Journal of Environmental Management (1999) 56, 195–207 Article No. jema.1999.0280, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on Sand and gravel aggregate resource management and conservation in Northern Ireland J. Knight*, S. G. McCarron, A. M. McCabe and B. Sutton Glaciofluvial landforms in Northern Ireland are important resource bodies for sand and gravel aggregate, and also form integrated geomorphic assemblages which have scenic and aesthetic importance in the landscape. Determining the overall ‘value’ of sand and gravel features in economic and landscape terms involves making assumptions about their geotechnical properties, future extraction rates, and quantifying otherwise poorly-defined aesthetic attributes. This paper deals mainly with landscape economic, scientific and aesthetic ‘values’ and rates of resource depletion on different spatial scales. Based on remote sensing, field mapping and automation of the data set using a geographical information system (GIS), glaciofluvial sand and gravel is calculated to cover 534 km 2 ±10% in Northern Ireland (>3·4% of land area). By assuming specific deposit thicknesses for each landform type, mappable sand and gravel reserves are calculated to range between 2400 and 14 675 million tonnes. Based on low growth, high growth and ‘business as usual’ scenarios of future annual increases in extraction rate from 1996 AD onwards, these reserves are calculated to have a lifespan of 48–314 yr (median value 132 yr). Case studies of the Glarryford esker complex and the Lough Fea deltas complex illustrate the local landscape importance of sand and gravel features. These case studies show that defining, quantifying and evaluating landscape resources at a local-scale is a necessary part of aggregate resource management and conservation where the overall resource-base is diminishing.  1999 Academic Press Keywords: glaciofluvial landforms, aggregate resources, landscape conservation, GIS. scenic diversity of natural landscapes (Leo- Introduction pold, 1969; O’Neill, 1993), which characterize most of Northern Ireland (McCabe, 1994; Aggregate resource management impacts on Knight, 1997; Mitchell and Ryan, 1997). strategies for landscape conservation and re- Many landscapes have a ‘value’ above that source prioritization because it is a component of their economic worth because of their of wider economic and land use planning importance to past or present human ac- (McKelvey, 1972; Blunden, 1985; Larsen, tivities and cultures (Penning-Rowsell, 1982; 1987; Mattig, 1992; Bobrowsky, 1998). These Warnock and Evans, 1992; Nordstrom, 1993; management issues are especially important Simmons, 1993). The determination of this where aggregate extraction decreases the value is contentious because it involves quan- overall environmental quality of a landscape tifying poorly-defined historical, cultural, aes- by creating noise, air and water pollution, and thetic and economic landscape attributes * Corresponding author ecosystem disruption (Blunden, 1985; Mattig, which may vary markedly over both time and 1992; McCabe, 1994). Aggregate extraction space and between single observers or land- School of Environmental may also adversely change the morphology scape user groups (Leopold, 1969; Calvin et al., Studies, University of Ulster, Coleraine, (shape) of individual landforms, and therefore 1972; Penning-Rowsell, 1982; Simmons, 1993; Co. Londonderry, the overall geomorphological ‘make-up’ of the Johnson, 1995; Coeterier, 1996). This problem Northern Ireland, BT52 landscape (McCabe, 1994; Rivas et al., 1995; of landscape assessment is most apparent in, 1SA, UK Knight, 1998). The arrangement and po- but not exclusive to, glaciofluvial landscapes Received 28 April 1998; sitioning of individual landforms contribute because of the close genetic relation between accepted 23 February 1999 significantly to the aesthetic attributes and landscape relief, surface geology, soils and 0301–4797/99/070195+13 $30.00/0  1999 Academic Press