This article is from page 38 of the 2007-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 38 JPG
THERE was no birthday cake or can- dles but there was still plenty to cel- ebrate when the BurrenLIFE Project (BLP) turned three last week.
Much progress has been made to- wards environmental and economic sustainability in the Burren over the last two years of the project and hope are high that year three will see the BLP make even more progress on a number of goals.
Since Christmas, much of the fo- cus of the organisation has been on a programme of targeted scrub remov- al. This work is designed to protect
the limestone paving of the Burren by opening up stretches of land that have been overrun by scrub.
This allows cattle and sheep to once again graze on the land and prevent the further encrouchment of scrub.
The project has spent more than €150, OOO on scrub removal with €100, OOO been spent in the last three months alone. They have set up a register for skilled and semi- skilled workers which has lead to over 90 workers registering to help with the work.
‘Much progress has been made in the first 2 and half years of operation and the number of farmers interested
in participating in the BLP has ex- CITA Te Ro. qee eet Maer COM NCTC D BUT O Conchuir, Project’s Finance and Operations Officer.
“In recent months we have been extremely busy working with LIFE farmers to enhance livestock man- agement facilities on project sites.
“Direct site work related to scrub removal has been ongoing and inten- sive since the BLP established a Reg- ister of Workers in December.”
The vast majority of these workers are local farmers who have a deep understanding of the work. This has shown that conservation work can economically support local com-
munities and local communities can work to play a role in the active man- agement of the Burren.
According to Dr Sharon Parr, the Project’s Scientific Co-ordinator, the programme of targeted scrub remov- al has greatly assisted participating farmers to open up access for cattle and restore priority habitats to a bet- ter conservation status.
In excess of 20kms of access track- ways have been opened and in excess of 50 hectares of scrub has been re- moved. For further information on the work of the BLP’s and its ongo- ing programme is available on www. eUME ODER CoNee)NOe