Joggins Fossil Cliffs Protected

An expanded area of the Joggins cliff face containing fossils from the Coal Age 300 million years ago is now protected under legislation.

The 14-kilometre stretch of cliff has been designated as a protected site under the Special Places Protection Act. In 1972, less than two kilometres of the cliff had been designated.

"The Joggins site is an important part of Nova Scotia's natural heritage, an excellent resource for education at many levels, and a tremendous asset to our tourism industry," said Len Goucher, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "Extending its legislated protection to a larger area ensures it will remain a special place that we can share with the world for generations to come, and helps the community with its application for UNESCO World Heritage Site designation."

Since 2005, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage has invested $2.9 million in capital funding for a new interpretive centre at the site. The federal government has contributed $4.9 million. The Municipality of the County of Cumberland contributed $941,000.

The Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association is building the centre and developing the site as a research centre and attraction for tourists and others.

"We're very pleased that more of the cliff face has been designated as a protected site," said the association's executive director, Rhonda Kelly. "Protecting a larger area of the cliffs is important for our UNESCO submission, and it's another example of tremendous partner support from the provincial government."

The special place designation covers the cliff face and 500 metres from its base to the water. The land at the top of the cliff is not designated, so as the cliff erodes, there will be no need to change the boundaries of the designation.