Burren Visitor Info Protected Areas

The main environmental designation that currently applies in the Burren is that of the Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Three main terrestrial SACs encompass some 30,462ha of the Burren. Running from the west to east, these SACs are:

 Black Head-Poulsallagh Complex Special Area of Conservation (IE0000020), which extends along the north-western coast of the Burren, covering some 5,572 ha.

Moneen Mountain Special Area of Conservation (IE0000054), encompassing much of the central Burren ‘Uplands’, covering some 6,070ha.

East Burren Complex Special Area of Conservation (IE0001926), a massive 18,820ha site, which contains much of the Burren lowland region, and features extensive limestone pavements and oligotrophic limestone wetlands.
 

These SACs form part of the European-wide Natura 2000 Network. Ireland lies within the Atlantic region of this network (one of 2,419 such sites), and the ecological wealth, site distribution and management challenges for this region is described in the downloadable pdf file at the bottom of this page.