Karmen Peternelj, Sanja Alaber, Miloš Bavec, Stefano Devoto, Stefano Furlani, Goran Glamuzina, Jernej Jež, Tvrtko Korbar, Maja Oven Stanič, Maria Luisa Perissinotto, Fabiana Pieri, Duška Rokavec, Ivan Stanič, Domen Zupančič
Fossils (from Latin fossilis, obtained by digging) represent the remains of animals, plants and other organisms from the remote past. They vary in size from microscopic, a few micrometres in diameter, to gigantic, such as dinosaurs and trees, which can be many meters long and weighing many tons. Within the RoofOfRock project we considered fossils, which are recognized to be significant in the scientific context, such as fish, plants, dinosaurs, etc.
Before starting any major ground works involving shafting in the territory of platy limestone (exploitation of major land reclamations, etc.), the competent institutions should be notified and, if necessary, they would organize the paleontological monitoring and storage of excavated limestone slabs for the reconstruction of authentic local architecture.
The general rule in the case of finding a fossil is that the person who found the fossil has to notify the competent organization about the discovery
The general rule in the case of finding a fossil is that the person who found the fossil has to notify the competent organization about the discovery. The stated rule is common for all four countries. The competent organization in Slovenia is the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation (an institute under the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning), in Bosnia and Herzegovina the competent organization is the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, in Italy is the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism and in Croatia is the Ministry of the Environmental and Nature Protection.
Slovenian law also prescribes rules on how to react in the case of finding a fossil while an activity is being carried out. In that case, it is necessary to stop the activities, protect the fossil finds and immediately notify the organization competent for protecting nature (the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation). Within seven days of being notified, the Institute must issue protection guidelines. After the Institute confirms that safety measures have been taken, the activities can continue. The same rule is prescribed in the case of finding a fossil that has the status of valuable natural feature.
Italian legislation is similar to the Slovenian. The only difference is that in Slovenia fossils could have a status of a “valuable natural feature” while in Italy they have the status of “landscape assets” and “public unavailable heritage”. The “public unavailable heritage” is inalienable and cannot be subjected to private rights except in the manner prescribed by law. Collecting minerals and fossils is absolutely prohibited, except with permission granted for scientific purposes.
In Croatia, minerals or fossils that are significant because of their rareness, size, appearance, or educational and scientific significance must be reported to the Ministry within eight days. They are protected on site (in situ) if possible or, if not, ex situ.
In Western Herzegovina, for consideration of potential impacts on the extraction of platy limestone and issues related to fossils, a fundamental document is the Environmental Strategy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2008-2018. Many natural heritage sites are protected by several laws and legal acts (see Table 5.1 at the beginning of the document).
From the legislative point of view, in Italy there is no distinction between high value fossils, such as vertebrates (e.g. fishes) and low value fossils, such as microfossils, etc. Conversely, in Slovenia and Croatia laws distinguish the type and value of fossils. For this reason, the qualitative assessment of the importance of the paleontological content of platy limestone is crucial.
In order to preserve paleontological heritage, the presence of a palaeontologist and/or geologist is crucial during exploitation activities
In order to preserve paleontological heritage, the presence of a palaeontologist and/or geologist is crucial during exploitation activities, since they can assist quarry operators to recognize and evaluate the importance of a fossil outcrop.
In the future, platy limestone exploitation and natural heritage preservation should integrate common legislation and common good practices, therefore materials similar to platy limestone should imply similar laws of natural protection and sustainable exploitation.
