The Burren

lostexpectation

There was abig article in the Times last week saying how new satilite photos have show how the exposed limestone surface of the was being covered by growth, or that 'the burren' was disappearing, leading to a reduction in the unique flora and fauna there, now I thought the burren was a damaged landscape from overgrazing etc and growth of scrubs and trees would be its healing itself, not a bad thing? the article didn't say it was bad thing but it did say the unique habitate was being lost?

Oldtree

The burren is a managed landscape, like most of the irish countryside. The decrease in sheep and goat numbers, grazing, has allowed nature to return. Things like ivy, grasses and ferns are the first pioneers to reinvade this limestone vaccum. Insects like ants follow and add to the distrobution of organic matter, which forms a lovely seedbed for other plants. Followed closely by willow, birch (birch is known as a pioneer tree), spindle, blackthorn, hawthorn, ash and cherry. The eventual end of the cycle would be a woodland. The south of mayo is known to be a further outcrop of the burren, and it is easy to see the continueum here.

There is unique flora and fauna all the way in these different habitat types, you just have to look closely.

Talliesin

It is a tad ironic that in preserving the Burren we are preserving the ecological damage of stone age forest-felling.

However, the Burren is home to species not found elsewhere. And also pretty cool

Alun

Talliesin wrote:

It is a tad ironic that in preserving the Burren we are preserving the ecological damage of stone age forest-felling.

That's not a unique situation. Many of the so-called 'natural' landscapes we admire are at least partly man made, in many cases due to extensive deforestation either for clearing for agriculture or for wood for ship-building etc.

However, the Burren is home to species not found elsewhere. And also pretty cool

There are similar limestone pavements in Yorkshire, England too although not as extensive ... Google for 'Malham Cove'.

Oldtree

The sundew is a tiny carniverous plant that occours on large commonage areas in england. The commonage areas were created 4,000 years ago by man felling trees, clearing brush followed by intensive grazing. An effort is underway to preserve this unique habitat as due to the decrease in grazing trees like pine and birch were beginning to take over. Also the cattle and animals let in to graze are of a lightweight nature so as not to further damage the system.

Sadly all these efforts are being undone from another direction. Where roads have been put through commonage the sundue and friends are dying out due to the excess of pollutants in the air from the traffic, with no plants being found within 1 mile of roads. It turns out they need very fresh air to survive.