Geoheritage 5. Geoscience heritage in New Brunswick

Abstract

Geoheritage encompasses a broad range of topics, from the preservation of geological sites, to maintenance of archival and specimen collections, gathering and dissemination of data, legislation, and geotourism. New Brunswick has a long history of geological investigations that have considerably advanced our understanding of a complicated geological past spanning one billion years. Although the province contains a number of classic geological sites, and many of the first geological explorations in the country were conducted here, only two of more than 1100 historic sites in the province are based on geohistory. Fortunately, geoheritage resources are readily available in New Brunswick, and many of the early geosites are still accessible. Improving geoheritage in New Brunswick is, in part, the responsibility of members of the local geoscience community, which knows it best. Existing heritage systems, such as New Brunswick's Register of Historic Places and the national Historic Places Initiative, provide the means to ensure that geoheritage becomes part of society's collective heritage awareness.