Les falaises fossilifères de Joggins constituent un site paléontologique de 689 hectares, situé le long de la côte de la Nouvelle-Ecosse (dans l'Est du Canada). On le surnomme le « Galápagos du carbonifère » en raison de la profusion de fossiles qu'on y trouve et qui remontent à cette période géologique (datant de 354 à 290 millions d'années). Les roches du site sont considérées comme des exemples types de cette période de l'histoire de la Terre ; elles constituent le vestige de la strate pennsylvanienne (vieille de 318 à 303 millions d'années) le plus important en épaisseur et en richesse au monde, ainsi que le registre fossilifère le plus complet des formes de vie terrestres de cette époque. On y trouve des restes et des traces des premiers animaux et des forêts tropicales humides dans lesquelles ils vivaient, conserves in situ, intacts et non perturbés. Les 14,7 kilomètres de falaises maritimes, de microfalaises, de plates-formes rocheuses et de plages du site regroupent les vestiges de trois écosystèmes : une baie estuarienne, une forêt tropicale humide en plaine inondable et une plaine alluviale boisée sujette aux incendies et comportant des mares d'eau douce. Le site offre l'ensemble le plus complet de fossiles de ces trois types d'écosystème, soit 96 genres et 148 espèces de fossiles ainsi que 20 groupes d'empreintes. II est répertorié en raison des échantillons spectaculaires qu'il renferme et qui représentent les principales étapes de l'histoire de la Terre.

Valeur universelle exceptionnelle en anglais

The Joggins Fossil Cliffs have been termed the “coal age Galápagos” and are the world reference site for the “Coal Age”. Their complete and accessible fossil-bearing rock exposures provide the best evidence known of the iconic features of the Pennsylvanian (or Carboniferous) period of Earth History. Criterion (viii): Earth’s history, geological and geomorphic features and processes: The “grand exposure” of rocks at Joggins Fossil Cliffs contains the best and most complete known fossil record of terrestrial life in the iconic “Coal Age”: the Pennsylvanian (or Carboniferous) period in Earth’s history. The site bears witness to the first reptiles in Earth history, which are the earliest representatives of the amniotes, a group of animals that includes reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals. Upright fossil trees are preserved at a series of levels in the cliffs together with animal, plant and trace fossils that provide environmental context and enable a complete reconstruction to be made of the extensive fossil forests that dominated land at this time, and are now the source of most of the world’s coal deposits. The property has played a vital role in the development of seminal geological and evolutionary principles, including through the work of Sir Charles Lyell and Charles Darwin, for which the site has been referred to as the “coal age Galápagos”. Integrity The boundaries of the property are clearly defined in relation to logical stratigraphic criteria and include all of the areas necessary to fully display the fossil record of Joggins including the cliff face and foreshore rock exposures, and include both the most fossiliferous strata and younger and older rocks that provide geological context. The inland extent of the property is defined based on the eroding top of the cliffs and this is a fully justifiable and logical basis to cope with the dynamic nature of this coastal property. A relatively narrow buffer zone is defined, which is not part of the inscribed property, but is sufficient to control coastal development which could otherwise threaten the values of the property. Protection and management requirements The property has effective legal protection and has the strong support of all levels of government, including in relation to the provision of funding. Some aspects of the legislation, such as for the licensing of fossil collection are cumbersome and would benefit from review, although can be better implemented if site managers are empowered to do so. The site is well resourced, including through the provision of a new visitor centre, and is managed in a way that can be considered to set international standards. The effective process of community involvement and partnerships between scientists, museums and economic interests are also noted, and the biggest challenge of the property will be to maintain the level of performance and resources required in the future.