Wildfires Threaten Ireland's Protected Lands | Belfast News

Ireland’s wildfires are hitting protected Natura 2000 sites at alarming rates—over half the burned land falls within these critical habitats, far exceeding the European average. Between 2015 and 2025, nearly 17,000 hectares were damaged, mostly in heath, scrub, and peatlands, not dense forests. Human activity is the main culprit: uncontrolled agricultural burns, deliberate fires, campfires, and barbecues often spark blazes that destroy fragile peatlands. Major fires have erupted in Slievenamon, Wicklow-Dublin border, Crosshaven, and Killarney National Park, while fragmented reporting across agencies hampers full situational awareness. With recurring fires threatening biodiversity, stronger prevention, enforcement, and public responsibility are urgently needed to safeguard these irreplaceable ecosystems. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bc2640a7377d32a9