Mountain landscape management requires community approach

MacGillycuddys Reeks: Mountains are part of a pilot scheme that shows way forward for an effective shared community management of landscape. Photograph: Nathan Kingerlee/Outdoors Ireland

The report by the Irish Uplands Forum recommends a small amount of seed funding and a large dose of moral support to develop projects similar to those already piloted in Kerrys MacGillycuddys Reeks and at Mount Gable in Co Galway.

The report by the voluntary group was presented to Minister of State for Rural Development Ann Phelan to mark United Nations International Mountain Day.

Naturalists, ecologists, outdoor education interests, local authorities, rural recreational officers, farm and forestry advisers and rural and agricultural policymakers were also involved, according to forum chair and mountaineer Frank Nugent.

The conference agreed on a Dungarvan Declaration, which refers to the vital benefits to society, such as water supplies and biodiversity of a landscape maintained by generations of hill-farmers.

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Mountain landscape management requires community approach