Galway Bay fm newsroom - Birdwatch Ireland has hit out at those behind illegal burning as an emergency effort to contain a wildfire enters its sixth day at Cloosh Valley.
It's now estimated up to 3,500 hectares of forest and bog land have been destroyed in the area.
The group says the bogland habitat is vital to many species including skylark and meadow pippit, as well as being a key carbon store.
It estimates this decimation of wildlife will take years to restore.
The Air Corps dropped more than 158 thousand litres of water on the Cloosh Valley over the past 48 hours.
Conditions are now said to be improving slightly for fire crews.
Oonagh Duggan is Acting Head of Policy at Birdwatch Ireland - she says government action is needed to stamp out illegal burning.
