Joggins Fossil Cliffs

Members of the local communities are well represented on the board of directors. Annual reports confirm that the JFI also supports or is part of many programs in the local communities. Although there is no evidence provided for the involvement of the Indigenous people (Mi'kmaq Nation) in decision-making processes, the JFI follows Parks Canada Indigenous Stewardship Policy, which lays the foundation for equitable, effective, and collaborative stewardship now and into the future between Indigenous communities and Parks Canada (Parks Canada, 2024). The Indigenous Authority for this site lies with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, and through them, the Elders Advisory Council. The Elders conferred on the origins of the name Joggins, concluding as the regions Knowledge Keepers, that the name derives from 'Chegoggins' (Place of the Weirs' or 'Place of the Great Encampment'). The Joggins Fossil Institute has recently changed this name without consultation with the Elders Advisory Council, which is highly problematic with regard to respecting the highest level of Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. Apart from a minimal representation on the Board, there has been diminished involvement in meaningful involvement of the community at large (IUCN Consultation, 2025).

No immediate threats or concerns are apparent in this area. Nova Scotia's Heritage Property Act conforms the regulatory and conservation needs on ground at Joggins site. Adequate legislation is in place, with some continuing needs to maintain effective balance of legal protection of fossil remains, with adequate enforcement and assurance of collection and curation of important specimens. The property is protected under a range of provincial and municipal laws and regulations, including the Provincial Special Places Protection Act, Beaches Act, Minerals Act and the land-use planning and zoning by laws of the Municipality of Cumberland (IUCN, 2008; State Party of Canada, 2007).

The property is managed by the Joggins Fossil Institute Association. A public non-profit organization with a volunteer Board of Directors. The Board is made up of both local residents and government appointments. The day to day oversite of the Joggins Fossil Cliffs is carried out by the Institute's management team, which reports to the Board of Directors (State Party of Canada, 2024). No immediate concerns are apparent in this area, however, there does not seem to be a representative of the Mi'kmaq Nation on the board of directors.

No immediate threats or concerns are apparent in this area. The property has protected status under a range of overlapping provincial and municipal laws. It is protected through convergent legislation that includes protective designations, mineral exploration closures, land-use planning and zoning. These include the Provincial Special Places Protection Act, Beaches Act, Minerals Act and the land-use planning and zoning by laws of the Municipality of Cumberland (State Party of the Canada, 2024).

Boundaries of the property are clearly defined and include all areas necessary to fully display the fossil record of Joggins (World Heritage Committee, 2008). The landward and seaward boundaries are tied to the natural process related to the values of the property (IUCN, 2008). The boundaries are well known by local residents and landowners (State Party of Canada, 2013; 2024).

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The only Decision taken by the World Heritage Committee on this property was the one inscribing it on the World Heritage List which included only one recommendation, namely that "the State Party widely publicise the results of its monitoring of fossil resources produced by natural erosion and the development of educational and research collecting policies, which could serve as a model for such management elsewhere" (World Heritage Committee, 2008). Grey and Skilliter (2011) speak to some of this fossil management structure (IUCN Consultation, 2020). This request has also been achieved through the excellent visitor engagement which revolves around the centre run by the Joggins Fossil Institute, and ongoing outreach through the available channels, including the local newspaper, radio stations and educational tours etc. (Joggins Fossil Institute, 2019).

Joggins locality will be adversely affected by the sea level rise induced by anthropogenic climate change. The JFI is in a well-justified position to be a strong advocator and educator in this area, however there is a lack of information on the integration of climate action in current management.

No immediate threats or concerns are apparent in this area. A clear and effective management system is in place (IUCN, 2008; State Party of Canada, 2007). Management is implemented through the Joggins Fossil Institute, a not-for-profit society. It is governed by an Advisory Board of Directors and advised by a Scientific Advisory Committee which provides important relationships with scientists from the Nova Scotia Department for Natural Resources (IUCN, 2008).However, accessibility to scientific information the JFI stores is of critical importance to achieve the institute's mission.

The JFI is an important partner with the Province of Nova Scotia to enforce its Heritage Property Act. The scheme seems to be working well in the current form, where the province enforces the law where all reports are made to the provincial government, and thus the JFI is not in the position to form judgement on whether to elevate or dismiss each report into a potential legal case. Periodic reports have noted that there was acceptable capacity and resources to enforce legislation, although some deficiencies remained (State Party of Canada, 2013; 2024). However, no detailed and more up-to-date information is available.

The finance seems to be stable, however the the JFI is approaching the end of a 10 year agreement with the government partner, which is essential for enabling management activities and operations (State Party of Canada, 2024). A small institution like the JFI can be impacted disproportionately by changes to its funding scheme. The institute should be encouraged to work closely with the provincial government of Nova Scotia to actively participate in their network of educational and scientific institutes and as a steward of this important natural heritage.

There is little evidence or data to make assessment in this area, however the most recent periodic report states that there are some deficiencies in human resources and additional recruitment of staff is envisioned (State Party of Canada, 2024). A question may be raised about active research that can be maintained by supporting or collaborating with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows; normally, fossil localities of this importance acts as a station/host for field and research training to early career scientists. Miguasha, Dinosaur Provincial Park, and Mistaken Point all host field school or student-participated field program. But Joggins only seem to receive field trips. In 2024, the Joggins Fossil Institute continued to participate in TRACK (training, resources, assessment, coaching, and knowledge sharing), which is offered by the Nova Scotia Association of
Museums. TRACK offers training that helps museums to address accessibility, equality, diversity, and inclusion, responding to climate change, and community needs (JFI, 2024).

The JFI has been acting an effective public interface for education and interpretation about this unique window into the Palaeozoic times. Strong educational programmes are in place and a number of activities are being offered, including educational group visits and day camps for children and the 'Fossil Finders' exhibit opened in 2015. The staff of the Institute also deliver talks and presentations to community, school and professional groups.

The JFI is among the top tourist destinations in this part of the province. It is evident from visitor testimonials and their statistics that people come to visit this place from around the world. However, there is a need to update the visitor management strategy. Recent efforts are focussing on incorporating the history of the indigenous peoples form this area, the Mi'kmaq. Going forward new signage will be fabricated to include the Mi'kmaq language and interpretation will be developed that will explain the site through the Mi'kmaq world creation story (State Party of Canada, 2024). Creative approaches are being used, centred on the visitor centre that was constructed to support the site on inscription. A rotating exhibit highlighting the current research at the site on coprolites was opened in May 2018 alongside existing 'Fossil Finders' exhibits and more. An estimated 15,000 visitors come to Joggins Fossil Cliffs annually and are well managed with high levels of engagement in tours of the site. Nevertheless, the strategy to manage visitors and tourism activity needs updating (State Party of Canada, 2024).

No immediate threats or concerns are apparent in this area. The site manages sustainable use of the fossil resource, and in addition its visitor services model wider approaches to environmental sustainability. The main visitor facilities are LEED certificated with on site renewable energy in use, and local produce used in the visitor centre (IUCN, 2008; State Party of Canada, 2007).

Monitoring was evaluated as highly effective at the time of inscription (IUCN, 2008). The Joggins Fossil Cliffs provides the best exposure in the world of the 'Coal Age ecosystem, and in particular fossil lycopsid forests. The stratigraphic occurrence of standing fossil trees in growth position had been monitored for a two year period following inscription, but this has not been maintained (or at least not made public). Such monitoring is low cost, and can lead to a three dimensional reconstruction of the fossil forests as erosion continues to advance further into the fossil-bearing cliffs. Given these conditions, the JFI should have an efficient monitoring plan that extends beyond its limited staff, but the provided documents fall short of clearly outlining how the JFI monitors for newly exposed fossils. Airborne (drone) photography, and especially utilizing LIDAR drones available from the NS Department of Natural Resources should be conducted at least annually to achieve this goal that lies at the heart of the site's OUV. Data on erosion rates, fossil discovery rates, volunteer program (or other schemes to engage citizens), and collaboration schemes with local authorities and interest groups are needed to effectively monitor and conserve the fossils.

There may be a question raised about the standing of Joggins in the current research sphere of the Carboniferous palaeontology. Publications based on Joggins fossils are clearly on the downward trend. Only one peer-reviewed paper was published around a Joggins fossil in 2023-2024 (Bailey et al., 2024) and in 2022 (Arbez et al., 2022). No tangible evidence is provided about growth of the research collections, conservation activities (field collection) of newly exposed fossils on site, or ongoing research activities at the JFI. In comparison to other palaeontology-based World Heritage sites in Canada (Miguasha, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Mistaken Point), output from Joggins is falling far behind in the number of peer-reviewed publication, grants attracted, or domestic and international research collaboration. This lack of productivity has been in part compensated by amateur palaeontologists in the area, and these contributions were cited when one such member of the public received an award from the Paleontological Society (Deer, 2023). Nevertheless, there is no evidence for coordination or collaboration between the JFI and these local interest groups, raising concerns about the relationship the JFI should be maintaining with the public. In this sense, the JFI seems to be an insular presence in Nova Scotia palaeontology. For long-term success of this World Heritage Site, it is critical to invest in building functional relationships with local interest groups and universities and generate research opportunities through international and domestic collaboration, as otherwise the value of the locality will only rest on its historical context to Lyell and Darwin.

Mostly adequate in the current state, due to a strong legal framework and relatively few threats originating from outside the site. Nevertheless, climate change and the resulting increased erosion of cliffs and exposure of fossils poses a risk to the integrity of the site. There is a current lack of information on climate action at the site level, which needs to be addressed.

Adequate, with some concerns about how the JFI is or plans to support ongoing research activities in the site and how it engages with local interest groups and potential research collaborators.