life platform meeting 15-17 june 2016 zandvoort...

LIFE Platform meeting 15-17 June 2016 Zandvoort Restoration of SAND DUNE habitats

WS 3: roadmap for the Atlantic Biogeographical Process

Jean-Louis Herrier and Marc Leten

LIFE Platform meeting 15-17 June 2016 Restoration of SAND DUNE habitats WS 3: roadmap for the Atlantic Biogeographical Process

Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat eg. by urbanisation

Knokke 1860 Knokke 2006



Nieuwpoort 1860 Nieuwpoort 2006



Oostduinkerke 1860 Oostduinkerke 2006


Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat eg. by ‘residential recreation’

Perroquet Bray-Dunes France De Panne Belgium


Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat

remaining unbuilt areas too small to allow large scale processes eg. sand drift

Building threatened by or hindering sand drift at Westende ?

Measures to protect a building from sand drift



LAND ACQUISITION and removal of obsolete buildings and infrastructure

Ter Yde Dunes: land owned by the Flemish region in 1993

Ter Yde Dunes: land owned by the Flemish region in 2016 (Life ICCI and Life FLANDRE)



land acquisition and REMOVAL OF OBSOLETE BUILDINGS & INFRASTRUCTURE

Ter Yde Dunes: Home Theunis 1993 Ter Yde Dunes: Home Theunis 2010

restored 2120 White dunes & 2130 Grey dunes



land acquisition and REMOVAL OF OBSOLETE BUILDINGS & INFRASTRUCTURE

Nieuwpoort Groenendijk 2005: Life FEYDRA removal water treatment plant

Nieuwpoort Groenendijk 2015: restored 2190 humid dune slack

Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat LARGE SCALE HABITAT CREATION IN COMBINATION WITH COASTAL DEFENCE WORKS ‘Zandmotor DeltaDuin’ Ter Heijde and Kijkduin, Netherlands, 2011: new dynamic nature created by foreshore replenishment

LIFE Platform meeting 15-17 June 2016 Restoration of SAND DUNE habitats


Issue 2: Interference with natural dynamics

eg. interupting the ecological continuity between beach and dunes

De Panne, Westhoek: dune foot reinforcement in concrete

De Panne, Westhoek: allowing the seawater to enter the dunes



artificial fixation of the dunes

by planting Marram Grass by planting trees (afforestation)



Restoration of 2120 White dunes by removal of vegetation: successful at first but soon facing regrowth

Removal of Sea Buckthorn Regrowth of Rubius caesius



Restoration of 2120 White dunes by removal of vegetation: maintaining the dune ‘white’ can be quite intensive



Restoration of 2190 Humid dune slack by removal of artificial forest

Life FEYDRA, Ter Yde Dunes 2004 Results in 2010


Issue 3: Lack of integrated approach

understanding the ecosystem services provided by the dunes can stimulate an integrated approach

Coastal defence in Flanders




Dunes offering space to relax recreation: tracks of mountainbikes


Issue 4: Invasive alien species

Even the internationally infamous ‘baddies’ are not listed on the EU Alien Species Regulation:

Rosa rugosa

Prunus serotina


Issue 4: Invasive alien species

increasing numbers of ‘newcomers’ escaping from gardens and advantaged by climate change

=> need for early warning system and raising awareness ‘gardeners’

Mahonia aquifolia Yucca gloriosa


Issue 5: Climate change

‘Spontaneous’ encroachment of white dunes by Marram Grass and Sea-Buckthorn caused by climate change and increased

atmospheric deposition of nitrogen

Westhoek, De Panne: Central ‘mobile’ dune in 1993 and 2011

LIFE Platform meeting 15-17 June 2016 Restoration of SAND DUNE habitats Issue 5: Climate change Westhoek, De Panne: Embryonic dunes and seafront dunes wiped away by the Saint Nicolas storm of 5-6 December 2013


Issue 5: Climate change

northwards shifts in distribution areas of species affects flora and fauna

Liparis loeseli: endangered

Himantoglossum hircinum: expanding


forgotten Issue: intensification of agriculture

> fertilization: soil enrichment with nitrates and phosphates > use of herbicides

> grassland gives way to fields and greenhouses

Traces of manure injection on dune grassland

Debris deposited on dune meadow


Issue 6: Communication

• Expert-networks exist, eg. EUCC and European Dune Network but are NGO’s

• Need of an expert-network among government agencies ? • To enhance awareness and integrated approach: need of

expert-network not only among conservationists but also between conservationists and other social and economic sectors

life platform meeting 15-17 june 2016 zandvoort...

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