The subproject aims to promote an exchange of experience and technical knowledge concerning the management of the beach-dune system. Along with monitoring initiatives this will allow the description of physical and biological characteristics of the coastal environment, assessment of the effectiveness of morphological reconstruction interventions of dunes and, possibly, identification of innovative technology which make use of Posidonia oceanica remains (or other marine phanerogams or algae) on the beaches.
The first phase of the subproject will consist in bibliographical research and the archiving of information drawn from scientific publications and sector specific technical reports in order to identify existing issues, define the methodological guidelines for the management of beach biomasses, and the protection and recovery of dune systems.
The second phase aims to define methodologies for the recovery and consolidation of coastal dunes using innovative bioengineering techniques via the planting of autochthonous plant species, in order to stabilize aeolic deposits and use remains of Posidonia oceanica on the beaches as a fertiliser, helping coastal vegetation to survive. This will encourage focus on environmental and socioeconomic factors when planning interventions on the beaches. (a similar approach has the twofold advantage of reducing the masses of plant residues on the beach and fertilising sand sediments. Positive feedback may also occur between the biological and sedimentary components such as an increase in flexibility, resilience and dynamic stability of the beach-dune system).
The third phase will enable chosen pilot sites to take advantage of some the developed methodologies and, via monitoring activities that will follow these interventions, verify the effectiveness of the techniques applied.