This article is from page 81 of the 2009-02-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 81 JPG
MINISTER of State Tony Killeen TD this week said that the prepara- tion of a UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination for the Burren re- mained a key priority for the Depart- ment of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The North Clare TD explained that Environment Minister John Gorm- ley was committed to developing a management plan, which would have to be undertaken as part of the nom1- nation process.
The World Heritage List includes 878 properties in 141 countries, which the World Heritage Commit- tee considers as having outstanding universal value. They include monu- ments and landmarks as diverse at the Great Wall of China, the Great Bar- rier Reef, the Sydney Opera House, Machu Picchu in Peru, as well as the historic centres of famous cities such as Venice, Prague, Rome and Paris.
Ireland currently boasts two list- ed World Heritage Sites; Skellig Michael (1996) and Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne (1993). Each World Heritage Site 1s the property of the state on whose territory the site is located, but it 1s considered in the interest of the in- ternational community to preserve each site.
According to Minister Killeen, “A
key initiative of the Department’s UNESCO world heritage programme is the preparation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination for the Burren. Munister Gormley has informed me that work on progress- ing the nomination will be brought forward in the context of the priori- tisation of the constituent elements of the Department’s UNESCO world heritage programme.”
“IT am especially delighted to learn from the minister that consultation with all relevant stakeholders and interested parties will be an inte- gral part of this nomination process. Consequently, I urge all local people to join in the discussion around the Burren region’s attempt to acquire World Heritage Site status’, he add- ed.
Minister Killeen noted that achiev- ing World Heritage Site status would be an important milestone for the future of the Burren. He explained, “Such status would not only help raise the profile of the Burren and at- tract additional tourists but it would help ensure the conservation of the fragile landscape for future genera- tions. The continued protection of habitats, including Special Areas of Conservation designated under the EU Habitats Directive, and conser- vation of sustainable farming prac- tices are also vitally important to the Burren region.”