Background The project is taking place on three Natura 2000 sites: the islands of Inishmaan, Inishmor and Inisheer, which together make up the Aran Islands - located off the west coast of County Clare, in the west of Ireland. The islands are known for a range of intact habitats, including limestone pavement, calcareous grassland and Machair – all listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. The principal land use on the islands is low-intensity farming, which, combined with the minimal use of fertiliser, has helped to maintain the species-richness and high diversity of the islands’ flora. However, the economics of this farming system has, in more recent years, led to a cessation, withdrawal, restructuring or reduction in farming activity, resulting in a serious decline in the condition of these three habitat types, mostly due to under-grazing, abandonment and the loss of important land management traditions. There is a need to reverse these changes and improve the conservation status of these habitats by developing and demonstrating best management practices to restore these sites to a favourable condition. Objectives The project's objectives are: To demonstrate best management techniques to maintain, and bring sites to a favourable condition, by addressing the threats of land abandonment, under-grazing, intensification, loss of traditional management systems and the associated loss of knowledge; To improve the conservation status of 1 011 ha of priority habitats, comprised of limestone pavement (218 ha); calcareous grasslands (78 ha); Machair (29 ha) and a mosaic of calcareous grassland and limestone pavement (686 ha); To enhance understanding and appreciation of key stakeholders of the need to conserve priority habitats on the Aran islands, and to strengthen their engagement in the conservation efforts, by increasing the availability of information through the construction of a website, the production of six information sheets, five best practice guides and the provision of up to 39 educational visits and 39 classroom based presentations; To recommend appropriate support mechanisms for farming on the Aran Islands that address the issues that threaten the status of the islands’ priority habitats; Expected results: An improvement in the conservation status of up to 1 011 ha of priority habitats; Proven methodologies for the sustainable management and utilisation of priority terrestrial Habitats Directive Annex 1 habitats on the Aran Islands; The sustainable management and use of 1 011 ha of priority habitats on the Aran Islands, with the demonstration of the above methodologies to around 220 local farmers; The distribution of best practice guides to encourage a more ecologically sensitive management of a further 1 880 ha of priority habitats; Improved awareness and appreciation among the island community and other stakeholders of the importance of the natural heritage of the islands’ farmland.