PARENT SESSION
Organized Oral Session 33: Restoring and designing ecosystems for a crowded planet: Provision of ecosystem services or mere window dressing?
Organizer(s): ML Martinez and M Palmer
Wednesday, August 10, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Meeting Room 510a, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Protecting and restoring environmental services of coastal dunes.
Moreno-Casasola, Patricia*,1, Martinez, M. Luisa1, Castillo, Gonzalo1, Gallego-Fernández, Juan2, García-Novo, Francisco2, Ley Vega de Seoane, Carlos3, 1 Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico2 Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain3 Ecología Litoral S.L., Madrid, España
ABSTRACT- Coastal dunes are prone to degradation and subsequent destruction owing to natural (tides, hurricanes) and human-induced (development, recreation, overgrazing, trampling) disturbances. Worldwide, the later has had a greater impact on coastal dunes resulting in loss of important ecosystem services (coastal protection, water catchment, sediment balance). Two examples of coastal dune restoration are analyzed. In the Port of Veracruz, Mexico, harbor expansion completely destroyed the dune area. A 1km long artificial and unstable dune, parallel to the coastline, was left. Three species with contrasting growth habits were used for restoration: Opuntia stricta (cactaceae), Panicum maximum (tall grass) and Paspalum spp. (short grass). In each we monitored ten 5 x 5m replicates. After 5 years substrate was stabilized and plant cover reached almost 100%. Sand stabilization occurred at a faster rate on those locations covered by both grasses. Only 29-37% of the original dune species were recovered. The restored community was dominated by secondary herbs and creepers (80%). Original trees disappeared. At the Valdevaqueros site (Spain) a 1km long and 500m wide dune was restored and stabilized in order to prevent sand encroachment of inland areas. Two-year old individuals of native species, Ammophila arenaria and Othantus maritimus were artificially planted on a 9000m2 area along the frontal dune. In both cases, after 5 and 3 years respectively, plant cover and species richness increased, but restoration of the complex landscape and the system diversity were not completely achieved. The resulting ecosystems were self-sustaining but with low diversity due to high sedimentary dynamics in the case of Spain.
Key words: coastal dunes, restoration, Mexico, Spain