This document discusses efforts to boost ecosystems in urban Mediterranean dunes that have been impacted by urbanization and coastal development. It outlines how dune relief has disappeared due to factors like coastal regression from harbor construction, mechanical sieving impeding sand transport, and dog and cat activity. A new management approach is proposed using ES/NC principles to construct dunes and blowouts along 15km of coastline, study ecological factors, and create a management manual to introduce semi-mobile dunes in urban areas. Mapping social beach use and attitudes will also help manage trade-offs as these urban dune ecosystems are restored.

1. ES/NC based management as a way
to boost mediterranean urban dune
ecosystems

2. 1908

3. Circa 1950

4. Last mobile dunes 1980

5. 1992 the first maritime promenade in Spain with dunes as central aspect of the landscape
treatment

6. Transformations due to urbanization & modification of coastal dynamics
1950
2014

7. Coastal regression due to the new harbour

8. Mechanical sieving impedes the natural sand aeolian transport

9. Impact of dog excreta over marram grass & cat colonies over fauna

10. Dune relief disappearance, afforestation and no more semi-mobile dunes!

11. Ecosystem services as opportunities for a new way of management

12. Altered ecosystem but biodiversity still remaining. Still on time to react!

13. Nicer landscapes lead to higher price of properties!!
The brandscape of the metropolitan area?
$
$

14. A wider window to cope with a complex environment

15. With municipalities

16. The Barcelona Metropolitan Administration

17. And the central government, with a new shore act that enables other stakeholders to make actions on
coastal defence for first time

18. A wider window to cope with a complex environment

19. The promenades are intensively used throughout the year and new projects pose risks to protected areas.
The Kentish plover on the verge of extinction.

20. Anthropocene environment

21. Although not constructing dunes, the same winds prevails

22. Historic images analysis

23. Explain how new dunes can be

24. Same azimuth makes different fetch lengths

25. Same azimuth makes different fetch lengths as the shore position varies

26. Global trends of accretion and erosion

27. Varied along time, specially with the construction of the new harbour

28. The environmental impact assessment act made obliged to move 100.000m3 of sand each year (with an
unknown impact on nearshore ecosystems).

29. OPERAs project + Barcelona Metropolitan Administration
The perfect combination!

30. Construction of dunes and blowouts

31. Construction of dunes and blowouts that can be seen on satellite
imaginery

32. Construction of dunes and blowouts along 15km of metropolitan
coastline

33. With different communication projects

34. Communication opportunities

35. Wind no more construct dunes, but still able to erode the constructed
ones!

36. And as happens in other places along European coast, marram grass is
displaced easily by other plants: so, there is a need to improve methods.

37. Most planted marram grass on maritime promenades decay and die in 6
or 7 years

38. So we are studying the most influential ecological factors and creating,
along with the staff of the metropolitan administration, a “management
manual of urban dunes”. The first in Europe oriented to introduce semi-
mobile dunes on urban environments.

39. Mapping of the cultural use of metropolitan beaches

40. The social use varies between summer and the rest of the year

41. Between neighbours and people who has to arrive by public transport of
private means

42. Different groups with potential different narratives and attitudes

43. Attitudes we need to know in order to manage trade-offs as the dog-
walkers impact.

44. Another outcome is that the beach nourishment (100.000m3 each year)
does not affect the emerged profile.
The vulnerability to flood has not varied.

45. Even on the areas with most accretion, the risk of flooding persists.

46. The modification of the profile of the emerged beach could be an
effective way to protect the coast and at a cost much cheaper than the
prevailing beach nourishment.

47. So, an experience that can be applied to other urban dunes, with
an improved toolbox: the Ecosystem services perspective.