Farming in a protected landscape

THE preservation of the Burren in Co Clare, one of the most important landscapes in Europe with a wealth of natural and cultural heritage, will be discussed at a three-day international conference in Ennistymon at the end of this month.

BurrenLife Project (BLP) has been working for the past four years in partnership with the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), Teagasc and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) towards developing a new model for sustainable agriculture in the limestone region.

Much of the Burren is designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the European Union Habitats Directive and forms part of the Natura 2000 Network. These areas contain a variety of habitats, including limestone pavements, grasslands, limestone heaths and hazel scrub.