The Irish government has approved funding for the implementation of an agri-environmental “blueprint” developed by the BurrenLife project, which officially ended on 31 January 2009.

The €3.0 million package, which was announced by Environment Minister, John Gormley, will provide support to over 100 farms in the Burren (unique limestone area in the west of Ireland) over a three-year period. The objective is to work towards an improvement in the conservation quality of the Burren's unique habitats by ensuring the sustainable agricultural management of high-nature-value farmland within the area. Measures undertaken by the participating farms will also contribute to improving water quality, and to maintaining the high quality of the Burren landscape and cultural heritage.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Mr Ciaran O’Keefe from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the BurrenLIFE project beneficiary said: "The minister has been very supportive of the BurrenLife approach and nothing really comparable has happened before in terms of the success it has achieved. Everyone is delighted with it."

Read more here: LIFE and BurrenLIFE