2.4.3 Restricting Driving on Beaches and Dunes
Vehicles driven on beaches kill fauna and disperse organic matter in drift lines,
thereby destroying young dune vegetation and losing nutrients (Godfrey and
Godfrey 1981; Moss and McPhee 2006; Foster-Smith et al. 2007). Vehicles
compact the sand, which then becomes a hard surface and less viable for seed
germination or for animal burrowing. The unnatural landscape image created by
vehicle tracks can undermine attempts to instill an appreciation of the shore as a
natural environment. Thus, driving should be restricted to only a few segments
along a beach or to portions of the beach between wrack lines and away from
incipient dunes; shore-perpendicular access could be restricted to a few prescribed
crossings (Nordstrom 2003; Priskin 2003). There is little reason to allow private
vehicles on beaches in developed municipalities when road networks exist landward and where undeveloped enclaves are so small that beaches can be reached on
foot. Even if private vehicle use is prevented, municipal vehicles used for
patrolling the beach and for emptying trash receptacles may remain a problem.
Instituting a haul-in/haul-out policy for garbage generated by tourists would
reduce the need for trash receptacles on the beach. Vehicles used for public safety
could be confined to emergency operations.
2.4.4 Re-evaluating Endangered Species Programs
Initiatives for protecting endangered fauna, such as birds and turtles, by controlling
active human uses has resulted in the creation and protection of naturally functioning beaches and dunes (Nordstrom et al. 2000; Breton et al. 2000). Identification of nests on beaches can lead to suspension of raking, bulldozing, and
driving on the beach during the nesting season, leading to accumulation of litter in
wrack lines, colonization by plants, and growth of incipient dunes that may evolve
into established foredunes (Fig. 2.1). Protection of endangered species can have
negative effects when the landscape is modified specifically for them and the needs
of other species are subservient to the endangered ones. Programs to enhance
conditions for nesting shorebirds can lead to artificial flattening of topography and
the clearing of vegetation, and can prevent the backshores and dunes from
evolving to later stages. Ways must be found to make these environments function
naturally and compatible with other species dependent on a coastal setting.
2.4.5 Controlling Exotic Species
Exotic vegetation was often planted in dunes in the past because it was seen to be
effective in stabilizing dunes, valuable economically, or attractive. Many public
agencies now recognize the adverse effects of exotics on the biodiversity,
26
K. F. Nordstrom and N. L. Jackson
Vehicles driven on beaches kill fauna and disperse organic matter in drift lines,
thereby destroying young dune vegetation and losing nutrients (Godfrey and
Godfrey 1981; Moss and McPhee 2006; Foster-Smith et al. 2007). Vehicles
compact the sand, which then becomes a hard surface and less viable for seed
germination or for animal burrowing. The unnatural landscape image created by
vehicle tracks can undermine attempts to instill an appreciation of the shore as a
natural environment. Thus, driving should be restricted to only a few segments
along a beach or to portions of the beach between wrack lines and away from
incipient dunes; shore-perpendicular access could be restricted to a few prescribed
crossings (Nordstrom 2003; Priskin 2003). There is little reason to allow private
vehicles on beaches in developed municipalities when road networks exist landward and where undeveloped enclaves are so small that beaches can be reached on
foot. Even if private vehicle use is prevented, municipal vehicles used for
patrolling the beach and for emptying trash receptacles may remain a problem.
Instituting a haul-in/haul-out policy for garbage generated by tourists would
reduce the need for trash receptacles on the beach. Vehicles used for public safety
could be confined to emergency operations.
2.4.4 Re-evaluating Endangered Species Programs
Initiatives for protecting endangered fauna, such as birds and turtles, by controlling
active human uses has resulted in the creation and protection of naturally functioning beaches and dunes (Nordstrom et al. 2000; Breton et al. 2000). Identification of nests on beaches can lead to suspension of raking, bulldozing, and
driving on the beach during the nesting season, leading to accumulation of litter in
wrack lines, colonization by plants, and growth of incipient dunes that may evolve
into established foredunes (Fig. 2.1). Protection of endangered species can have
negative effects when the landscape is modified specifically for them and the needs
of other species are subservient to the endangered ones. Programs to enhance
conditions for nesting shorebirds can lead to artificial flattening of topography and
the clearing of vegetation, and can prevent the backshores and dunes from
evolving to later stages. Ways must be found to make these environments function
naturally and compatible with other species dependent on a coastal setting.
2.4.5 Controlling Exotic Species
Exotic vegetation was often planted in dunes in the past because it was seen to be
effective in stabilizing dunes, valuable economically, or attractive. Many public
agencies now recognize the adverse effects of exotics on the biodiversity,
26
K. F. Nordstrom and N. L. Jackson