Farmers on the Blackstairs mountains have joined forces with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, An Garda Síochána and Carlow and Wexford Fire Services in a new effort to stop illegal burning on the mountains.

Farmers are to become the “eyes on the mountain” to report fires or any suspicious activity, John Griffin of the NPWS said.

Large areas of the mountain habitat on the Carlow-Wexford border have been destroyed by illegal fires in recent weeks. The fires could cost farmers in their BPS eligible area.

The Blackstairs Farming Futures project, which is funded by the Department of Agriculture, is helping to organise the new fire watch group.

“Farmers live and work on the mountain and know it better than anyone,” Martin Shannon of the Blackstairs Farming Group said.

Illegal

The group wants to end illegal fires by “a few rogue individuals”, it said in a statement.

Farmer Eddie O’Donoghue said they want to protect the exceptional Blackstairs habitats and culture the farmers on the mountain rely on for their income.

“We will watch and report to the authorities, but we will not get involved in any form of vigilante activity,” he said.

As previously reported, NPWS officials are preparing cross-compliance reports for the Department of Agriculture.

It is illegal to burn growing vegetation on uncultivated land between 1 March and 31 August under the Wildlife Act.

The Department of Agriculture has warned that illegal burning of land puts farm payments at risk.