The first initiative in re-activating stable dunes into mobile ones in order to
restore this type of landscape and ecosystem was conducted in 1995 in one of the
national parks in the northern part of the Israeli coastal strip. We hypothesized that
by removing the woody vegetation, which is responsible for the stabilization
process, we would encourage the re-establishment of the psammophile plant and
animal species. Three consecutive years of observation indicated that such a trend
can be achieved. Later, a larger program using a similar restoration strategy was
tried at Nizzanim LTER Nature Reserve. The vegetation was partially removed
from some stabilized dunes and completely removed from others all dominated by
characteristic Mediterranean species alongside opportunist and generalist species.
There is no doubt that one-time vegetation removal is not enough to restore the
mobile dune landscape and ecosystem (Arens et al., this book). There is a need for
continuous management, as was done in the past by the nomadic tribes that lived in
this area for decades and inhibited the dune stabilization and stimulated the
psammophilic organism. The aim is to conserve the high biodiversity of the coastal
dunes, which include various dune types in various states of stabilization. In order
to prevent the transformation of the semi-stabilized dunes (covering most of the
area of the nature reserve) into stabilized ones, an active policy must take place
and grazing is one of the options. For the first time in Israel, there is a plan to use
camels as browsers. The camels were selected as a disturbance agent because the
dominant shrub species at Nizzanim are known to be non-palatable to goats and
sheep owing to an abundance of tannins in the plants. According to Bedouin
shepherds, camels readily eat those shrubs and consequently might significantly
reduce their cover. We hope to succeed and restore one of the important landscapes and ecosystems of Israel.
Acknowledgments I want to sincerely thank the following organizations, colleagues, and students who funded and supported the restoration program and research at Nizzanim LTER Nature
Reserve.
The Jewish National Fund (JNF) and the Nature and Parks Authority; my dear friends and
colleagues, Dr. Amos Bouskila who was in charge of the small mammals and reptiles, Dr. Elli
Groner who was in charge of the arthropods, and Dr. Amnon Friedberg who was in charge of the
flying insects.
My great and ambitious students who were so keen to be part of this conservation and
restoration program, Adi Ramot, Meirav Perry, Ittai Renan, Tarin Paz, Boaz Shacham, Constantin
Grach, and all the undergraduate students who helped with the field work.
References
Arens SM, Geelen L (2006) Dune landscape rejuvenation by intended destabilization in the
Amsterdam water supply dunes. J Coast Res 22:1094–1107
Arens SM, Slings QL, Gleen L, van der Hagen H (2007) Implications of environmental change
for dune mobility in The Netherlands. paper presented at International Conference on
Management and Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Minist. de Medio Ambiente, Santander,
Spain, 3– 5 Oct 2007
11 Restoration of Coastal Sand Dunes for Conservation of Biodiversity
183
restore this type of landscape and ecosystem was conducted in 1995 in one of the
national parks in the northern part of the Israeli coastal strip. We hypothesized that
by removing the woody vegetation, which is responsible for the stabilization
process, we would encourage the re-establishment of the psammophile plant and
animal species. Three consecutive years of observation indicated that such a trend
can be achieved. Later, a larger program using a similar restoration strategy was
tried at Nizzanim LTER Nature Reserve. The vegetation was partially removed
from some stabilized dunes and completely removed from others all dominated by
characteristic Mediterranean species alongside opportunist and generalist species.
There is no doubt that one-time vegetation removal is not enough to restore the
mobile dune landscape and ecosystem (Arens et al., this book). There is a need for
continuous management, as was done in the past by the nomadic tribes that lived in
this area for decades and inhibited the dune stabilization and stimulated the
psammophilic organism. The aim is to conserve the high biodiversity of the coastal
dunes, which include various dune types in various states of stabilization. In order
to prevent the transformation of the semi-stabilized dunes (covering most of the
area of the nature reserve) into stabilized ones, an active policy must take place
and grazing is one of the options. For the first time in Israel, there is a plan to use
camels as browsers. The camels were selected as a disturbance agent because the
dominant shrub species at Nizzanim are known to be non-palatable to goats and
sheep owing to an abundance of tannins in the plants. According to Bedouin
shepherds, camels readily eat those shrubs and consequently might significantly
reduce their cover. We hope to succeed and restore one of the important landscapes and ecosystems of Israel.
Acknowledgments I want to sincerely thank the following organizations, colleagues, and students who funded and supported the restoration program and research at Nizzanim LTER Nature
Reserve.
The Jewish National Fund (JNF) and the Nature and Parks Authority; my dear friends and
colleagues, Dr. Amos Bouskila who was in charge of the small mammals and reptiles, Dr. Elli
Groner who was in charge of the arthropods, and Dr. Amnon Friedberg who was in charge of the
flying insects.
My great and ambitious students who were so keen to be part of this conservation and
restoration program, Adi Ramot, Meirav Perry, Ittai Renan, Tarin Paz, Boaz Shacham, Constantin
Grach, and all the undergraduate students who helped with the field work.
References
Arens SM, Geelen L (2006) Dune landscape rejuvenation by intended destabilization in the
Amsterdam water supply dunes. J Coast Res 22:1094–1107
Arens SM, Slings QL, Gleen L, van der Hagen H (2007) Implications of environmental change
for dune mobility in The Netherlands. paper presented at International Conference on
Management and Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Minist. de Medio Ambiente, Santander,
Spain, 3– 5 Oct 2007
11 Restoration of Coastal Sand Dunes for Conservation of Biodiversity
183