Call for end to current farm practices to protect Kerry’s natural environment

There needs to be an overhaul of current farming practices to protect Kerry’s uplands and national parks.

That’s according to the Irish Wildlife Trust which made the comments after last weekend’s devastating fire at Killarney National Park.

Pádraic Fogarty of the Wildlife Trust said upland fires happen this time every year with grim predictability and cause ecological devastation.

Mr Fogarty called for an urgent end to the rule that penalises farmers for having ungrazable land.

He also said we need to end upland sheep grazing and gorse burning.

The environmental campaigner said farmers need to be incentivised to protect the land.