LIFE supporting dunes habitats management and restoration
João Pedro e Silva Neemo - LIFE programme Communications Team
#SandDuneRestoration @LIFE_programme
LIFE supporting dunes habitats management and restoration
• Since 1992, 172 projects co-funded by LIFE programme (coastal and inland dunes)
• More than 250 Natura 2000 network sites across 6 biogeographical regions
• 21 Member States
• More than 220 million euros total investment
LIFE Dunes by Member State 35
32 30
10 10 9 8 8 6 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
ES IT BE NL DK FR FI GR DE LV EE IE PL PT HU LT RO BG SK UK SE
(1992-2014) n=159
41
35 35 33
26 25 21
19 16 15 14 14
11 9 8 7
5 4 3 3 3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Fixe
d co
asta
l dun
es w
ithhe
rbac
eous
veg
etat
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("gr
ey…
Embr
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iftin
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nes
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ing
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s al
ong
the
shor
elin
e w
ith A
mm
ophi
la…
Inla
nd d
unes
with
ope
nC
oryn
epho
rus
and
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ostis
…C
oast
al d
unes
with
Jun
iper
ussp
p.
Hum
id d
une
slac
ks
Dry
san
d he
aths
with
Cal
luna
and
Gen
ista
Woo
ded
dune
s w
ith P
inus
pin
eaan
d/or
Pin
us p
inas
ter
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s of
the
Atla
ntic
,C
ontin
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eal r
egio
n"D
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d fix
ed d
unes
with
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rum
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colm
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lia d
une
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ds
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cian
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ariti
mae
fixe
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ach
dune
sD
ry s
and
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hs w
ith C
allu
naan
d Em
petr
um n
igru
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isto
-Lav
endu
leta
lia d
une
scle
roph
yllo
us s
crub
sD
unes
with
Hip
poph
aërh
amno
ides
Dun
es w
ith S
alix
repe
ns s
sp.
arge
ntea
(Sal
icio
n ar
enar
iae)
Bra
chyp
odie
talia
dun
egr
assl
ands
with
ann
uals
Atla
ntic
dec
alci
fied
fixed
dun
es(C
allu
no-U
licet
ea)
Dun
es w
ith E
upho
rbia
terr
acin
a
Pann
onic
inla
nd d
unes
Mac
hairs
(* in
Irel
and)
2130 2110 2120 2330 2250 2190 2310 2270 2180 2140 2230 2210 2320 2260 2160 2170 2240 2150 2220 2340 21A0
Annex I Dunes Habitats Targeted by LIFE (2000-2014) n=124
52 35
60 32
94
35
0
20
40
60
80
100
2120
2130,2230 and 2240
2110, 2210 and 2220 2170 and
2190
Heath and scrub: 2150,2260,2150,2140,
2160, 2320,2310
2180 and 2270
Dunes projects by EU Biogeographical region
ATL 46
MED 34
CON 21
BOR 14
PAN 3 BLS 1
ATLMEDCONBORPANBLS
Threats addressed by LIFE Dunes projects – Art 17 report
Code Threat E01 Urbanised areas, human habitation G05 Other human intrusions and disturbances G01 Outdoor sports and leisure activities, recreational activities B01 forest planting on open ground I01 invasive non-native species G02 Sport and leisure structures K02 Biocenotic evolution, succession J02 human induced changes in hydraulic conditions A04 grazing C01 Mining and quarrying (sand extraction) D01 Roads, paths and railroads M01 Changes in abiotic conditions (sea level) K01 abiotic (slow) natural processes (erosion) E04 Structures, buildings in the landscape H04 Air pollution, air-borne pollutants (nitrogen deposition) H05 Soil pollution and solid waste (excluding discharges)
Measures LIFE Dunes projects – Art 17 report
Code Measures 1.2 Measures needed, but not implemented 2.1 Maintaining grasslands and other open habitats 4.0 Other wetland-related measures 4.1 Restoring, improving water quality 4.4 Restoring coastal areas 6.0 Other spatial measures 6.1 Establish protected areas or sites 6.3 Legal protection of habitats and species 6.4 Manage landscape features 6.5 Adaptation, abolition of military land use 7.4 Specific single species or species group management measures
9.1 Regulating, management exploitation of natural resources on land
Preventing Erosion, Promoting Accretion; Ammophila spp. planting Fencing Beach Cleaning Beach Nourishment (not that many projects)
Restoring Vegetation on Eroding Dunes (inc. inland) Dune Grassland, Heath (including Juniper), and woodland
(eg.Pinus)
Modifying Trends in Succession Dunes slacks restoration (water level, water quality); Invasive plant species and Alien plant species Control Managing Grazing
Dunes Project’s actions - Management and restoration – Applying Best practices
Dunes Project’s actions - Management and restoration – Applying Best practices Managing People access to Dunes: Signage and Walkways Zonation (management plans and its implementation ) Awareness raising
Impact of LIFE Dunes habitats – EU policy contribution
EU Biodiversity 2020 strategy
Protect species and habitats - Target 1 – Improving conservation status of habitats (Biogeographical process, PAFs) – Natura 2000 network
Maintain and restore ecosystems - Target 2 – dunes ecosystems and their services are maintained and enhanced (establishing green infrastructure) and restoration of degraded coastal ecosystems
Combat invasive alien species - Target 5 – Invasive Alien species control and eradication in dunes areas (mainly plants)
Impact of LIFE on Dunes habitats Conservation Status
Impact is normally geographically limited buy very relevant (e.g – 2250*) – difficult to measure and patchy
Best practices approach works for dunes (problem of scale and sustainablity)
Bottlenecks: Transferability and replicability of the LIFE projects best practices –
contribution to Biogeographical process (establish habitats management and restoration guidelines for all Bioregions)
LIFE projects are result based – more evidence and science based actions and link to innovative restoration methods
Mainstreaming with other sources of funding Link to ecosystem services (eg. climate change adaptation)
Thank You! #SandDuneRestoration
@LIFE_programme