County Clare plans to save Irish wildlife and Burren.

County Clare is recognised nationally for its Archaeological significance, with many large and well-recognised sites. Some areas of the Burren remain unchanged since the presence of the first farmer and are regarded as prehistoric landscapes fossilised in time i.e. Parknabinna. The vast number of archaeological sites alone in the Burren make it of international importance, with 300 recorded "Fulacht Fiadh - Ancient Cooking Place", 450 ring forts and the densest concentration known of wedge tombs in Ireland. Many more sites have yet to be located and recorded. A recent Discovery Programme revealed a wealth of Archaeology in the mud flats at the Shannon Estuary. The western stone ring forts were nominated for world heritage status this year.
Seeeking to protect the rich heritage, Clare county council have launched 10 new environmental plans aimed at protecting Irish wildlife. The news follows consistent and increasing evidence of environmental damage to some of Ireland's most endangered wildlife.
The biodiversity action plans of County Clare have been created in response to region's "rich heritage and diverse wildlife habitats coming under increasing threat," Clare County Council acting heritage officer Tomás Mac Conmara said.
The 10 plans produced by the Clare Heritage Office is a strategy to protect the region's world-famous Burren limestone landscape and studies into unique and threatened species, including the Irish pollan and Leisler's Bat.
"The growing demands of the tourism and leisure industry and increasing visitor numbers are taking their toll on the environment of the Burren," Mr Mac Conmara said.
"This has resulted in environmental damage through car parking and camping on fragile species-rich, limestone grasslands." Growing tourism was also threatening the county's fragile sand dune system, he said.
A sand dune action plan will be unveiled next month, which will include reducing vehicle and pedestrian access. Clare Biodiversity group chairman Dr. Simon Berrow said although the action plans had outlined what was required, it was "imperative" these were implemented with the community input.

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County Clare plans to save Irish wildlife and Burren.