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

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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

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Heath and scrub: 2150,2260,2150,2140,

2160, 2320,2310

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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