The State of Coastal Dunes of The Atlantic Biogeographic Region
John Houston, GB
State of nature in the EU 2020 - The entire report you will find HERE.
The European Environment Agency published the report State of nature in the EU on 19th October 2020[1]. For Habitats Directive habitats and species the detailed information by member state and biogeographical region is published in a series of dashboards[2] and the Article 17 web-tool[3]. These can be used to check the current status and trends of habitats and species by Member State, by biogeographic region, by habitat type or species and to compare this information with reports from 2001-2006 and 2007-2012. Links in the Article 17 web-tool give access to Member State reports reported by biogeographical region[4].
Across all habitat groups, dunes (21 coastal and inland habitat types), along with bogs, mires and fens, have the highest percentage (>50%) of bad assessments and a low number of good assessments. These ‘dune habitats’ include the 10 habitats making up the Habitats Directive sub-group Sea dunes of the Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic coast, 7 habitats in Sea dunes of the Mediterranean coast and 4 habitats in Inland dunes, old and decalcified.
According to Member States assessments the total area of all Annex I dune habitats (coastal and inland) is 9,200 km2, the smallest area of any habitat group. Compare this, for example, to the reported 406,000 km2 of coastal habitats. As a consequence any proposed restoration targets for coastal dunes are relatively small in the big picture. Working together, however, e.g. through the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process, will help to ensure that habitat restoration and habitat creation opportunities are promoted.
[1] https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/state-of-nature-in-the-eu-2020
[2] https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/state-of-nature-in-the-eu/article-17-national-summary-dashboards
[3] https://nature-art17.eionet.europa.eu/article17/
[4] The reports are national reports and do not give information by country or region. For example reports from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not on the EEA dashboards but can be found at https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/article-17-habitats-directive-report-2019-habitats/
Nomadic rabbits repopulate Dutch coastal dune areas
Water company Waternet is trying to increase the depleted rabbit population and restore traditional habitats in Noord-Holland by introducing wild rabbits from elsewhere in the country. Rabbits are important because they keep pests like the American black cherry from proliferating while their fondness for digging holes provides birds like wheatears and shelducks with a place to breed. They are also a food source for threatened bird species. The rabbit populations in coastal areas have been decimated by viruses and rabbits were added to the red list of endangered mammals in 2020. “We would like to see a return to a healthy population,” a spokesman for Waternet told news platform Nu.nl.(in Dutch - but have a look to the pictures!) The first 22 rabbits from the Zuid-Holland Natura 2000 area Uiterwaarden Lek, which has a surplus of rabbits, made the journey to the neighbouring province on Monday. Landscape preservation foundation Zuid-Hollands Landschap is happy the rabbits are moving because their large numbers are threatening biodiversity there.Ferrets were used to chase the rabbits from their burrows into a trap, said Waternet. “The rabbits will have to get used to a different habitat,” the Waternet spokesman said. “It would be better if they had come from a dune area as well but there are few along the coast so that is not possible. But we think they will be all right.” The animals, which have been vaccinated against viruses, will be monitored to see if any further measures are needed to guarantee their survival. Waternet is not the only water company to try its hand at restocking the coastal areas with rabbits. Regional water company PWN is trying to achieve the same in Castricum in Noord-Holland province while the Wadden island of Schiermonnikoog has also been trying to improve their number.
Rabbits rule: Evaluating livestock grazing in coastal sand dunes of Meijendel, the Netherland
The PhD of Harrie van der Hagen (oct 2022) on grazing in the dunes of Meijendel, Netherlands will you much more information about rabbits in dunes.
Dynamic Dune Restoration for climate change adaptation and nature conservation in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, two coastal areas, Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland and Noordhollands Duinreservaat, consist primarily of grey dune habitat. Instead of the traditional practice of fixing the dunes, Puur Water Natuur (PWN) changed the management to dynamic dune management, which had beneficial effects for climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and coastal defence.
Background of the project
At first, the dune management was done by fixing the dunes in one place, using vegetation. This was done as a way of coastal defence. Increased erosion required the regular addition of large quantities of sand. And because of the communicating vessels effect, when the sea level rises on one side of the dunes, so does the groundwater on the other side.
There was an increased social awareness of climate change issues, both inside the company, and at a national level. The effects of climate change became apparent when they started to record extreme dry summers in 2018 and 2019, and maxima in groundwater levels. In a practical sense, the current management that aims at fixing the dunes by planting vegetation was no longer sustainable. Increased erosion requires the regular addition of large quantities of sand.
Solution and actions taken
As a result of an experiment carried out as early as 2011 within the framework of the LIFE Dutch dune revival project, dynamic dune management was developed and subsequently adopted on a large scale.
The main action was to dig five notches next to each other in the first row of dunes. The goal was to allow fresh sand to enter the dune system beyond the first row under the action of the wind. This fresh sand supply is very valuable as it is rich in limestone and reduces the risk of soil acidification. In the first phase, regeneration of vegetation and a new cycle of plant succession was visible. In a second phase, the notches remained active and large white sand dunes were formed.
Other institutions or parties involved
PWN worked with Lake IJssel management team, and the Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut (KNMI). The implementation of the climate change strategy was done through the LIFE “Dutch dune revival” project. Regarding the work done on dynamic systems, they have involved the water board and the national government, as they are responsible for coastal defence. They also involve recreational stakeholders and the neighbours—farmers, municipality, cycling path managers, et cetera.
Results
The dynamic of the system is brought back, making it more robust and connecting nature patches. Species will therefore be able to move along the area. The system becomes more resilient by improving the diversity of species and habitats, habitat connectivity, and the dynamics of natural processes. For a virtual tour that showcases the difference between the old and the current situation, click here!
Challenges
The main problems were, and still are, related to the infrastructure. Groundwater levels increase due to climate change and sea-level rise. The dynamic dune management system as well as the natural water management system can adapt to these rising levels and keep the water in the ecosystem. However, human infrastructures such as houses, fields, or cycling paths that lie close to the dune system will be affected. A seemingly apparent challenge was stakeholder involvement, however, in the end, this was overcome by timely involvement.
Lessons learned
At the beginning of the project, PWN was focused on conservation measures. Now they are more conscious of the necessity to also adapt the management approach and extend their conception of nature conservation. When managing an area, there are so many challenges and problems that the tendency is to deal with the current problems. However, climate change calls for a strategy in the long term. It pushes the manager to investigate the future.
Report on invasive alien species in Great Britain and Ireland
John Houston, GB
This review of dune management looks back 50 years or more to the concerns in the 1960s and 1970s about the impacts of non-native conifers and the development of dune scrub, to the present day concerns about invasive native and non-native plant species, and to the future by looking at what recently arrived non-native species, or yet to arrive species, might also become invasive. Within Europe, coastal dune habitats are particularly impacted by invasive alien species and the Atlantic biogeographical region (which includes the UK and Ireland) is considered the worst affected. Against this background dune managers across northwest Europe have been calling for the development of a regional ‘black list’ of invasive alien species and for greater sharing of experience across the Atlantic region.
Ecological effects of sand nourishments [Reports 2009 - 2022]
Petra Damsma, Rijkswaterstaat, NL
Sand nourishments are regularly carried out to maintain the Dutch sandy coast. Research was carried out on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat into the effects on coastal nature. Reports and factsheets (in Dutch) regarding the research into the ecological effects of sand nourishments now are gathered:
On this Dutch collection page you will find all info: