Chapter 5
Restoration of Foredunes
and Transgressive Dunefields:
Case Studies from New Zealand
Patrick A. Hesp and Michael J. Hilton
5.1 Introduction
Most New Zealand dune systems have been modified in the past 100 years by
grazing; by the planting or introduction (deliberate or accidental) of exotic species;
by reshaping and covering with exotic materials (e.g., clays); by wholesale change
or degradation associated with the development of dunes for recreational activities
(e.g., golf courses; playgrounds; reserves [areas set aside for specific purposes such
as recreation, research, conservation, etc.]); and change, removal and/or degradation associated with urban, rural and beach housing and tourist developments.
The area of active dunes in New Zealand declined from 129,000 ha in the early
1900s to about 39,000 ha in 2000; a reduction of 70 % (Hilton 2006) at least in
part because of significant planting of exotic species. The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy recognizes dunes and wetlands as the country’s two most threatened environments.
Following the widespread destruction of natural vegetation cover on dunes by
cattle and sheep grazing in the 1800–1940s, most active, mobile dune systems in
the North Island of New Zealand were planted with introduced species. Marram
grass (Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link) was planted widely from the late 1880s to
protect infrastructure and to stabilize transgressive dunes, particularly those in the
vicinity of road and rail links, and as a precursor to exotic plantation forestry
P. A. Hesp (&)
School of the Environment, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Flinders University,
GPO Box 2100 Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
e-mail: Patrick.hesp@flinders.edu.au
M. J. Hilton
Department of Geography (Te Ihowhenua), University of Otago
(Te Whare Wananga o Otago), PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
e-mail: mjh@geography.otago.ac.nz
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_5,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
67
Restoration of Foredunes
and Transgressive Dunefields:
Case Studies from New Zealand
Patrick A. Hesp and Michael J. Hilton
5.1 Introduction
Most New Zealand dune systems have been modified in the past 100 years by
grazing; by the planting or introduction (deliberate or accidental) of exotic species;
by reshaping and covering with exotic materials (e.g., clays); by wholesale change
or degradation associated with the development of dunes for recreational activities
(e.g., golf courses; playgrounds; reserves [areas set aside for specific purposes such
as recreation, research, conservation, etc.]); and change, removal and/or degradation associated with urban, rural and beach housing and tourist developments.
The area of active dunes in New Zealand declined from 129,000 ha in the early
1900s to about 39,000 ha in 2000; a reduction of 70 % (Hilton 2006) at least in
part because of significant planting of exotic species. The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy recognizes dunes and wetlands as the country’s two most threatened environments.
Following the widespread destruction of natural vegetation cover on dunes by
cattle and sheep grazing in the 1800–1940s, most active, mobile dune systems in
the North Island of New Zealand were planted with introduced species. Marram
grass (Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link) was planted widely from the late 1880s to
protect infrastructure and to stabilize transgressive dunes, particularly those in the
vicinity of road and rail links, and as a precursor to exotic plantation forestry
P. A. Hesp (&)
School of the Environment, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Flinders University,
GPO Box 2100 Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
e-mail: Patrick.hesp@flinders.edu.au
M. J. Hilton
Department of Geography (Te Ihowhenua), University of Otago
(Te Whare Wananga o Otago), PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
e-mail: mjh@geography.otago.ac.nz
M. L. Martínez et al. (eds.), Restoration of Coastal Dunes, Springer Series
on Environmental Management, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33445-0_5,
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
67