Burren Limestone Network

A proposed cross-landowner biodiversity corridor project connecting fragmented limestone pavement habitats across 1,200 hectares of the iconic Burren landscape. The Burren is one of the most botanically rich landscapes in Europe, but intensifying agricultural pressure and the removal of traditional cattle grazing has led to scrub encroachment and habitat fragmentation. This project would coordinate 34 landowners into a single management framework that restores the mosaic of open pavement, calcareous grassland, and hazel scrub that defines the Burren's unique character.

Our Approach

The project would use participatory mapping workshops to build a shared spatial understanding of the landscape across all 34 participating farms. Ecological surveys would identify the critical pinch points in the corridor where targeted scrub management and fencing would have the greatest connectivity benefit. We would design a landowner incentive framework in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, creating a bespoke agri-environment scheme for the Burren's distinctive land management requirements.