Building artificial dunes and enhancing the arrival and growth of vegetation has
also been promoted after heavy mineral dune mining (Lubke, Chap. 13, this
volume; Zeppelini et al. 2009; Grainger et al. 2011). For example, in Namibia, nets
were used as wind traps for rehabilitation following diamond mining acting to trap
sand. In addition, top soil was spread onto the site and native plants were transplanted and allowed to follow their natural successional sequence (Lubke, Chap.
13, this volume).
20.2.5 Restoring Wet Slacks
Wet slacks (also termed deflation plains and basins, ponds and wetlands) are
located in the lower parts of the coastal dune system. Here, the water table is close
to the surface of the sand and thus, slacks may become flooded during the rainy
season, creating interdune ponds and lagoons (ephemeral or permanent).
Wet slacks can be severely affected by artificial fluctuations in water tables
because of the production of drinking water for human populations (e.g., in the
Netherlands), for watering crops, and also because of high atmospheric nitrogen
deposition from agricultural lands and industrial areas. The result is a decline in
species diversity, and the local extinction of endemic species. In this case, restoration activities involved rewetting wet slacks, and re-establishing the hydrological regime; mowing, grazing, and sod-cutting (Grootjans et al., Chap. 15, this
volume; López Rosas et al., Chap. 16, this volume; Grootjans et al. 2001, 2002).
Once the hydrological conditions are restored, restoration projects in slacks are
generally successful, especially when the top soil is removed. Nevertheless,
repeated maintenance is also necessary (López Rosas et al., Chap. 16, this
volume).
20.3 Who Pays for Coastal Dune Restoration?
Coastal dunes and beaches are amongst the most intensely used natural ecosystems, because of the associated economic benefits. They offer a wide array of
ecosystem services to society and are exploited by human society throughout the
world. No doubt, there are many interests that acknowledge the need to restore
those dune systems that are degraded as efficiently as possible and in the best
possible way: beaches are nourished every year; coastal dunes are re-mobilized or
stabilized. Because humans gravitate to the coast, with 40 % of the world population living at or near the coast, and because coastal tourism is significant, human
intervention in and on coastal ecosystems is constantly high.
Thus, it is obvious that there is a societal need at times and in certain places to
restore and rehabilitate coastal ecosystems, such as beaches and coastal dunes.
Stakeholders (hotel and private property owners) as well as the general public tend
20 Coastal Dune Restoration: Trends and Perspectives
333
also been promoted after heavy mineral dune mining (Lubke, Chap. 13, this
volume; Zeppelini et al. 2009; Grainger et al. 2011). For example, in Namibia, nets
were used as wind traps for rehabilitation following diamond mining acting to trap
sand. In addition, top soil was spread onto the site and native plants were transplanted and allowed to follow their natural successional sequence (Lubke, Chap.
13, this volume).
20.2.5 Restoring Wet Slacks
Wet slacks (also termed deflation plains and basins, ponds and wetlands) are
located in the lower parts of the coastal dune system. Here, the water table is close
to the surface of the sand and thus, slacks may become flooded during the rainy
season, creating interdune ponds and lagoons (ephemeral or permanent).
Wet slacks can be severely affected by artificial fluctuations in water tables
because of the production of drinking water for human populations (e.g., in the
Netherlands), for watering crops, and also because of high atmospheric nitrogen
deposition from agricultural lands and industrial areas. The result is a decline in
species diversity, and the local extinction of endemic species. In this case, restoration activities involved rewetting wet slacks, and re-establishing the hydrological regime; mowing, grazing, and sod-cutting (Grootjans et al., Chap. 15, this
volume; López Rosas et al., Chap. 16, this volume; Grootjans et al. 2001, 2002).
Once the hydrological conditions are restored, restoration projects in slacks are
generally successful, especially when the top soil is removed. Nevertheless,
repeated maintenance is also necessary (López Rosas et al., Chap. 16, this
volume).
20.3 Who Pays for Coastal Dune Restoration?
Coastal dunes and beaches are amongst the most intensely used natural ecosystems, because of the associated economic benefits. They offer a wide array of
ecosystem services to society and are exploited by human society throughout the
world. No doubt, there are many interests that acknowledge the need to restore
those dune systems that are degraded as efficiently as possible and in the best
possible way: beaches are nourished every year; coastal dunes are re-mobilized or
stabilized. Because humans gravitate to the coast, with 40 % of the world population living at or near the coast, and because coastal tourism is significant, human
intervention in and on coastal ecosystems is constantly high.
Thus, it is obvious that there is a societal need at times and in certain places to
restore and rehabilitate coastal ecosystems, such as beaches and coastal dunes.
Stakeholders (hotel and private property owners) as well as the general public tend
20 Coastal Dune Restoration: Trends and Perspectives
333