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Wildlife campaigners demand full investigation into Killarney National Park fire

Wildlife campaigners are calling for a “full investigation into the causes and consequences” ...
Michael Staines
Michael Staines

15.41 26 Apr 2021


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Wildlife campaigners demand fu...

Wildlife campaigners demand full investigation into Killarney National Park fire

Michael Staines
Michael Staines

15.41 26 Apr 2021


Share this article


Wildlife campaigners are calling for a “full investigation into the causes and consequences” of the fire that ripped through Killarney National Park over the weekend.

Thousands of hectares of the park were damaged in the blaze which originally broke out in a number of areas to the south of Killarney town.

The blaze was eventually brought under control this morning; however, helicopters are still working to damp down a number of hot spots in the area.

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Wildfires have been increasing across the country over the past decade and last weekend alone there were fires in Wicklow, Cork and Mayo as well as in the Mourne Mountains in County Down, where a major incident was declared.

The causes of the fires have yet to be determined; however, they are believed to be the result of human activity.

While it is illegal for farmers to burn any growing vegetation between March and August each year, many fires have been reported since the prohibition came into effect this year.

In a statement, the Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) said the Killarney fire was “only one of a number of fires on upland areas in recent days and are part of an annual ritual which has been going on for over a decade.”

“The IWT feels that the law surrounding these illegal fires must be enforced and a cultural shift is needed to discourage the burning of land for agricultural purposes,” it said.

“Politicians and farming organisations must show leadership in this regard.”

IWT Campaigns Officer Pádraic Fogarty called on the Government to “initiate an emergency response to the spate of out-of-control fires which are devastating wildlife habitat, poisoning air and water and releasing greenhouse gases.”

“it is nearly two years since the Dáil declared a climate and biodiversity emergency yet we are still waiting on emergency measures which would break the annual cycle of infernos that has wreaked havoc on our natural environment,” he said.

“We know what those measures are but we have so far lacked the political will and leadership from farm organisations to see these through.”

In a statement, the Minister for State with responsibility for parks and wildlife, Malcolm Noonan, noted that the “main source of wild fires is frequently thought to be the deliberate starting of fires without concern for the consequences.”

“Uncontrolled burning can kill nesting birds including birds like the curlew which has been lost from huge areas of Ireland,” he said.

“It can destroy other species and habitats, damage commercial forestry and leave areas unsuitable for grazing for a long period of time.

“Uncontrolled and unplanned burning can result in a monoculture of more dominant, stagnant vegetation types over large areas.”

Emergency services will continue operating at Killarney National Park throughout the day to ensure the fires are fully out.


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