These studies show that stabilization can result from two contrasting scenarios of
human activities: after human intervention such as artificial plantings (Arens et al.,
Chap. 7; Rhind et al., Chap. 8; Muñoz-Reinoso et al., Chap. 9; Pickart, Chap. 10),
or after human intervention has stopped (when trampling ceased; Kutiel, Chap. 11).
Paradoxically, and contrary to what are usually considered to be common restoration activities, restoring these dune systems requires the removal of vegetation, so
that dunes can be active again through the action of aeolian processes, and vegetation can then be rejuvenated (Arens et al., Chap. 7). Projects on coastal dune
remobilization are usually performed on public parks, away from human
infrastructure.
In contrast with the above, coastal dune re-vegetation is also a restoration action
when the goal is to halt substrate mobility and increase plant cover. Here, Acosta
et al. (Chap. 12) evaluated the role of the passive recovery on Italian coastal dunes
following limitations to human trampling. Revegetation is also a goal following
intensive open mining activities on coastal dunes in Madagascar and Namibia. In
this case, dunes were built artificially after mining activities had ceased and then
native vegetation was introduced from the seed bank (Lubke, Chap. 13). Finally,
an example of coastal dune restoration in Mexico is described by Moreno-Casasola
et al. (Chap. 14). Oftentimes, dunes are reforested with exotic and potentially
invasive species such as, for example, Casuarina equisetifolia trees. Here MorenoCasasola et al. analyze whether the recovery of native vegetation is possible after
the establishment of exotic Casuarina plantations. This is relevant because
Casuarina has been widely used in coastal dune and beach re-forestation programs
in the tropics. Often, these reforestation programs are implemented because substrate mobility is a problem for human infrastructure, such as cities and harbors.
Section 1.2 ends with two case studies on the restoration of wet slacks. In the
Netherlands, Grootjans et al. (Chap. 15) show how vegetation removal is also
necessary in order to recover the native diversity of vegetation typical of wet
slacks. In Mexico, López-Rosas et al. (Chap. 16) modified the hydroperiod in order
to eliminate the exotic grasses and recover the diversity of native species.
Section 1.3 analyzes the costs of coastal dune restoration and the potential
economic value of ecosystem services. Lehrer et al. (Chap. 17) performed an
interesting valuation of the public’s willingness to pay to control and eliminate an
invasive shrub from a coastal dune nature reserve. Pérez-Maqueo et al. (Chap. 18)
summarized the costs of several coastal dune restoration projects from this book,
as well as the economic value of ecosystem services. It is interesting to note that
most coastal dune restoration projects have taken place in natural parks, whereas
rehabilitation is mostly performed in urban settings. Frequently, it is the government who pays for these actions, although some private owners (Feagin, Chap. 6),
the public (Lehrer et al., Chap. 17), and plenty of volunteer workers (Pickart,
Chap. 10; Arens et al., Chap. 7) have also played a key role in coastal dune
restoration projects.
The last chapters are grouped in Sect. 1.4. In this section, Lithgow et al. (Chap. 19)
show how a multicriteria analysis can be of assistance in implementing actions
leading to coastal dune restoration. Certainly, restoration is not merely an ecological
1 Coastal Dunes: Human Impact and Need for Restoration
9
human activities: after human intervention such as artificial plantings (Arens et al.,
Chap. 7; Rhind et al., Chap. 8; Muñoz-Reinoso et al., Chap. 9; Pickart, Chap. 10),
or after human intervention has stopped (when trampling ceased; Kutiel, Chap. 11).
Paradoxically, and contrary to what are usually considered to be common restoration activities, restoring these dune systems requires the removal of vegetation, so
that dunes can be active again through the action of aeolian processes, and vegetation can then be rejuvenated (Arens et al., Chap. 7). Projects on coastal dune
remobilization are usually performed on public parks, away from human
infrastructure.
In contrast with the above, coastal dune re-vegetation is also a restoration action
when the goal is to halt substrate mobility and increase plant cover. Here, Acosta
et al. (Chap. 12) evaluated the role of the passive recovery on Italian coastal dunes
following limitations to human trampling. Revegetation is also a goal following
intensive open mining activities on coastal dunes in Madagascar and Namibia. In
this case, dunes were built artificially after mining activities had ceased and then
native vegetation was introduced from the seed bank (Lubke, Chap. 13). Finally,
an example of coastal dune restoration in Mexico is described by Moreno-Casasola
et al. (Chap. 14). Oftentimes, dunes are reforested with exotic and potentially
invasive species such as, for example, Casuarina equisetifolia trees. Here MorenoCasasola et al. analyze whether the recovery of native vegetation is possible after
the establishment of exotic Casuarina plantations. This is relevant because
Casuarina has been widely used in coastal dune and beach re-forestation programs
in the tropics. Often, these reforestation programs are implemented because substrate mobility is a problem for human infrastructure, such as cities and harbors.
Section 1.2 ends with two case studies on the restoration of wet slacks. In the
Netherlands, Grootjans et al. (Chap. 15) show how vegetation removal is also
necessary in order to recover the native diversity of vegetation typical of wet
slacks. In Mexico, López-Rosas et al. (Chap. 16) modified the hydroperiod in order
to eliminate the exotic grasses and recover the diversity of native species.
Section 1.3 analyzes the costs of coastal dune restoration and the potential
economic value of ecosystem services. Lehrer et al. (Chap. 17) performed an
interesting valuation of the public’s willingness to pay to control and eliminate an
invasive shrub from a coastal dune nature reserve. Pérez-Maqueo et al. (Chap. 18)
summarized the costs of several coastal dune restoration projects from this book,
as well as the economic value of ecosystem services. It is interesting to note that
most coastal dune restoration projects have taken place in natural parks, whereas
rehabilitation is mostly performed in urban settings. Frequently, it is the government who pays for these actions, although some private owners (Feagin, Chap. 6),
the public (Lehrer et al., Chap. 17), and plenty of volunteer workers (Pickart,
Chap. 10; Arens et al., Chap. 7) have also played a key role in coastal dune
restoration projects.
The last chapters are grouped in Sect. 1.4. In this section, Lithgow et al. (Chap. 19)
show how a multicriteria analysis can be of assistance in implementing actions
leading to coastal dune restoration. Certainly, restoration is not merely an ecological
1 Coastal Dunes: Human Impact and Need for Restoration
9