PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Extending along the eight kilometres of coastline, the sand dunes of the Circeo National Park in southern Lazio are among the most important in Italy. They are also a priority habitat type for conservation according to the Habitats Directive. Behind them lies a wetland of international importance that is also rich in important (Annex 1) European bird species of the Birds Directive.
The area, however, began to come under pressure following the construction of a road during World War II. This opened up the site to a large number of visitors and has resulted in the gradual, but increasingly severe, erosion of the dunes. In recent times, in recognition of the importance of the sand dunes, the municipal administration has begun looking at ways to gradually restrict the use of the road.
OBJECTIVES
The project’s overall objective was to implement key conservation measures to safeguard the priority sand dunes. These would include (i) actions to restrict the numbers of visitors to the site (including the closure/ re-routing of the section of the road running across the sand dunes); and (ii) actions addressing the problem of dune erosion (e.g. through the reconstruction of a part of the dunes) and through natural reconstructive processes such as using plant barriers to direct the movement of the sand carried by the wind).
RESULTS
The project was not successful in implementing a key measure of safeguarding the dunes – through the closure of the road running on the dune itself. However, it was successful in implementing various measures to restrict access to the beach, reconstructing part of the dunes and controlling erosion.
Specific results included:
- The construction of 15 wooden walkways (over 1 219 sq. metres) to enable access to the beach without walking on the dunes;
- The fencing of an area of dune (of 5 016 sq. metres) most frequented by tourists in the summer;
- The construction of wind barriers (998 sq. metres) and dune barriers (217 sq. metres) to prevent erosion;
- A number of small-scale pilot interventions and experiments – using bio-engineering techniques - were implemented to counteract erosion, such as through ‘dry plant barriers’ that were shown to successfully stop erosion and facilitate dune reconstruction.
- Education and information actions to increase awareness of the importance of the dune area. These included the erection of 32 information boards in the project site.
Finally, the project’s road closure objective was debated at the local municipal elections of 1996. It was unsuccessful due to opposition from parties fearing the impact on tourism in the area. The project was not successful in implementing a key measure of safeguarding the dunes – through the closure of the road running on the dune itself. However, it was successful in implementing various measures to restrict access to the beach, reconstructing part of the dunes and controlling erosion.
Specific results included:
- The construction of 15 wooden walkways (over 1 219 sq. metres) to enable access to the beach without walking on the dunes;
- The fencing of an area of dune (of 5 016 sq. metres) most frequented by tourists in the summer;
- The construction of wind barriers (998 sq. metres) and dune barriers (217 sq. metres) to prevent erosion;
- A number of small-scale pilot interventions and experiments – using bio-engineering techniques - were implemented to counteract erosion, such as through ‘dry plant barriers’ that were shown to successfully stop erosion and facilitate dune reconstruction.
- Education and information actions to increase awareness of the importance of the dune area. These included the erection of 32 information boards in the project site.
Finally, the project’s road closure objective was debated at the local municipal elections of 1996. It was unsuccessful due to opposition from parties fearing the impact on tourism in the area.