French 2007; Valtonen et al. 2006; Pickart and Sawyer 1998; Pickart et al.
1998a, b).
Several mechanisms have been used for the destabilization and recovery of
coastal dune dynamics, such as bulldozing, pulling by hand or grazing (ten
Harkel and van der Meulen 1996). Wet slack restoration has also been a habitat
that has been frequently restored (Van der Hagen et al. 2008; Bakker et al.
2005; Grootjans et al. 2002; Nienhuis et al. 2002) within the coastal dune
systems.
3. Animals: restoration activities have also focused on animals, mainly invertebrates. Similar to plants, controlling invasive species was relevant for
Lepidoptera (Valtonen et al. 2006). Invertebrates have also been used for
monitoring restoration activities (Kumssa et al. 2004; Davis et al. 2002, 2003)
and, interestingly, it has been observed that grazing enhances butterfly diversity
(Wallis De Vries and Raemakers 2001).
4. Human activities: restoration activities have also been performed after the ever
increasing impact of humans such as mining (Burke 2007; Kumssa et al. 2004;
Davis et al. 2003) and urban sprawl (Nordstrom et al. 2000, 2009). In addition,
there are a handful of studies that consider the relevance of coastal dune restoration aimed at reversing the loss of ecosystem services (Everard et al. 2010;
Martínez and Lopez-Barrera 2008; Moreno-Casasola et al. 2008). There have
also been numerous attempts around the world aimed at providing protection
for inland regions (e.g., against hurricanes and storms, sea level rise, etc.).
1.4 Aims and Scope of the Book
In this book we have gathered together a set of restoration activities performed in
different parts of the world, including both temperate and tropical latitudes, and from
most of the continents. The goal was to gather information from state-of-the-art
studies on the restoration of coastal sand dunes covering a wide variety of landforms
and approaches. We aimed to integrate the knowledge from this vast array of
experiences and develop a coherent empirical and theoretical framework that can be
of assistance in future coastal dune restoration projects. Different coastal land forms
are included in this set of studies, including foredunes, slacks/swales/deflation
basins and plains, blowouts, parabolics, and transgressive dunefields. We are following a broad definition of ‘‘restoration,’’ which includes any effort to restore the
original functionality of the previously existing ecosystem (Hobbs et al. 2006).
Thus, we will refer to restoration activities (sensu stricto) (SER), but also to rehabilitation, reclamation and even designing ecosystems in seriously altered sites (such
as after mining activities). This volume does not provide the final answer on how to
restore coastal dunes and sandy beaches. Rather, we hope that the diverse array of
contributions will stimulate further research that will lead to a better understanding
of the actions required for improving restoration strategies.
1 Coastal Dunes: Human Impact and Need for Restoration
7
1998a, b).
Several mechanisms have been used for the destabilization and recovery of
coastal dune dynamics, such as bulldozing, pulling by hand or grazing (ten
Harkel and van der Meulen 1996). Wet slack restoration has also been a habitat
that has been frequently restored (Van der Hagen et al. 2008; Bakker et al.
2005; Grootjans et al. 2002; Nienhuis et al. 2002) within the coastal dune
systems.
3. Animals: restoration activities have also focused on animals, mainly invertebrates. Similar to plants, controlling invasive species was relevant for
Lepidoptera (Valtonen et al. 2006). Invertebrates have also been used for
monitoring restoration activities (Kumssa et al. 2004; Davis et al. 2002, 2003)
and, interestingly, it has been observed that grazing enhances butterfly diversity
(Wallis De Vries and Raemakers 2001).
4. Human activities: restoration activities have also been performed after the ever
increasing impact of humans such as mining (Burke 2007; Kumssa et al. 2004;
Davis et al. 2003) and urban sprawl (Nordstrom et al. 2000, 2009). In addition,
there are a handful of studies that consider the relevance of coastal dune restoration aimed at reversing the loss of ecosystem services (Everard et al. 2010;
Martínez and Lopez-Barrera 2008; Moreno-Casasola et al. 2008). There have
also been numerous attempts around the world aimed at providing protection
for inland regions (e.g., against hurricanes and storms, sea level rise, etc.).
1.4 Aims and Scope of the Book
In this book we have gathered together a set of restoration activities performed in
different parts of the world, including both temperate and tropical latitudes, and from
most of the continents. The goal was to gather information from state-of-the-art
studies on the restoration of coastal sand dunes covering a wide variety of landforms
and approaches. We aimed to integrate the knowledge from this vast array of
experiences and develop a coherent empirical and theoretical framework that can be
of assistance in future coastal dune restoration projects. Different coastal land forms
are included in this set of studies, including foredunes, slacks/swales/deflation
basins and plains, blowouts, parabolics, and transgressive dunefields. We are following a broad definition of ‘‘restoration,’’ which includes any effort to restore the
original functionality of the previously existing ecosystem (Hobbs et al. 2006).
Thus, we will refer to restoration activities (sensu stricto) (SER), but also to rehabilitation, reclamation and even designing ecosystems in seriously altered sites (such
as after mining activities). This volume does not provide the final answer on how to
restore coastal dunes and sandy beaches. Rather, we hope that the diverse array of
contributions will stimulate further research that will lead to a better understanding
of the actions required for improving restoration strategies.
1 Coastal Dunes: Human Impact and Need for Restoration
7