natural threats (sea water rise, frequency of storm events) due to expected climate change should be carefully monitored…” (IUCN, 2013). Better monitoring and baseline information are also urgently needed to underpin effective shoreline management (Cooper and Jackson, 2018). The National Trust has recognised the need to better understand the impacts of visitors to the site and so have commissioned a pioneering sustainability study, however the results remain outstanding. A wide range of data is being collected across the World Heritage site to inform the study including air quality, habitat mapping, visitor mapping (numbers, trends, dwell times), monitoring of parking, review of paths including desire lines as well as gauging visitors’ feelings of their visit (CCGHT, 2021). Additionally, there are plans to establish a monitoring protocol for helicopter visits (CCGHT, 2021b).
The Action Plan 2021-2023 specifically encourages outcomes of research and monitoring programmes that inform sustainable management of the World Heritage site (CCGHT, 2021b) and focuses monitoring efforts on: improved coastal monitoring and management, cliff stability and path monitoring. However, the results of ongoing monitoring efforts and the extent to which these are integrated in management is unclear and the most recent Periodic Report states that monitoring of the status of indicators could be improved (State Party of the UK, 2023).

The site has been studied intensively over the last 300 years and has contributed significantly to the current understanding of the origin of igneous rocks, and Tertiary geology (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). It continues to support research in these fields. In collaboration with NI Universities a Research Advisory Group has been established in 2022 that focuses on contributing to necessary WH site research (IUCN Consultation, 2024). As sharing research results is currently adhoc, the Research Advisory Group aims to advise on research topics, provide expert advice, drive necessary research and boost dissemination of past, present and future research. Steering Group members National Trust, CCGHT, Geological Survey NI, Queen’s University Belfast and others conduct research ranging from species specific conservation, monitoring of WH site features through to social and community focused research (IUCN Consultation, 2024; State Party of the UK, 2023; CCGHT, 2021).
The National Trust welcomes researchers onto the site and facilitates a variety of research projects. The Queen’s University Belfast has had a long tradition of significant involvement with the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site. Researchers are invited to present on their research to the World Heritage Site Steering Group (CCGHT, 2021). In September 2018, the Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast WH site entered into a Sisterhood Agreement with Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes World Heritage site in South Korea to foster collaborative research. Some areas, such as climate change impacts and potential responses merit further research. The NI Evidence Report indicates that there are risks to habitats and heritage in the coastal zone from sea-level rise and that action and research are required to address this. National Trust, among others, are calling for strategic shoreline management and the development of a coastal observatory to support research and management (CCGHT, 2021). Furthermore, there are ambitions to recognise the site as a Global Geopark within the next three years (State Party of the UK, 2023), which would further strengthen research on the geological heritage. The most recent periodic report describes that vandalism by visitors to the Causeway Stones due to visitors lodging coins in columnar joints has been occurring. Various studies to explore the issue and find solutions are ongoing, including to determine whether the activity causes harm to the stones and whether a removal without causing potential damage to the stones is possible (e.g. Cliveden Conservation Workshop Ltd. 2024). This is a good example of where research is directly being used to inform the site's management.

The effectiveness of protection and management in addressing threats outside the site, mainly development of tourism infrastructure and potentially offshore wind farms, remains the main area of concern in relation to the overall management of the site because this might seriously compromise its OUV. The immediate surroundings are also under development pressure and subject to various development proposals. Large-scale developments or the cumulative impact of several developments may result in degradation of critical views from and approaches to the World Heritage site. Nevertheless, the WH Steering Group is making progress, for example by getting the WH site recognised and excluded from future licenses for petroleum exploration. In addition, the contribution of the WH site towards developing a stronger knowledge base on climate change and especially coastal erosion is commendable.

No formal management effectiveness assessment has been conducted for the site. Management of the World Heritage site itself by the National Trust is considered highly effective, while the management of the surrounding landscape is of some concern (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). Effectiveness of stakeholder engagement in the management of the site could be further enhanced but efforts are ongoing and can be considered successful thus far (IUCN Consultation, 2020; CCGHT, 2021).