Protecting the Burren’s treasures from scrub

HOW to protect the many ancient treasures of the Burren is becoming a challenge, with monuments under threat from scrub which has grown prolifically in the past 30 years.

This rocky and beautiful landscape contains a wealth of archaeological remains now in danger of becoming overgrown. The situation is highlighted in a report by the Heritage Council, on the risks posed to monuments by the encroachment of scrub. Fieldwork shows damage to monuments, both above and below ground, and indicates a risk of monument loss or loss of access to monuments.

The mapping of a sample area showed hazel scrub had almost doubled between 1974 and 2005.

Clare County Council has allocated €1.4 million for new visitor management arrangements and an environmental protection plan for the area. As well as being a natural treasure, the Burren continues to be a huge visitor magnet. Too many visitors, however, can damage the very attraction that brings them to there the first place. The three-year, county council plan, which has Fáilte Ireland approval, has to be viewed against a background of likely threats. It’s not that long ago since the challenge in Ireland was to lure people to these majestic, wild places. Now, however, such places are in danger of being over-run, resulting in erosion and damage to landscape and historical remains.

Even ecotourism has risks for the environment. In an effort to curtail increased visitor pressures on the main Burren areas, four circular driving routes are to be developed to divert visitors away from what has become known as “honey-pot’’ sites and encourage them to go to the lesser known sites.

The limiting of visitor numbers to other vulnerable sites is also under constant examination. As tourism grows, we’re likely to see more limits on visits to fragile areas.

Other threats to the Burren include environmental damage caused by car parking and camping on delicate areas, traffic congestion, graffiti on monuments and the picking of rare and endangered plants.

The priority, however, is to ensure the survival of everything of value in the Burren. According to the Heritage Council report, 71% of recorded monuments are being directly affected by scrub. It describes encroachment of scrub as a “major threat’’ to flora and fauna. Main effects are a change of habitat from open land to scrub and obstacles put in the way of grazing livestock. Following the close examination of seven, one-kilometre areas, a number of recommendations resulted. These highlighted the need for a proper management plan, a five-year survey of habitats and recorded monuments, a full archaeological study and an annual monitoring of hazel growth.

The Burren has a history of human habitation stretching back at least 5,000 years, as the monuments testify. It was designated Ireland’s fifth National Park in 1991. The vegetation is the result of human influence. Prior to the introduction of agriculture by Neolithic people, woodland was widespread over the area but, ongoing human occupation gave rise to an open vegetation.

Traditional grazing helps to maintain the rich flora. As might be expected in a national park, the Burren also contains many species of animals including seven types of bats, not to mention hares, foxes, pygmy shrews, stoats and pine martens. It is also home to a herd of feral goats. Eighty-four species of birds have been recorded there. Peregrine falcons and hen harriers are regular visitors, but the raven is more commonly sighted. Monuments include ancient tombs, stone forts, church ruins, standing stones, crosses and other artefacts speckle that landscape. Some were erected at least 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. Some of the historical sites take an effort to reach and lie well off beaten paths.