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

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1 LIFE Platform meeting June 2016 Zandvoort Restoration of SAND DUNE habitats Jean-Louis Herrier and Marc Leten

2 Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat eg. by urbanisation Knokke 1860 Knokke 2006

3 Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat eg. by urbanisation Nieuwpoort 1860 Nieuwpoort 2006

4 Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat eg. by urbanisation Oostduinkerke 1860 Oostduinkerke 2006

5 Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat eg. by residential recreation Perroquet Bray-Dunes France De Panne Belgium

6 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

7 Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat 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)

8 Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat 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

9 Issue 1: large scale loss of habitat 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

10 LIFE Platform meeting June 2016 Restoration of SAND DUNE habitats 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

11 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

12 Issue 2: Interference with natural dynamics artificial fixation of the dunes by planting Marram Grass by planting trees (afforestation)

13 Issue 2: Interference with natural dynamics Restoration of 2120 White dunes by removal of vegetation: successful at first but soon facing regrowth Removal of Sea Buckthorn Regrowth of Rubius caesius

14 Issue 2: Interference with natural dynamics Restoration of 2120 White dunes by removal of vegetation: maintaining the dune white can be quite intensive

15 Issue 2: Interference with natural dynamics Restoration of 2190 Humid dune slack by removal of artificial forest Life FEYDRA, Ter Yde Dunes 2004 Results in 2010

16 Issue 3: Lack of integrated approach understanding the ecosystem services provided by the dunes can stimulate an integrated approach Coastal defence in Flanders

17 Issue 3: Lack of integrated approach understanding the ecosystem services provided by the dunes can stimulate an integrated approach Dunes offering space to relax recreation: tracks of mountainbikes

18 Issue 3: Lack of integrated approach understanding the ecosystem services provided by the dunes can stimulate an integrated approach

19 Issue 4: Invasive alien species Even the internationally infamous baddies are not listed on the EU Alien Species Regulation: Rosa rugosa Prunus serotina

20 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

21 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

22 LIFE Platform meeting 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

23 Issue 5: Climate change northwards shifts in distribution areas of species affects flora and fauna Liparis loeseli: endangered Himantoglossum hircinum: expanding

24 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

25 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