![Page 1: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programme
Sue Rees, Natural England Senior Environmental Specialist, Coastal Habitats
![Page 2: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Distribution and extent of UK coastal dunes
Map Source: Coastal Geomorphology of GB, JNCC 2003
UK Dune extent by country (ha) Scotland: 50,000 Wales: 8,000 England: 12,000 Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on map) Range of dune forms: small and large systems. High biodiversity & landscape value: many designations Private and public ownership Important for flood risk management & tourism Total includes modified dunes, golf courses, plantations etc.
![Page 3: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Annex I sand dune habitats in UK
UK SACs for coastal dunes Source:JNCC
![Page 4: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
![Page 5: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Management at site level by machines, livestock, nature
![Page 6: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
![Page 7: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
![Page 8: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Improvement Programme for England’s N2k Sites
Issues evaluated by • Site improvement plans • Theme Plans
Reflects Article 17 conservation status reports Sand dunes clearly need more sustained
restoration action for habitats and species!
![Page 9: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Dune management conundrum
Reversing over-stabilisation/restoring hydrological processes • Low confidence in application • Perceived as damaging • Scale of works to mitigate nutrient inputs & increase water table • Availability of evidence about what works • Public perception
BUT may be better for: • Biodiversity • Dune functionality • Flood risk management
![Page 10: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Focus for management and restoration
• Soils: nutrients, chemistry, • Hydrology and water table restoration • Geomorphology/sediment processes: past, present and future • Dune dynamics/topography • Space for roll-back and seaward expansion
• Plant strategies - seed banks, dispersal • Vegetation succession and timescales after restoration • Maintaining important transitions • Creating optimum conditions for species • Removing invasive/non-native vegetation • External influences – pollution, coastal management etc. • Climate change mitigation
![Page 11: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Draft vision for project bid: To restore a more open and dynamic nature to the UK’s coastal sand dunes, securing their distinctive landscape into a changeable future, for people and for the many characteristic plants and animals dependent on dunes.
![Page 12: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Approach to funding bids
• Stage 1: 2016 Develop bid for HLF (national lottery) funded UK-wide dune project Complements current HLF species project bid on one English dune site Strong partnership element
• Stage 2: 2017 Build on stage 1 to focus on Natura 2000 sites Influenced by PAF Increase range of partners Dovetail with other bids
![Page 13: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
“Hey everyone, we’ve found some bare sand! What now?”
![Page 14: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Dare to be bare…?
• Reactivation-what’s needed for different aspects of dune function? • How much bare sand? • Time for cycles of succession-how long? • What methods give best results?
![Page 15: Developing a UK Dune Restoration Programmeec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/... · 2016-09-22 · Wales: 8,000 . England: 12,000 . Northern Ireland: 3,000 (not on](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042406/5f1fb132b7d13076e33846ff/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
How should we develop a bid with high chance of success? How to secure effective partner and public engagement?