Impact of Farming Practices on the Ecosystem of The Aran Islands
Traditional farming methods have developed on the Aran Islands to promote ecological sustainability as well as agricultural productivity. These traditions are essential to preserving the delicate harmony of the islands’ diverse ecosystems, which are home to numerous unique and specialised species.
Winterage System
Seasonal Grazing
Cattle graze on upland pastures during the winter months, a practice unique to limestone areas like the Aran Islands and the Burren
Rest for Lower Fields
The upland grazing allows lower fields, which are used during the summer, to rest and rejuvenate during the colder months.
Biodiversity Conservation
This method prevents overgrazing, maintains soil fertility, and supports biodiversity through natural limestone “storage heaters” that release stored heat in winter, ensuring grass remains available for grazing.
Floral Regeneration
Fields left ungrazed during summer develop a rich cover of wildflowers each spring, providing food and habitat for a diverse range of insects and birds, essential for pollination and seed dispersal.
Summerage System
Rotational Grazing
In the summer, cattle are moved to the lower, richer fields, which have been rejuvenated during the winter fallow period.
Soil Fertility
These fields are closer to farmsteads and are often richer in organic matter and moisture, benefiting the growth of lush grazing grass.
Species Diversity
Rotating grazing between Winterage and Summerage fields allows different plant species to flourish at different times of the year, enhancing overall biodiversity.
Ecosystem Support
Summerage practices help maintain ecological balance by controlling invasive plant growth and reducing the risk of bush encroachment, which can result from undergrazing.
These age-old agricultural methods portray a sustainable approach to agriculture that benefits the soil and the people, and they show a deep grasp of the unique natural landscape of the area. The Aran Islands conserve biodiversity and sustainably use their land by combining these age-old methods with contemporary conservation initiatives. This helps to protect the islands’ cultural heritage.
Conservation Efforts
EU designations establishing the Aran Islands as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) encourage significant conservation efforts on the islands. These initiatives concentrate on protecting environments that are essential to the existence of particular plant and animal species, such as those that are exclusive to the machair grasslands and limestone pavements of the islands.
From 2014 to 2018, the EU LIFE Nature Fund-funded AranLIFE project was significant in advancing sustainable farming methods that improve ecosystem welfare and biodiversity.
