Burren edges closer to Geopark status

THE Burren and the Cliffs of Moher moved a step closer to achieving official Geopark status recently. Clare County Council, through the Burren Connect Project, submitted an application to the European Geoparks Network (EGN) for the European and Global Geoparks status for the Burren and Cliffs of Moher region of North Clare.
The EGN was founded in 2000 to help protect geodiversity, to promote geological heritage among citizens and to support sustainable economic development of regions through the development of geo-tourism.
The network currently consists of 37 territories in 15 European countries, two of which are in Ireland, the Copper Coast Geopark in Waterford and the Marble Arch Cave Geopark in Cavan and Fermanagh.
“If successful, the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark project will provide the area with an identity as a region for sustainable ecotourism that is recognised across Europe,” explained Edel Hayes of the Burren Connect Project.
European Geopark status is a non-legislative designation and, as such, it has no impact on planning issues or land management practices.
“The proposed European Geopark in North Clare will comprise of a network of managed, publicly accessible sites, the established network of education and visitor centres and the newly accredited Burren Ecotourism Network, as well as the Shannon Region Trails and national walking routes,” Ms Hayes continued.
Getting to this point has taken some time, with the first meetings held on the issue over two years ago. Burren Connect held a series of public meetings in November 2008 to introduce the proposed application to the EGN. These meetings were followed up in September 2010 where the application proposal was presented to the public.
Indeed, getting Geopark accreditation is not a quick process. Following the submission of the application at the end of last month, the process involves a period of assessment by the EGN.
“A team of EGN evaluators will subsequently visit North Clare in summer 2011 to conduct an on-the-ground assessment of the region’s tourism infrastructure, geological heritage, events calendar, education programmes and public support for the proposal.
“The public is invited to view the application online at www.burrenconnect.ie/geopark. Any comments or submissions are still welcome and will be incorporated into the assessment programme,” Ms Hayes explained.
Clare County Council, Shannon Development and the Geological Survey of Ireland believe the award of European Geopark status would be of significant benefit to conserving the environment, marketing the region to a European and global tourism market and in helping to sustain the local economy by supporting job creation and community development.