{"id":11182,"date":"2016-04-12T11:47:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-12T10:47:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/?p=11182"},"modified":"2016-04-12T11:47:51","modified_gmt":"2016-04-12T10:47:51","slug":"world-heritage-status-cements-giant%e2%80%99s-causeway-as-keystone-of-northern-ireland-tourism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/2016\/04\/world-heritage-status-cements-giant%e2%80%99s-causeway-as-keystone-of-northern-ireland-tourism\/","title":{"rendered":"World Heritage status cements Giant\u2019s Causeway as keystone of Northern Ireland tourism."},"content":{"rendered":"

This year the Giant\u2019s Causeway celebrates 30 years of its United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site status \u2013 a title that brings with it recognition of the landmark\u2019s global importance.<\/h1>\n

Only countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention, an agreement to protect heritage sites, can be including on UNESCO\u2019s World Heritage List. However, in order to be listed, the site must meet at least one of the organisation\u2019s strict criteria. The Giant\u2019s Causeway meets two.<\/p>\n

Beautiful \u2013 and important <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Panoramic view of Giant's Causeway, Co.Antrim, Northern Ireland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Giant\u2019s Causeway and Causeway Coast is not only beautiful, (and therefore of huge aesthetic importance) but the 40,000 interlocking basalt columns are also testament to a major stage in the earth\u2019s development.<\/p>\n

When the UK government joined the UNESCO scheme in 1986, they pledged to protect the natural and cultural heritage of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Giant\u2019s Causeway was the only natural phenomenon granted World Heritage status that year (although the tiny Scottish archipelago of St Kilda was deemed to have mixed \u2013 both natural and cultural — importance.)<\/p>\n

Subsequently, a World Heritage Site management plan was put together by local authorities and charities, addressing the conservation requirements of the site and visitors\u2019 needs in terms of access and information.<\/p>\n

Since 2005 the UK\u2019s largest conversation charity, the National Trust, has been the sole guardian of sections of the Causeway Coast World Heritage Site, including its crown jewel, the Giant\u2019s Causeway.<\/p>\n

The charity works to protect, manage, and ensure the integrity of this phenomenal natural landscape in line with UNESCO\u2019s requirements, safeguarding its status and future.<\/p>\n

\u2018It is a privilege to assist in managing such an important landmark,\u2019 said Eleanor Killough, Learning and Visitor Experience manager at the Giant\u2019s Causeway National Trust. \u2018Those of us who work here know how much the causeway is valued both by international visitors and the local community. My team is passionate about this special place and the stories to be told. We pride ourselves on delivering excellent visitor experiences and are confident we do it justice.\u2019<\/p>\n

World Heritage Day event<\/strong><\/p>\n

To celebrate World Heritage Day on Sunday 17 April, the National Trust will host a series of fun activities at the Giant\u2019s Causeway. Take a 2-hour guided walk with a National Trust conservation expert and plant wildflowers, or join us in the Visitor Centre for a themed-treasure trail, crafts and world music with Belfast musical ensemble, Los Dramaticos.\u00a0 Normal admission applies; National Trust members free admission. Book online for discount at giantscausewaytickets.com. For bookings to the guided walk, call: 028 2073 3419.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This year the Giant\u2019s Causeway celebrates 30 years of its United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site status \u2013 a title that brings with it recognition of the landmark\u2019s global importance. Only countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention, an agreement to protect heritage sites, can be including on UNESCO\u2019s … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11182"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11182"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11185,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11182\/revisions\/11185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}