LIFE Platform Meeting

Restoration of sand dune habitats

15th-17th June 2016, Zandvoort, The Netherlands

Summary Report

Draft

Hosted by

Organised by:

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LIFE Platform on restoration of coastal and inland dune habitats, Zandvoort, The Netherlands, 15-17 June 2016

Table of Contents

Introduction...... 3 EU State of Nature Report ...... 3 Links between LIFE programme and Natura 2000 biogeographical process...... 4 State of Nature: Coastal Dunes ...... 5 Distribution of coastal sand dunes in Europe...... 5 EU habitat types ...... 5 Article 17 2007-2012 reporting round ...... 6 2120 Shifting (mobile) dunes ...... 6 2130* Fixed coastal dunes ...... 6 2190 Humid dune slacks ...... 7 Overall comment on the Article 17 reports-coastal dunes ...... 8 LIFE programme and coastal dunes ...... 8 State of Nature: Inland Dunes ...... 12 EU Habitat types ...... 12 State of Nature: 2007-2012 reporting ...... 14 2330 Inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands ...... 14 2310 Dry sand heaths with Calluna and Genista ...... 16 LIFE programme and inland dunes ...... 17 The Platform Programme ...... 19 Report of the programme ...... 19 Session 1: The Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process ...... 19 Session 2: Experience from the projects ...... 22 Session 3 Linking science and management ...... 23 Session 4: Workshops ...... 24 Field Trips ...... 31 Session 5: Ways to proceed ...... 35 Session 6: Discussion and Conclusions ...... 36 ANNEX 1 Programme ...... 40 Annex 2: Participants List ...... 42

Report prepared by John Houston, Neemo External Monitoring Team [email protected]

Acknowledgements: The platform meeting was coordinated by John Houston, Karen Lunan and Jean-Paul Herremans of the Neemo External Monitoring Team together with Neil McIntosh and Frank Gorissen of the European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC). It was hosted by PWN, Waternet and Natuurmonumenten with support from the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests. The organisers would like to thank Sjakel van Wesemael (PWN), Angelo Salsi (European Commission) and Ed Cousin (Waternet) for chairing the event, Luc Geelen (Waternet) and Marieke Kuipers (PWN) for the local organisation and the speakers, workshop leaders and excursion leaders for their contributions. Organisers’ thanks are also given to Bent Jepsen (NEEMO Central Team), João Silva and Justin Toland (LIFE Communication Team), Linda Mooij (Waternet) for publicity and Hanne Atema (Waternet) for support.

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INTRODUCTION

©Jan Dirk Bol

A LIFE Platform Meeting on the restoration of coastal and inland dune habitats was held in the Dutch seaside town of Zandvoort from 15th to 17th June 2016. Over 40 open and recently closed LIFE projects were invited by the European Commission to meet and exchange their experience. The close link between the Habitats Directive and LIFE Nature projects was enhanced by combining the platform meeting with an Atlantic thematic networking meeting as part of the Natura 2000 Biogeographic Process1.

The Biogeographic Process is a framework for knowledge building, cooperation and networking to support the aims of the Natura 2000 network. It involves Member States, expert stakeholders, practitioners and the European Commission working together in a spirit of collaboration and cooperation.

The meeting was a natural follow on from the LIFE project conference Dynamic Dunes 20152 held by the platform hosts Waternet, PWN and Natuurmonumenten. Whilst the audience for the Dynamic Dunes conference was mainly Dutch the platform meeting ensured that the best practices develop by these projects were disseminated to a European audience

The event was advertised through the LIFE events pages3, through the Natura 2000 Communication Platform4 and through direct contact between the European Commission’s Nature Unit and Atlantic Region Member State representatives. Participants and speakers were also contacted directly by the organisers and hosts.

Over 80 people, representing 25 projects from 14 Member States attended the three day event. Other participants represented the research sector, national nature conservation agencies, project developers and NGOs. This report brings together the background notes, workshop briefings and the summary of discussions. It presents some conclusions and sets out the opportunities for networking and knowledge transfer within the framework of a European Dune Network.

EU State of Nature Report

The platform meeting gave practitioners an opportunity to consider the response to the 2015 EU State of Nature Report5, which highlighted the critical status of dune habitats in Europe, and the mid-term review of

1 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/seminars_en.htm 2 https://www.waternet.nl/media/795393/rapport_conference_dynamic_dunes_2015.pdf 3 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/news/events/events2016/june.htm#dune_habitats 4 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/index_en.htm 5 Summary leaflet at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/pdf/state_of_nature_en.pdf and full report at http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/state-of-nature-in-the-eu

- 3 - the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 which shows that more needs to be done in general to make progress against Target 1 ‘full implementation of the nature directives to protect biodiversity’6.

Threats to coastal and inland dunes in northwest Europe include loss and fragmentation of habitats, reduction in area of open sand, succession to scrub and woodland and impact of invasive alien species. Problems are exacerbated in many areas due to Nitrogen deposition. For coastal dunes net coastal erosion along many coasts and potential impacts of climate change add to concerns. A common theme running through the platform presentations, from both coastal and inland examples, was the objective of restoring areas of bare sand and dune forming processes.

Links between LIFE programme and Natura 2000 biogeographical process

The meeting gave opportunities to discuss strengthening links between Atlantic, Boreal and Continental initiatives, to promote cross-border projects or exchanges between Member States, to consider further exchange of coastal and inland experience, to identify research themes, and to propose how stronger, and better supported, European dune networking could be established.

The meeting demonstrated the value in linking the Natura 2000 biogeographical process and LIFE projects for the dissemination of best practice. The second round of biogeographical seminars is moving its focus from policy aspects to practical aspects and LIFE projects are well placed to provide this experience individually and collectively. Connecting Natura 2000 policy and projects are Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAFs) developed by each Member State, and submitted to the European Commission, setting out their conservation priorities for EU habitats and species7. PAFs are a planning tool but are becoming increasing important in making the link between the ‘State of Nature’ Article 17 reports to the establishment of conservation programmes including national and regional LIFE Integrated Projects and traditional LIFE projects.

The meeting was a milestone event for LIFE projects concerned with dune habitat restoration and its outputs support the development of a roadmap for European networking.

6 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/comm2006/2020.htm 7 The format and guidance notes for the PAF are given at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/financing/docs/PAF.pdf There is no central library of MS PAFs. But reference to the national / regional PAF is essential for all LIFE applications.

- 4 - STATE OF NATURE: COASTAL DUNES Distribution of coastal sand dunes in Europe

The Sand Dune Inventory of Europe published in 1991 and updated in web-format in 2008 by its editor, Pat Doody8 contains a series of country reports written by national experts.

Distribution of main dune systems in Europe © Doody, 2001

The inventory confirms that the Atlantic region holds the longest sections of continuous dune coastline in Europe. Information from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that as a proportion of the total sand dune resource the Atlantic region holds 44% of all shifting dunes (H2120), 57% of fixed dunes (H2130*)9, 46% of decalcified fixed dunes (H2140*), 58% of humid dune slacks (H2190) and 71% of dunes with Hippophaë rhamnoides (H2160) in Europe.

EU habitat types

Coastal dunes are represented in two sub-sets of the EU Interpretation Manual10, ‘Sea Dunes of the Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic Coasts’ and ‘Sea Dunes of the Mediterranean Coast’. The meeting focused on the northern set of dune habitats.

Sea dunes of the Atlantic, North Sea and Baltic coasts

2110 Embryonic shifting dunes 2120 Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes) 2130* Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes) 2140* Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum 2150* Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno-Ulicetea) 2160 Dunes with Hippophae rhamnoides 2170 Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae)

8 http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Category:Sand_Dune_Inventory_of_Europe_(Doody_ed._1991_%26_2008) 9 The symbol * after a habitat code refers to a priority habitat 10 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/habitatsdirective/docs/Int_Manual_EU28.pdf

- 5 - 2180 Wooded dunes of the Atlantic, Continental and Boreal Region 2190 Humid dune slacks 21A0* Machairs (in Ireland)

This description of EU habitat types simplifies other national classifications and makes comparison between countries and sites possible whilst recognising that dune systems are characterised by dynamic habitat mosaics.

Article 17 2007-2012 reporting round

The Habitats Directive introduces a shared responsibility between Member States to work towards ‘favourable conservation status’ (FCS) of European habitats and species at biogeographical level. To report on this the Article 17 reports, submitted every six years, and analysed by the EEA provide a snapshot of progress.

This chapter looks at the trends in the habitats 2120 shifting (mobile) dunes, 2130* grey (fixed) dunes and 2190 humid dune slacks. However, as noted in the EU ‘management models’ for fixed dunes11 and humid dune slacks12 these broad habitat types are closely linked to others such as embryonic dunes, decalcified fixed dunes and dry slacks.

2120 Shifting (mobile) dunes13

The habitats which include the beach-dune transition zone, embryo dunes, foredunes and mobile dunes are dynamic by nature and occur to some extent along all European coasts. The main pressures and threats include coastal engineering works, tourism development, recreational activities and invasive alien species. In the Mediterranean where 29% of the habitat is found, along with 37% of 2110 embryonic shifting dunes, there are severe pressures from development and recreational use and the overall assessment is ‘unfavourable bad’.

In the Atlantic region the situation is better and in Germany the habitat condition is ‘favourable’. In Belgium, Denmark and the UK the structure and function of the habitat (the most relevant parameter) is ‘unfavourable- bad’ and there is a negative trend reported for the UK. The Dutch situation is that the ‘structure and function’ whilst ‘unfavourable-inadequate’ shows a positive trend leading to a favourable score for ‘future prospects’. This favourable ‘future prospects’ assessment stands out from most other Member States and is perhaps a reflection of confidence in the Netherlands that there are mechanisms in place which can maintain the value of dynamic habitats as part of the national sea defence plan based on beach nourishment.

The quality of mobile dune habitats is linked to the large scale loss of natural habitat and interference with natural dynamics. Solutions to both issues require engagement with shoreline management (sea defence and coast protection) agencies. This remains a major area for the exchange of knowledge and coordination of national policy in addressing issues arising from coast erosion, sea level rise, possible increasing storminess and the need for climate change adaptation.

The ‘white dunes’ habitat is a component of large dune systems and the majority is protected within the Natura 2000 network. In the Netherlands, for example, 100% of the habitat 2110 and 2120 is included within the Natura 2000 network.

2130* Fixed coastal dunes14

11 Management Model for 2130 at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/habitats/pdf/2130_Fixed_coastal_dunes.pdf 12 Management model for 2190 at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/habitats/pdf/2190_Humid_dune_slacks.pdf 13 Factsheet at http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reports2012/static/factsheets/dunes-habitats/2120-shifting-dunes- along-the-shoreline-with-ammophila-.pdf 14 Factsheet at http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reports2012/static/factsheets/dunes-habitats/2130-fixed-coastal- dunes-with-herbaceous-vegetation-grey-dunes.pdf

- 6 - Fixed coastal dunes are a widespread habitat type with considerable geographic variability. Seven sub-types are recognised in the EU Interpretation Manual from the Baltic to the Black Sea. This shows the need for greater understanding of ‘fixed dunes’ at EU level and the sharing of management approaches. 57% of the habitat type is found in the Atlantic Region, 15% in the Boreal region and 19% in the Continental region. The habitat is closely linked to decalcified dunes (2140*) and dune heaths (2150*) especially in Denmark. Fixed coastal dunes is the dry dune habitat requiring most attention as it is ‘unfavourable bad’ in the Atlantic, Boreal and Continental regions.

For the Atlantic the habitat is in ‘unfavourable bad’ condition in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands and UK. However, the trend in conservation status is given as ‘stable’ except for the UK where the trend continues to be negative. This ‘stable’ trend for many sand dune habitats is noted in the EU State of Nature report. It gives the impression that whilst the situation is ‘unfavourable bad’ it is not getting any worse, but this should not be a reason for complacency. There remains a significant challenge to achieve the recovery of these habitats.

In Belgium there is a noted lack of total area of habitat (only 670 ha) and structure and function is ‘unfavourable inadequate’. The status of the habitat in the Netherlands shows no change (perhaps indicating that the situation has been stabilised) whereas the trend in the UK is further decline. The main pressure on the habitat in the Netherlands is succession, exacerbated by N deposition, and the main measures to be applied are mowing and grazing supported by one-off restoration works.

The main pressures and threats include atmospheric nitrogen deposition, invasive alien species, development, succession towards tall grass and scrub and recreation pressures. With fixed dunes covering such a large area of the total dune mosaic the level of protection through Natura 2000 is not as high as for some habitats, with only 20% of the habitat in France, 44% of the habitat in the UK and 62% of the habitat in Denmark being within the Natura 2000 network.

This raises a challenge in terms of the replicability of the results of LIFE projects. The national PAFs cover the full area of EU habitats and species but there is inevitably a focus on the management of Natura 2000 sites. Because fixed dunes are priority habitats they must be included in PAFs: this gives opportunities to share information between Member States.

The key conservation measures are to continue to establish protected areas, to maintain the dune grasslands and other open habitats and to restore habitats.

2190 Humid dune slacks15

Humid dune slacks include the wetland features within the mosaic of dune habitats from the primary slacks formed by beach accretion to the secondary dune slacks formed by aeolian processes and other wetland features including the wetter types of 2170 Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea. The habitat is mainly found in the Atlantic region (58% of EU total) but is also represented in the Mediterranean region, especially France where 19% of the EU total is recorded. The EEA assessment notes however that the habitat includes much variation and there may be differences in interpretation between countries, especially in the Mediterranean.

Although the EEA assessment suggests that there has been no overall improvement in the conservation status of dune slacks there are some successes to be reported. In Belgium and the Netherlands, despite being rated respectively as ‘bad’ and ‘inadequate’ positive trends are noted. It is possible that this improvement can be linked to the work of several LIFE projects. In the UK and Ireland, however, declines in structure and function are reported.

The main pressures and threats are related to changes in the hydrology, vegetation succession, over-grazing, invasive alien species and other human disturbances. Practical conservation measures include maintaining the open habitats, restoring habitats and managing the local hydrological conditions.

15 Factsheet at http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reports2012/static/factsheets/dunes-habitats/2190-humid-dune- slacks.pdf

- 7 - Overall comment on the Article 17 reports-coastal dunes

The information presented above is drawn from the overall EU27 habitat reports published by the EEA. More detailed information can be found by looking at a single biogeographical region or a national report. The information on pressures, threats and conservation measures in the EEA pools the information from Member States reports and makes an overall summary. Nevertheless, the ‘highly important’ issues do reflect the problems and solutions being addressed by LIFE projects.

Habitat type Top 5 pressures Top 5 threats 2120 Shifting dunes Human disturbances Recreational activities Recreational activities Human disturbances Changes in hydrology Invasive alien species Invasive alien species Changes in hydrology Abiotic natural processes Abiotic natural processes 2130 Fixed dunes Invasive alien species Invasive alien species Recreational activities Human disturbances Human disturbances Vegetation succession Vegetation succession Recreational activities Urbanisation Air pollution 2190 Dune slacks Changes in hydrology Vegetation succession Vegetation succession Changes in hydrology Grazing by livestock Grazing by livestock Invasive alien species Human disturbances Human disturbances Invasive alien species

Invasive alien species occurs in every list showing just how significant this threat is to coastal dune systems. Other pressures and threats highlighted in the reporting include problematic native species, sport and leisure infrastructure, roads, railways and paths and afforestation.

The Article 17 reports are a snapshot of the state of nature in the EU. However, it is recognised that there are issues between the use of different conservation objectives in different Member States, different interpretations of the habitat types and different monitoring schemes. Progress with the overall aim of achieving favourable conservation status for a habitat type at biogeographical region or EU level will require better understanding between Member States to compare like with like.

LIFE programme and coastal dunes

The LIFE programme continues to support dune habitat restoration projects across Europe. Benefitting countries since 2009 include Denmark, Spain, Finland, Italy, Belgium/ France, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden and Latvia. Although there were no projects in 2014 specifically targeting dune habitats, applications are in preparation from Portugal and the UK.

The summary of each project can be accessed from the hyperlink on the project number. The project website and reports can be accessed from the summaries in the ‘Read More’ section at the end of each document.

Project Objectives REWETDUNE-LIFE- Restoration of Addresses threats to 2130*, 2140* and 2190 on two SACs on the 30 km Skagen wetlands in dune habitats Odde in northern Denmark. Threats include lack of natural hydrological conditions, invasive alien species and recreation pressure. Actions include LIFE13NAT/DK/001357 closure of 44 km of ditches, removal of tree encroachment, clear-felling of plantations and control of Rosa rugosa. Danish Nature Agency LIFE CONHABIT Andalucía – Preservation Coastal habitats in Andalucía are threatened by development and tourism and improvement in priority habitats on leading to fragmentation, and also from invasive alien species, inappropriate the Andalusian coast uses and lack of awareness. The project addresses the need for habitat restoration in 15 Natura 2000 sites and includes actions for dune habitats LIFE13NAT/ES/000586 2130*, 2150* and 2270*.

- 8 - Project Objectives Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment LIFE+ARCOS- In situ and Ex situ Targets 10 Natura 2000 sites on the Cantabrian coast with habitats 1210, 2110, innovative combined techniques for 2120, 2130*. Threats include tourism and recreation pressures and lack of coastal dune habitats restoration in SCIs knowledge. Actions include control of invasive species, protection of habitats of northern Spain from disturbance and planting of dune grasses and other species.

LIFE13NAT/ES/000883

University of Oviedo Light & Fire-LIFE –Light & Fire open the The project targets habitat types at 69 Natura 2000 sites which require either doors for biodiversity fire or intensity of sunlight for their structure and function. Dunes host many thermophilous species and habitats 1210, 2110, 2120, 2130*, 2140*, 2180 and LIFE13NAT/FI/000099 2190 are targeted. Actions for the sunlit habitats include removal of invasive alien species. Metsahällitus

LIFE RES MARIS – Recovering The project Natura 2000 site includes the priority habitats 2250* coastal dune endangered habitats in the Capo with Juniper and 2270* wooded dunes. Threats are from human pressure, Carbonara marine area, Sardinia invasive alien species, cutting of the forests and due erosion. Actions include removal of IAS Carpobrotus, Acacia and Agave, and restoration of the dune LIFE13NAT/IT/000433 habitats including reintroduction of dune species.

Province of Cagliari SOSS DUNES LIFE – Safeguard and The Porto Pino Natura 2000 site is threatened from high human pressure from management Of South-western mass tourism. The habitats under threat include 2110, 2120, 2210, 2230, Sardinian dunes – A project for the pilot 2250* and 2270*. In particular the project addresses priority habitats 2250 area of Porto Pino coastal dunes with Juniperus spp. and 2270 wooded dunes with Pinus pinea and/or Pinus pinaster. Actions include habitat restoration, visitor control and LIFE13NAT/IT/001013 increasing awareness of the value of the dune habitats.

Comune of Sant’Anna Arresi Life FLANDRE – Flemish and North- The cross-border project will consolidate the Natura 2000 network in both French Dunes Restoration countries by restoring coastal and dune habitats including 2110, 2120, 2130*, 2150*, 2160, 2170, 2180 and 2190. Threats include urbanisation, water LIFE12NAT/BE/000631 extraction, recreational use, dune stabilisation, loss of traditional grazing and invasive alien species. Actions include land purchase, management plans, Agency of Nature and Forests of the habitat restoration, public awareness raising and strengthening cooperation Flemish Government between Belgian and French authorities.

LIFE WETHAB – Restoration of Wet The Jerup Hede Natura 2000 site is one of the largest dune and mire habitat Habitats in the Jerup Beach Ridge Plan complexes in Denmark. The project area includes dune habitats 2130*, 2140* and 2190. Actions include removal of tree and scrub overgrowth, combating LIFE12NAT/DK/000803 invasive alien species, restoring natural hydrology and supporting agri- environment schemes. Danish Nature Agency REDCOHA-LIFE – Restoration of Danish Targets 12 SACs on the Danish west coast and habitat types 2120, 2130*, Coastal Habitats 2140*, 2180 and 2190. Threats include lack of dynamic processes, invasion of conifer species, spread of Rosa rugosa, fragmentation of habitats and loss of LIFE12NAT/DK/001073 breeding and foraging areas for key animals. Actions include mapping and control of invasive species, removal of plantations (reduces fragmentation), Danish Nature Agency restoration of natural hydrological conditions and species conservation measures.

LIFE Aran – The sustainable management Machair is a priority dune habitat in Ireland (21A0*) and is managed as part of of priority terrestrial Habitats Directive an agricultural mosaic on western coasts. The project will develop best practice Annex I habitats of the Aran Islands techniques to address problems of land abandonment, under-grazing and loss of traditional management systems. A best practice guide will be produced. LIFE12NAT/IE/000995

- 9 - Project Objectives Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht LIFE LAESOE – restoration of birdlife and Habitats on the Jutland peninsula are threatened by inappropriate grazing, natural habitats at Laesoe overgrowth by woody species (native and non-native), spread of alien invasive species and alterations to natural hydrology. The project includes actions for LIFE11NAT/DK/000893 dune habitats 2130* and 2140* to control Rosa rugosa, to remove exotic tree species including Pinus mugo, Pinus contorta, Picea sitchensis and Prunus Danish Nature Agency serotina. Dune habitats protection in the Leopoldia gussonei is endemic to Sicily and is confined to dune habitats. It is a greenhouse landscape of the Gela Gulf severely endangered and a priority species in the Habitats Directive. Threats for the safeguarding of Leopoldia are agriculture, construction of greenhouses, invasive alien species, coast gussonei erosion, uncontrolled grazing and tourism pressure. The project aim is to re- establish and protect the dune habitats most suitable for Leopoldia gussonei LIFE11NAT/IT/000232 (2110, 2120, 2210, 2230 and 2250*).

University of Catania ‘Amsterdam Dunes – Source for nature’, The project area has multiple uses; drinking water supply, recreation and dune habitat restoration project nature conservation. Habitats, including 2130*, 2160 and 2190, have been affected by lowering of the watertable, impact of N deposition and rapid LIFE11NAT/NL/000776 expansion of IAS Prunus serotina. Actions include removal of nutrient rich soil layers, control of Prunus serotina, restoration of ponds, mowing, reactivation Waternet Foundation of blowouts and introduction of grazing.

SandLIFE – Restoration of habitats on The project covers 23 Natura 2000 sites on sandy soils in Skane, Halland and sandy soils in southern Sweden Kalmar counties. Threats addressed are abandonment of agricultural use of sandy soils leading to tree, scrub and grass encroachment. The project LIFE11NAT/SE/000849 addresses both coastal and inland dune habitats including 2130*, 2140*, 2180 and 2190. Actions include restoration of dune habitat by removal of County Administrative Board of Skåne plantations, creation of bare sand areas, management of encroachment and removal of Rosa rugosa.

NAT-PROGRAMME – National The project objective is to develop the national PAF and conservation Conservation and Management programme. Actions include preparation of the national conservation and Programme for Natura 2000 Sites in management programme, conservation management guidelines for coastal Latvia areas (including dune habitats) and a training programme to promote delivery of conservation measures. Testing of management measures for 2130* and LIFE11NAT/LV/000371 2140* will advise guidelines for addressing invasion by trees and invasive alien species including Rosa rugosa. Nature Conservation Agency

MAESTRALE: Actions for the recovery The coast of Molise on the Adriatic holds three Natura 2000 sites important for and the conservation of dune and back eastern Mediterranean examples of sand dune habitats 2250* Coastal dunes dune habitats in the Molise Region with Juniperus spp. and 2270* Wooded dunes with Pinus pinea and/or Pinus pinaster. Project actions include improving the dune woodland habitats by LIFE10NAT/IT/000262 removal of exotic species and replanting native species and improving the conservation status of the Juniper habitats. Municipality of Campomarino ZTAR-Zwin Tidal Area Restoration The Zwin is the largest tidal salt marsh, dune and lagoon complex in Belgium. Dune habitats have been lost due to coastal squeeze. The project targeted LIFE09NAT/BE/000413 habitat types 2120, 2130* and 2190 with actions to restore dune slacks (important sites for Epidalea calamita –Natterjack Toad), to introduce grazing Agency for Nature and Forests to control grass encroachment, and turf-stripping. Revitalising Noordduinen: from concrete The Noordduinen had been intensively used for agriculture, military use and surfaces to grey dune habitats water extraction. Threats included the loss of dune area to military infrastructure, desiccation of dune slacks, eutrophication from N deposition LIFE09NAT/NL/000417 and agricultural use and invasive Rosa rugosa. The project targeted 2120, 2130* and 2190 through removal of concrete runways, removing nutrient-rich Stichting Landschap Noord-Holland topsoil, restoring dune slacks and controlling Rosa rugosa. Dutch Dune Revival: Realisation of The project includes three Natura 2000 sites: Voornes Duin, Duinen Gooree &

- 10 - Project Objectives Natura 2000 targets for calcareous Kwade Hoek and Kennemerland-Zuid. Main threats are the loss of natural white, grey dunes and dune slacks in dynamics caused by the loss of rabbit grazing and the plantation of forests. The three Dutch dune sites increased rate of succession leads to an increase in grasses and scrub, and allows expansion of Prunus serotina and Populus alba. Actions for 2120, 2130* LIFE09NAT/NL/000418 and 2190 are aimed at setting back the succession to an earlier stage and to maintain more open habitats by mowing and/or grazing. In Kennemerland – Natuurmonumenten Zuid the project includes the large scale creation of active blowing dunes.

Other relevant older projects represented at the Platform Meeting

BALTCOAST - Rehabilitation of the Baltic The overall goal was to contribute to securing a favourable conservation status coastal lagoon habitat complex of the Baltic coastal lagoon habitat complexes and characteristic species in Denmark, Germany and Estonia. 2130* habitats were restored by clearing LIFE05 NAT/D/000152 scrub and Rosa rugosa. The establishment of whole-year cattle grazing was one of the core activities of the project. Stiftung Naturschutz Schleswig-Holstein Vattajan dyyni LIFE - Restoration of dune The project demonstrated how military use and nature conservation can be and coastal habitats in the Vattaja combined. It has led to restoration plans for dunes through scrub clearance, Military Area and removal of conifers and changes to use. The military limited their access to the dune habitats 2110, 2120, 2130*, 2140* and 2180: use of priority dune LIFE05 NAT/FIN/000104 habitats decreased by 90%.

Metsahällitus Dutch Coastal Dunes - Restoration of An extensive project addressing measures to restore the dynamics and dune habitats along the Dutch coast openness of dunes on the islands of Texel and Terschelling, Hollands Duin and Kop van Schouwen. Woodland and scrub removed to create more space for LIFE05 NAT/NL/000124 young vegetation and to introduce more openness and variation to the landscape. Habitats targeted include 2110, 2120, 2130*, 2140*, 2150*, 2160, Staatsbosbeheer 2170, 2180 and 2190. Restoration of Dune Habitats along the The forerunner to REDCOHA-LIFE. This large-scale project improved the Danish West Coast conservation status of dune heaths and priority habitat 2130* (Fixed grey dunes) and 2140* (Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum). LIFE02 NAT/DK/008584 Danish Nature Agency Living with the Sea : Managing Natura The project addressed the policy and practice implications of dynamic coastal 2000 sites on dynamic coastlines change on European sites (SPA and SAC). New planning approaches were developed, practical projects designed and a European framework developed LIFE99 NAT/UK/006081 published as a booklet and CD-ROM. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/64025 Natural England Co-op bogs and dunes - Dissemination of Project addressed dune habitats 2110, 2120, 2130*, 2140*, 2150*, 2160, 2170, ecological knowledge and practical 2180, 2190 and 3110. The main output was the PROMME decision tree for experiences for sound planning and coastal dunes http://www.barger.science.ru.nl/life/decision-tree/ management in raised bogs and sea dunes

LIFE03 NAT/CP/NL/000006

Nijmegen University A Conservation Strategy for the Sand The project developed a nature conservation strategy for the Sefton Coast SAC, Dunes of the Sefton Coast, North West the largest are of dune land in England. Targeted habitats included 2110, 2120, England 2130* and 2190. Actions included land purchase, scrub control, grazing, actions for Natterjack toad and Sand lizard and work with private landowners. LIFE95 NAT/UK/000818

Sefton Council

- 11 - STATE OF NATURE: INLAND DUNES

The European sand belt was deposited during the ice ages and sand has been reworked by the wind at the end of the last ice age during a cold and dry period. After the return of the forest a second period of drift has been activated by overexploitation (deforestation and grazing).

The European periglacial sand belt. 1 sand belt 2, Saalian max ice margin, 3 Weichselian max ice margin, 4 ice margin in Younger Dryas, 5 sub-stage ice extent, 6 main rivers (16)

EU Habitat types

There are four habitat types belonging to the continental dunes. 2310 Dry sand heaths with Calluna and Genista 2320 Dry sand heaths with Calluna and Empetrum nigrum 2330 Inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands 2340* Pannonic inland dunes

This note focuses on habitat types 2310 and 2330 as these are the most affected by the lack of dynamics in the drift sands. Habitat type 2340* is generally associated with river dunes: the largest continental dune in Europe, the 350km² Deliblato dune in Serbia, belongs to this type.

Habitat type 2320 is less common and being a fixed dune habitat is less sensitive to a lack of sand dynamics, whilst being sensitive to other pressures such as vegetation succession towards scrub and forest and Nitrogen deposition. The management of this habitat is generally management of heath land more than dune management.

There is usually a close relationship between the area of 2310 dry sand heaths and the area of 2330 inland dunes. The 2330 habitat is highly dependent on mobile sand and open places and on acidic soils tends to evolve quickly to the 2310 habitat (with intermediate stages which may last for a while depending on the local soil conditions and pressure of grazing). The absence of 2310 in Poland, Lithuania and Czech Republic is probably due to reporting this habitat within the more widespread habitat type 4030 European dry heaths.

16 Leon Andrzejewski, Piotr Weckwerth (2010) Ecological Questions 12/2010 – Special Issue: 9 – 15 DOI: 10.2478/v10090– 010–0001–4 Dunes of the Toruń Basin against palaeogeographical conditions of the Late Glacial and Holocene.

- 12 - In the European sand belt the habitat type 4030 European dry heath is found on cover sands which have not been reworked by the wind. The figure below, from Koster E. A. (2009), shows, for the Netherlands and northern Belgium, the distribution of cover sands, drift sands and complexes of river dunes. The area of cover sands is significantly more important than the drift sands. Within the European sand belt 2310, 2320 and 4030 are often difficult to separate (17).

The drift sand complexes in northern Europe are an original geomorphological landscape. They deserve attention for their specialised plant and animal communities and for the scarcity of active drift sands. 2-3% of the total area of Netherlands is covered by (former) drift sands and from the original area of drift sands only 2% is still active.

Cover sands, drift sands and river dunes in Netherlands and northern Belgium (18).

The maps below are taken from the Article 17 summary reports and show the distribution of habitat types 2330, 2310, 2320 and 4030.

17 Maike C.C & al, (2009) Biodiversity, vegetation gradients and key biogeochemical processes in the heathland landscape. Biological Conservation 142 (2009) 2191 – 2201. 18 Koster EA (2009)The “European Aeolian Sand Belt”: Geoconservation of Drift Sand Landscapes Geoheritage (2009) 1:93– 110 DOI 10.1007/s12371-009-0007-8

- 13 -

Habitat 2330 Inland dunes with open Habitat: 2310 Dry sand heaths with Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands19 Calluna and Genista (20)

Habitat: 2320 Dry sand heaths with Habitat: 4030 European dry heaths (22) Calluna and Empetrum nigrum (21)

State of Nature: 2007-2012 reporting

To simplify presentation information from the Article 17 report for 2007-2012 is presented only for 2330 Inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands and 2310 Dry sand heaths with Calluna and Genista

2330 Inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands

The habitat occurs in five biogeographical regions: Atlantic, Boreal, Continental, Mediterranean and Pannonian. The conservation status is considered as ‘unfavourable-bad’ in the Atlantic, Boreal and Continental regions, ‘unfavourable-inadequate’ in the Mediterranean region and ‘favourable’ in the Pannonian region.

19 http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reports2012/static/factsheets/dunes-habitats/2330-inland-dunes-with-open- corynephorus-and-agrostis-grasslands.pdf 20 http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reports2012/static/factsheets/dunes-habitats/2310-dry-sand-heaths-with-calluna- and-genista.pdf 21 http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reports2012/static/factsheets/dunes-habitats/2320-dry-sand-heaths-with-calluna- and-empetrum-nigrum.pdf 22 http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/article17/reports2012/static/factsheets/heath-scrub/4030-european-dry-heaths.pdf

- 14 - The habitat is an open vegetation of short often annual plants growing on open mobile or recently mobilised sand. Therefore, besides the dunes, especially inland dunes, this vegetation type is often noted in sand pits, road verges after public works, overgrazed or trampled heath vegetation along paths on sandy soil or even on places heavily disturbed by rabbits (rabbit warrens). It is very variable with numerous associated vegetation communities: the range of the habitat is probably underestimated. The open sands are particularly important for thermophilous invertebrates.

The main pressures and threats to the habitat are natural succession of the vegetation, air pollution, invasive alien species and grazing by livestock. Among the invasive alien species Prunus serotina (Black Cherry) and Quercus rubra (Northern Red Oak) are well known. Other species such as Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven) may potentially become more problematic in the future (23). Because the 2330 habitat type needs to be regularly disturbed to maintain its open sand character it is particularly vulnerable to colonization by pioneer invasive species such as Ailanthus altissima. The invasive alien bryophyte Campylopus introflexus is also problematic in the successional and intermediate stages from 2330 to 2310. The aggressiveness of the species is reinforced by high Nitrogen deposition (24).

Air pollution is mainly related to dry and wet deposition of Nitrogen. High Nitrogen loads accelerate vegetation succession towards taller grass cover. Remke et al. demonstrated that even low to medium nitrogen deposition is critical for acidic, dry coastal dunes (25). This applies equally to the inland dunes habitat types 2330 and 2310.

There are 471 Natura 2000 sites designated for this habitat. The percentage of habitat included in Natura 2000 sites ranges from 50% to 77% in the Atlantic region (100% for UK), 100% in most of the Boreal region (but 2% for Sweden) and 40 to 94 % for the Continental region. So the coverage is insufficient in some cases.

Proposed conservation management measures include maintaining grasslands and other open habitats, establishing protected areas, adaptation/abolition of military land use and management of landscape features including conservation/restoration of active features.

A threat, for any future improvement of the conservation status, but not often mentioned, is the often inadequate boundaries of Natura 2000 sites where the full geomorphological features are not included or the full hydrological zone is not included. The maps and satellite photos below show how a continental parabolic dune is poorly designated.

The red line highlights the shape of the parabolic The Natura 2000 site (Natura 2000 viewer). The dune in Flanders. boundaries of the site do not allow ambitious reactivation of the parabolic dune.

23 Anonymous, Fédération des Conservatoires botaniques de France, fiche Ailanthus altissima. 24 Sparrius, L.B. (2011) Inland dunes in The Netherlands: soil, vegetation, nitrogen deposition and invasive species. Ph.D. thesis, University of Amsterdam. 165 pp. 25 Remke, E et al. (2009), Even low to medium nitrogen deposition impacts vegetation of dry, coastal dunes around the Baltic Sea. Environmental pollution, Volume 157, Issue 3, March 2009, 792 – 800.

- 15 -

2310 Dry sand heaths with Calluna and Genista

Dry sand heath occurs in the Atlantic and Continental regions and is related to 2330 from which it is often a succession stage resulting from the stabilisation of the sand and the vegetation succession. It was once widespread on the continental dunes of the North Sea and Baltic plains and originated from the aeolian reworking of sands of the European sand belt. The sands are siliceous and most of the nutrients have been leached leading to nutrient poor acidic soils. Traditional use by farmers for grazing and extensive sod-cutting resulted in further loss of nutrients.

The vegetation is characterized by the abundance of Calluna vulgaris and Genista species. Lichens and bryophytes contribute significantly to the different succession phases after progressive stabilisation of the bare, mobile sand of 2330. Sparrius, L.B. (2011) (26) mentions an exhaustive list of lichens and bryophytes for The Netherlands.

The habitat 2310 is a particular form of 4030 and therefore the vegetation is very similar. However due to the restricted potential area and the position in the vegetation succession on drift sands this habitat is more endangered than 4030 and reduced considerably.

The relationship between 2330 and 2310 is illustrated in the table below:

Vegetation succession in inland dunes using a classification in main (above) and subclasses (below) based on Hasse (2005) in (Sparrius L.B. 2011).

The key measure for the conservation of 2310 is the overall management and conservation of drift sands and the existence of mosaics of different succession stages. This implies protection status on large areas because the approach needs enough space to maintain sufficiently large patches of the different stages and to maintain examples of all the main stages so as not to lose biodiversity. Large areas are also necessary to allow space for sand drift and for the conservation of geomorphological features such as parabolic dunes. Large scale reactivation of dunes may perhaps reduce the management costs per hectare by using the natural aeolian processes instead of recurrent mechanical management.

The conservation status is assessed as ‘unfavourable-bad’ in the Atlantic region and ‘unfavourable- inadequate’ in the Continental region. In both regions the status has not changed since the previous report and is considered to be deteriorating. However, there are several examples from LIFE projects of improving trends.

Atmospheric Nitrogen deposition is reported as the most important threat and pressure in both regions. Several countries also note abandonment of pastoral systems.

177 Natura 2000 sites are designated for this habitat. In the Atlantic region the coverage of the habitat in the Natura 2000 network is 91% for Belgium, 75% for The Netherlands but only 48% for Denmark. In the Continental region the coverage in Germany and Denmark is 97% and 80% respectively.

26 Sparrius, L.B. (2011) Inland dunes in The Netherlands: soil, vegetation, nitrogen deposition and invasive species. Ph.D. thesis, University of Amsterdam. 165 pp.

- 16 - The main pressures and threats are summarised below. The input of excess Nitrogen is the main problem for the habitat followed by grazing management and invasive alien species; vegetation succession being less important due the relative stability of this stage. Regarding conservation measures the management of landscape features is mentioned acknowledging the importance of the drift sands as geomorphological sites.

Summary of pressures and threats 2330 and 2310

Habitat type Top 5 pressures Top 5 threats 2330 Inland dunes with open Vegetation succession Vegetation succession Corynephorus and Agrostis Air pollution Air pollution grasslands Invasive alien species Invasive alien species Grazing by livestock Changes in water bodies conditions Mining and quarrying. Mowing or cutting grasslands 2310 Dry sand heaths with Calluna Air pollution Air pollution and Genista Grazing by livestock Grazing by livestock Invasive alien species Invasive alien species Vegetation succession Vegetation succession - Mowing or cutting grasslands

The pressures and threats mentioned for the two habitats are consistent with their particularities and the overall context as described by Sparrius, L.B. (2011) and several other authors. Habitat 2330 is more sensitive to succession whilst habitat 2310, a more resilient stage, is more sensitive to inputs of nutrients (invasion by dominant grasses).

LIFE programme and inland dunes

The LIFE programme continues to support inland dune habitat restoration projects across Europe. Benefitting countries since 2009 include Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Poland.

LIFE projects funded in the period 2009-2014 include:

Project Objectives LIFE IN QUARRIES Addresses threats to 2330 and ten other habitats including 6120* xeric and calcareous grasslands also related to sandy soils. The project aims to develop LIFE14 NAT/BE/000364 and test methods for the restoration, maintenance and management of pioneer species and habitats along with the development of quarries. This fits Federation des Industries Extractives particularly well with the temporary character of 2330. This innovative project SCRL transforms the traditional conflict between quarries and nature conservation into a win-win deal. HELVEX-LIFE - Cross-Border heath The heath land landscape in the cross boundary site of Kalmthoutse Heide has restoration, inland dunes and pools, suffered from abandonment of traditional land use, conifer planting, integrated invasive plant management. intensification of farming in some parts and uncontrolled recreation. The progress of vegetation succession continues to degrade the habitats. After LIFE13 NAT/BE/000074 land purchases the area is now controlled by nature conservation organisations: public administrations and NGOs in The Netherlands and BENEGO/ Grenspark De Zoom - Belgium. Building on LIFE project HELA restoration of 2330 and 2310 continues Kalmthoutse Heide including the reactivation of drift sands. Habitat 4030 is also a target.

LIFE Grote NeteWoud: wilderness on a The project targets a typical complex of habitats of the Belgian Campine: sand human scale ridges separated by low valley bottoms. The main threats to natural values are drainage in the valleys, fragmentation of habitats, intensive farming, LIFE12 NAT/BE/000438 urbanisation and vegetation succession on abandoned semi-natural habitats and invasive alien species (Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra). The habitats Natuurpunt related to (former) drift sands targeted by the project are: 2310, 2330 and 4030. Actions targeting inland dunes are land purchase and restoration of sandy habitats and sand dynamic by removal of plantations and top soil. Life Together - To get heath restored The project includes the continental dune and heath habitats 2310, 2330 and 4030. The threats include intensified farming, abandonment and vegetation

- 17 - Project Objectives LIFE12 NAT/BE/001098 succession, fragmentation, eutrophication and invasive alien species (Prunus serotina and Quercus rubra). The project will convert exotic conifer plantations Agency of Nature and Forests of the into dune and heath land habitats and restore connectivity. The project is Flemish Government. complementary to the LIFE Kleine Nete LIFE09 NAT/BE/000411 implemented by Natuurpunt. LIFE Sandrasen - LIFE sand grasslands in Brandenburg is part of the northern/Baltic part of the European sand belt. the area Dahme-Seengebiet Therefore habitats linked to sand and especially to drift sands were once well represented. The project aims to protect and restore, on 230 ha, areas where LIFE12 NAT/DE/000144 the habitats 2310 and 2330 occur, in combination with 4030 and 6120, or where these habitats can be developed. Stiftung Naturschutzfonds Brandenburg LIFE MILITARY HABITATS PL - The The Pustynia Błędowska Natura 2000 site (a former military area of the integrated conservation of non-forest Błędowska Desert) in southern Poland, hosts the country’s largest complex of natural habitat on military area in Natura two types of non-forest sandy habitats: 6120 and 2330. 2000 site. Core actions are removal of trees on 288 ha and clearing of ammunition on 375 ha. The target is to restore the conservation status of the habitats with LIFE12 NAT/PL/000031 reference to a survey of 1958.

Rejonowy Zarząd Infrastruktury w Krakowie. Regional authority Natuurherstel Most-Keiheuvel: nature Besides the restoration of a gradient of soils and habitats the project aims to restoration on a gradient from fens to restore large areas of drift sands including 2310 and 2330. The expected result drift sands. is to reduce fragmentation on 20- 30 ha creating a cluster of 40-60 ha of connected habitat. Tree removal and top soil are restoration actions. LIFE11 NAT/BE/001061.

Agency of Nature and Forests of the Flemish Government. Life Hageland - Habitat restoration The project addresses the restoration of a complex of habitats from wetlands HAGELAND. to dry sand ridges. The inland dune habitats targeted are 2310, 2330 and 4030. A complex mosaic of 6230* species-rich Nardus grassland, 2310, 2330 LIFE11 NAT/BE/001067 and 4030 will be restored on 10 ha by removal of trees and top soil. The actions include control of Prunus serotina on 20 hectares and establishment of Natuurpunt grazing on 30 ha.

SandLIFE – Restoration of habitats on The project’s 23 Natura 2000 sites include a range of sand and dune related sandy soils in southern Sweden habitats including 2330 and 4030. One of the main actions is the restoration of 391 ha of bare sand areas. Other actions include restoration of heath land and LIFE11NAT/SE/000849 control of Rosa rugosa on 26 ha.

County Administrative Board of Skåne Wuthering Heaths-Restoration on inland The aim of the project is to enlarge and improve the area of sand drifts and dry dunes and psammophyle heathland in and moist heathlands in the north-western Veluwe. Until the 1950s sand drifts the North-western Veluwe were controlled by planting pine trees and the remaining parcels of open sand are fragmented. The project includes the habitats 2310, 2330 and 4030 and LIFE10NAT/NL/000023 actions will enlarge and improve the dune and heathland habitats, with remove Prunus serotina and will control visitor pressures. Natuurmonumenten

RAHID- Restoration of Atlantic Heaths The threats to inland dune and heath habitats include atmospheric N and Inland Dunes in Denmark deposition, spread of scrub, the build up of organic matter and the impact of the heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) which leads to grass development. LIFE09NAT/DK/000370 The project addresses the conservation status of habitats 2310, 2320, 2330, 4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix, 4030 and 5130 Juniperus Danish Nature Agency communis formations on heaths on six Natura 2000 sites. Action sinclude removal of scrub and woodland, removal of upper peat soil layers, controlled burning, establishment of grazing and restoration of natural hydrology.

- 18 - THE PLATFORM PROGRAMME

© Jan Dirk Bol

The programme and list of participants is given in the annexes to this report. Aspects of the presentations, workshops and field trips are outlined in the section below.

Report of the programme

Session 1: The Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process

In opening the meeting Sjakel van Wesemael, Nature and Recreation Manager, PWN spoke of the need to share our passion for the dunes. Natura 2000 provides a structure which helps us work together and work to common objectives and the meeting provides the opportunity to share our knowledge. To set the scene the opening presentations gave information on the Natura Biogeographic Process, the LIFE Programme and a review of LIFE projects addressing sand dune habitats.

Neil McIntosh, Deputy Executive Director, ECNC presented a summary of the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process launched by the European Commission in 2011 to support the Member States with the management of the network in line with Target 1 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy27. Natura 2000 now covers 27,393 sites and an area of 1,106,613 km2, equivalent to 18.1% of the EU28 land area. The Natura 2000 Biogeographic Process focuses on knowledge building and communication on practical management. One Steering Committee is established for each biogeographical region and an EU-wide view is provided by the Expert Group on Management of Natura 2000. Networking activities, such as the Zandvoort meeting, have now reached over 2,700 participants.

The Mid-Term Review of the EU Biodiversity Strategy noted progress, but an insufficient rate, for Target 1. To improve the process an action is to continue to facilitate and further develop concrete conservation cooperation actions between all actors involved with the management of Natura 2000 as a coherent ecological network. The Zandvoort meeting provided an opportunity to develop cooperation and the outputs of the meeting will be taken forward to the Atlantic biogeographic seminar 25-27 October 2016. Key strategic questions in the process are:

 What lessons can be learnt from the results of the Article 17 (Habitats Directive) assessments of the conservation status of habitat types and species of Community interest?  Can we define biogeographical level targets for conservation and restoration?  Can favourable reference values be usefully defined at the biogeographical, national, regional or site levels?

27 Target 1: By 2020, the assessments of species and habitats protected by EU nature law show better conservation or a secure status for 100 % more habitats and 50 % more species

- 19 -  How can the effectiveness of conservation measures for achieving favourable conservation status be evaluated?

The biogeographical seminars are giving more emphasis to thematic issues and so any roadmap designed to promote the restoration and management of dune habitats should aim to set itself within this context, e.g. looking at opportunities integrated management.

Angelo Salsi © Jan Dirk Bol

Angelo Salsi, Head of Unit B3, EASME, European Commission, considered that attention to the need for restoration of sand dune habitats, although recognised from the start of the LIFE programme, has been somewhat lost. The message about dynamic dune management has not got through to everyone and there are still too many examples of projects trying to ‘fix’ the dunes. The platform meeting is an opportunity to raise awareness again of the special quality of these habitats and to get the messages out within the conservation sector.

Angelo presented an update on the LIFE programme and the opportunities presented in both the Environment and Climate sub-programmes. LIFE will continue to support ‘traditional’ projects for dune habitat restoration and provides new opportunities through the scaled-up ‘Integrated Projects’ which can address measures for nature linked to the Prioritised Action Frameworks. Potential participants in LIFE are encouraged to lobby for new projects addressing dunes, to consider research needs (including synergy with Horizon 2020) and to give serious consideration to applying under the climate sub-programme. Projects addressing adaptation and responses to climate change and sea level rise could probably be submitted in this category. The private sector can also take part through the Natural Capital Financing Facility28 for ecosystem services projects.

João Pedro Silva, LIFE Communication Team, presented a summary of LIFE projects addressing dune habitats. Headline statistics are that, since 1992, there have been 172 projects funded through the LIFE programme on coastal and inland dune habitats, mainly in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. These projects have been delivered across six biogeographic regions, 21 Member States and over 250 Natura 2000 sites. The total investment in these projects is over €220 million.

28 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/financial_instruments/ncff.htm

- 20 - 40 35 35 32 30 30

25

20

15 10 10 9 10 8 8 6 5 4 4 5 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 ES IT BE NL DK FR FI GR DE LV EE IE PL PT HU LT RO BG SK UK SE LIFE Projects by Member State 1992-2014 (159 projects)

In terms of habitats targeted the largest number are the ‘common’ habitats of 2130* grey dunes, 2110 embryonic shifting dunes, 2120 white dunes and 2190 humid dune slacks. A large number of mainly Mediterranean projects have also targeted coastal dunes with Juniper species. For inland dunes the most common habitat types are 2330 dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands and 2310 dry sand heaths with Calluna and Genista. These are the main habitat types described in the background notes. 45 41 40 35 35 35 33 30 26 25 25 21 19 20 16 15 14 14 15 11 9 10 8 7 5 4 5 3 3 3

0

Humid dune slacks dune Humid

Machairs (* in Ireland) in (* Machairs

Pannonic inland dunes inland Pannonic

Ulicetea)

Embryonic shifting dunes shifting Embryonic

nigrum

pinaster

arenariae)

Agrostis grasslands Agrostis

vegetation ("grey dunes") ("grey vegetation

and Boreal region" Boreal and

Malcolmietalia dune grasslands dune Malcolmietalia

Dunes with Euphorbia terracina Euphorbia with Dunes

Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp. Juniperus with dunes Coastal

Dunes with Hippophaë rhamnoides Hippophaë with Dunes

Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous with dunes coastal Fixed

Ammophila arenaria ("white dunes") ("white arenaria Ammophila

Shifting dunes along the shoreline with shoreline the along dunes Shifting

Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno- dunes fixed decalcified Atlantic

Dry sand heaths with Calluna and Genista and Calluna with heaths sand Dry

Inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Corynephorus open with dunes Inland

Crucianellion maritimae fixed beach dunes beach fixed maritimae Crucianellion

"Wooded dunes of the Atlantic, Continental Atlantic, the of dunes "Wooded

Dry sand heaths with Calluna and Empetrum and Calluna with heaths sand Dry

Wooded dunes with Pinus pinea and/or Pinus and/or pinea Pinus with dunes Wooded

Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion argentea ssp. repens Salix with Dunes

Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum Empetrum with dunes fixed Decalcified annuals with grasslands dune Brachypodietalia Cisto-Lavenduletalia dune sclerophyllous scrubs sclerophyllous dune Cisto-Lavenduletalia 2130 2110 2120 2330 2250 2190 2310 2270 2180 2140 2230 2210 2320 2260 2160 2170 2240 2150 2220 2340 21A0

Dune habitats targeted by LIFE projects 2000-2014 (124 projects)

- 21 - Session 2: Experience from the projects

The platform meeting gave an opportunity for projects to present aspects of their work of wider relevance to policy or practice. Presentations were made in several sessions. The presentations are available on the Natura 2000 biogeographic process events pages29.

Project presentations addressed several themes:

 Control of invasive alien plant species: e.g. Rosa rugosa in Denmark, Prunus serotina in The Netherlands  Restoration of natural dynamics and bare sand in inland dunes: e.g. examples in Belgium, Poland and Netherlands  Cross border projects: e.g. coastal projects in Belgium and France and inland projects between The Netherlands and Belgium  Large scale dune rejuvenation: e.g. coastal projects in The Netherlands  Habitat restoration and management: e.g. projects in Sweden, Finland, Belgium and The Netherlands  Public attitudes to dune restoration actions such as removal of trees and reactivation of sand drift: e.g. projects in Sweden, The Netherlands and Belgium  Communication with the public on the need to control invasive species: e.g. Rosa rugosa in Denmark where it is a popular plants in coastal villages

Other subjects covered were ex-situ plant nurseries for habitat restoration (example from northern Spain), development of guidelines for management (Latvia) and national programmes (UK).

Many projects in Northern and Western Europe are addressing the problems of Rosa rugosa and, with the help of Maike Isermann of the University of Bremen, knowledge on the ecology of the species and the success of management techniques is being pooled. The next step may be to produce guidelines for the control of the species with information on costs derived from LIFE projects. The need for such a study will be included in the networking roadmap.

Communication is essential, especially as many of the measures proposed in dune restoration projects are not always welcome or understood. LIFE projects can provide the resources for public information actions and this opportunity should be used to help explain the importance of dune habitats. Angelo Salsi would like to see projects doing more to communicate their ideas.

Through networking dune restoration projects can support each other and have a common purpose. For example, in drawing up a LIFE project proposal for the UK, it may be helpful to have letters from other projects supporting networking activity30.

LIFE+ Military Habitats in Southern Poland: Open dune habitats threatened by encroachment of pine forest

29 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/events/index_en.htm 30 A good example from the Amsterdam Dunes- Source for Nature project was the meeting ‘views of the experts’ https://www.waternet.nl/media/602547/rapport_expertmeeting_life__awd_19-20april2013.pdf

- 22 -

REDCOHA-LIFE Restoration of Danish coastal habitats: control of invasive alien species Rosa rugosa

Session 3 Linking science and management

The link between science and management is essential and was stressed by Angelo Salsi in introducing Annemieke Kooijman of University of Amsterdam on the Nitrogen problem and Maike Isermann of University of Bremen on invasive alien plant species in coastal dunes.

Atmospheric Nitrogen deposition has an enormous impact on natural habitats across Europe. This has led to the definition of critical loads for different habitat types and the geographic variations in habitat types. In the Dutch dunes distinction can be made between the ‘foredunes’, ‘middle dunes’ and ‘hinterdunes’ based on age and chemistry of dune soils.

In the Netherlands total N deposition can be up to 40 kg ha-1 yr-1 whereas in the Baltic States it is lower than 8 kg ha-1 yr-1. Critical loads are 15 kg ha-1 yr-1 for calcareous fixed dunes (2130a), 10 kg ha-1 yr-1 for acidic dunes (2130b) and 10 kg ha-1 yr-1 for drift sands (2330). The level of deposition in The Netherlands is higher than the critical loads and this is expected to remain the situation until at least 2030.

New research has identified an additional source of N-deposition for coastal dunes from the evaporation of Ammonia on beaches and mudflats. This may partly explain why measures on coastal dunes are c. 10 kg ha-1 yr- 1 higher than models.

The negative impacts of high N-deposition is a decrease in biodiversity of characteristic plants in all parts of the dune system and growth of taller vegetation, and corresponding impacts on fauna. The science can inform management responses such as whether grazing can improve the situation.

Maike Isermann explained why dune habitats are especially prone to invasion by alien species. They are naturally open habitats where invasive species can exploit the higher temperatures and the impact of N- deposition. Dune communities are composed of specialists which cannot compete with invasive species. The movement of invasive species in Europe is from south to north. Species currently affecting southern Europe include Acacia longifolia (Long-leaved wattle), Cortaderia selloana (Pampas grass) and Carpobrotus edulis (Hottentot fig). Of concern already in north-west Europe are Mahonia aqufolium (Oregon grape), Rosa rugosa (Japanese rose) and various Pinus spp. (Pine species).

The battle against invasive alien species requires a good early warning system, effective networking and the sharing of management experience. This reinforces the value of a European network of scientists and practitioners. The example was given for the sharing of experience on Rosa rugosa. The work could be scaled up by adding information on the costs and manpower required for control and by developing monitoring programmes which can help the scientists. Citizen science could also help with tracking the spread of species. It is also important to look outside the Natura 2000 areas to assess the future threats to the habitats in protected areas.

Of concern, however, is that the most serious species for dune habitats, including Prunus serotina and Rosa rugosa, are not included in the EU Regulation of 2014 on Invasive Alien Species. Many species invasive in

- 23 - dunes are not of European concern, and thus not considered in the EU Regulation, therefore other political instruments are necessary to highlight at the regional level the threats coming from these species

Session 4: Workshops

Workshops were used to develop discussions on the platform themes. The sessions were chaired by experts and included an introductory presentation before open workshop discussion. Conclusions from the workshops were reported back in the plenary sessions.

Workshop 1: Challenges with rejuvenation and dynamics in inland and coastal dunes

Workshop leader: Evert Jan Lammerts (Staatsbosbeheer and OBN) © Jan Dirk Bol

Dune systems across northwest Europe have become increasingly stable since the mid-twentieth Century as a result of practices to stop sand drift, plantation forestry and vegetation succession. The overgrowth of grasses and scrub is linked to a lack of grazing pressure and eutrophication from atmospheric Nitrogen deposition. There is now a major conservation effort aimed at reversing this trend through actions to restore or rejuvenate dune habitats. Without such intervention Annemieke Kooijman would predict the loss of all open drift sand by 2030 in inland dunes.

The workshop looked at all aspects of adding sand movement back into the dune system from small blowouts through to large scale remobilisation of dune features. Where should such actions be undertaken and where should care be taken? Many dune systems can already be classed as ‘stable’ and here large scale destabilisation may be inappropriate.

How to conserve bare sand as a widespread component of the dune system?

© Jan Dirk Bol

After decades of stabilisation as ‘normal’ practice many dune managers are now either not planting Marram or are actively encouraging dune forming processes to create and maintain blowouts31 and retain bare sand in the dune system. This is applicable in both coastal and inland dunes where it is generally seen as a positive attribute in semi-fixed dunes. An increase in the rabbit population in many areas may be helping the situation as can moderate levels of trampling.

Are large scale remobilisation projects effective and affordable?

31 See presentation at http://www.slideshare.net/mcservices/creating-blowouts

- 24 - The dynamic approach to dune management has led to more ambitious projects which aim to operate at the landscape scale. There is now evidence which can point to likely success factors. It is rarely a simple matter of creating disturbance and letting nature do the rest. Most projects require aftercare to keep the sites open and in the early projects the dynamic processes could not sustain the desired mobility for much longer than 10 years.

To improve the chances of long-lasting mobility the focus is now on establishing a sand transport corridor from the beach zone through the frontal dunes to the inner dunes. Examples of such projects are linked to beach recharge schemes for sea defence. The work pioneered in the Netherlands and seen on the excursion to the Noordwest Natuurkern project, has now been repeated in the UK and perhaps also in other Member States.

The example of the Waddenzee, presented by Evert-Jan Lammerts, is coastal dynamics on a large scale with west to east sand movement through the chain of islands, acting in a similar fashion to the ‘sand engine’ on the Dutch mainland coast. There is an increasing awareness of the importance of dynamics and the need to allow the region to respond to natural processes. There is sharing of knowledge between geomorphologists, ecologists and dune managers. New approaches include opening up outer dikes to allow sand transport inland and to allow erosion in areas there would be no economic impact. The experience in the Waddenzee is trying to get away from hardened sea defences to a more fluid situation whilst retaining the same level of protection. Similar approaches have been taken in Germany, and in France there is interest to develop management responses to a perceived increase risk of storms. In Ireland, the response to storm damage is usually an increase in hard sea defences at the expense of natural dune systems.

It is clear that there is much to learn from sharing experiences between Member States and that there is a wealth of experience coming from the Netherlands. This could perhaps lead to the development of new project ideas; perhaps a bid under the LIFE Climate sub-programme or Horizon 2020.

The restoration of sand drift in inland dunes

Eva Remke presented a background to the restoration of inland drift sands. Inland sands are of a much older deposits than coastal dunes. Whereas coastal dunes in the Netherlands are from the Middle Ages the inland dunes of the European Sand Belt can be dated to before the last Ice Age (>60,000 years BP) or from the last Ice Age (+/- 12,000-20,000 years BP). The drift sand component derives from reworking in the late Holocene and reactivation due to human impact and climate change.

Inland dunes are older deposits, the amount of sand available for nourishment is limited and the climate is drier and less windy. Recommendations for the reactivation of drift sands is to work with the wind from the south west, to remove organic matter depending on the aim (with organic matter <0.4% the risk of rapid recolonisation is minimal), and to reactivate c. 40-60% in any one area. Drift sand provides a habitat for specially adapted thermophilic species which need warm and dry conditions. The encroachment of grass reduces the soil temperature and can delay or prevent hatching of several species.

Examples given at the meeting show that there is a considerable amount of work and experience in the reactivation of drift sand.

LIFE Helvex: Reactivation of open sand habitats in the grenpark De Zoom-Kalmthoutse Heide on the Belgian.- Dutch border © Natuurpunt

- 25 - Workshop 2: Challenges and experiences with grassland habitats in inland and coastal dunes

Workshop leader: Luc Geelen (Waternet)

‘Fixed’ dunes, including grey dunes, dune grasslands and dune heaths constitute the largest component of the dune mosaic. As a group of habitats they are threatened by fragmentation, afforestation, overgrowth by coarse grasses, scrub and woodland and by the spread of invasive alien species. In many situations Nitrogen deposition exacerbates the problem.

Large scale versus mosaic management in dune grasslands32

© Jan Dirk Bol

The fixed dune habitats require a degree of disturbance to maintain their character and biodiversity value. In the coastal dunes calcium-rich sand can be brought to the surface through human activity, blowouts and rabbit burrowing. This helps to maintain shifting mosaics of habitats which can be maintained for centuries in the presence of grazing pressure.

Views expressed at Dynamic Dunes workshop were that large scale disturbances should be avoided in fixed dunes (except where, e.g. invasive species are being removed) and the ideal scenario would be to increase the impact of rabbit grazing to maintain bare sand in the system. There is increasing interest in both coastal and inland dune habitats to enhance the rabbit populations.

Grazing the dunes: are the goals & effects clear?

In many dune areas livestock have been introduced to replace the beneficial work of rabbit populations in opening up the system (stimulating blow-outs) and in slowing down scrub encroachment. However in Meijendel (managed by Dunea) livestock introduced in the 1990s did not have any effect on the amount of sand in the system and it was likely that the dune scrub (mainly Hippophae rhamnoides) was dying back naturally when it reached about 35 years old33.

Once grazing is introduced it should be continued perhaps for at least 50 years as a management measure, since the moment you introduce livestock you introduce a new factor of disturbance. Taking the livestock out again creates instability. Any grazing regime must also be tailored to the site and be more in line with traditional farming rather than being constrained by prescriptions, e.g. to counteract Nitrogen input.

The conclusion seems to be that grazing by large herbivores only partly compensates for the absence of rabbits and additional management measures are then necessary. Dune slacks are also better off with mowing.

There is still a need to monitor grazing projects across Europe in inland and coastal situations to learn from the experiments (e.g. the bison project in the Kraansvlak), to learn from past practices and to encourage more research into rabbit grazing and mixed grazing regimes.

32 See the presentation at http://www.slideshare.net/mcservices/large-scale-vs-mosaic-management 33 See the presentation at http://www.slideshare.net/mcservices/grazing-the-dunes

- 26 - Invasive Alien Species – is the situation becoming critical?

Maike Isermann © Jan Dirk Bol

Invasive alien species are an important threat in all dune habitats but especially so in fixed dune landscapes where the vegetation is more complex. To date the experience of tackling IAS has been largely experimental and there is a need to gear up this work to address a rapidly increasing problem.

A black list was drawn up spontaneous at the Dynamic Dunes workshop34. For the Atlantic the list includes: Prunus serotina, Fallopia spp., Impatiens glandulifera, Rosa rugosa, Crassula helmsii, Symphoricarpus albus, Cotoneaster spp., Campylopus introflexus, Solanum rostratum, Robinia pseudoacacia, Berberis aquifolium (=Mahonia aquifolium), Ailanthus altissima, Pinus spp., Ludwigia grandiflora and Populus spp.

The three golden rules for invasive alien species control are: 1. Early detection and eradication saves a lot of money 2. Consistent and rigorous sustainable management is essential 3. Public support is very important

The workshop concluded that sharing an updated overview of experiences and scientific evidence on dune management and restoration is needed. The discussions referred to the PROMME approach developed by the LIFE co-op project on bogs and dunes. The project developed a decision tree for dune management which remains valid and could be updated35. The decision tree addresses the need to understand the problems and the reasons for the problems before setting conservation objectives and developing projects.

The approach continues through the Dutch OBN Knowledge Network36.

Project managers are encouraged to include monitoring in their restoration projects and to use publications and data bases such as Conservation Evidence37 to disseminate their results.

An opportunity to explore would be a digital platform at European level where dune managers can find the knowledge, experts (managers, researchers) and reference projects as inspiration for their own work.

Workshop 3: Drawing up a roadmap for the Atlantic Biogeographical Process

34 See the presentation at http://www.slideshare.net/mcservices/invasive-alien-species-54118791 35 http://www.barger.science.ru.nl/life/decision-tree/ 36 http://www.natuurkennis.nl/index.php?actie=losse_paginas&id=8 37 http://www.conservationevidence.com/

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Workshop leader: Albert Salman (The Coastal and Marine Union -EUCC) © Jan Dirk Bol

The Zandvoort workshop was an opportunity to revisit the priority issues for coastal dunes identified in the 2012 Atlantic seminar and to prepare for the 2016 seminar38. The Natura 2000 biogeographical process is a framework for networking and knowledge exchange on practical management issues. The background document prepared in 201239 included coastal dune habitats as a priority for the Atlantic region.

Jean-Louis Herrier of the Flemish Government, who chaired the Natura 2000 ‘dunes and estuaries’ workshop in 2012, outlined with examples the key issues agreed at the 2012 Atlantic biogeographical seminar.

Large scale loss of natural habitat by urbanisation and ‘residential recreation’

Examples from the Belgian and French coasts show how urbanisation has covered and fragmented the dune systems leaving many areas too small to allow natural processes to operate.

Building threatened by or hindering sand drift at Westende and the previous measures to protect it. © Jean-Louis Herrier.

In Belgium a land acquisition policy supported in successive LIFE projects has helped to secure large enough parcels of land to allow sand drift by removing obsolete infrastructure and plantations. Opportunities should also be sought for large scale habitat creation in combination with coastal defence works addressing sea level rise. The messages would be to think big and to identify opportunities in national plans linked to coastal policies and climate change adaptation plans. The Dutch ‘sand motor’ was given as an example of this large scale approach.

Interference with natural dynamics

Examples given include interrupting the ecological continuity between beach and dunes with the example of De Panne in Westhoek where it was possible to remove part of a sea wall to create a tidal connection between the dune system and the beach.

38 The 2016 biogeographic seminar for the Atlantic region will be held in Ireland from 24-27 October 2016. The seminar for the Boreal Region will be held from 5-7 October 2016. 39 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/documents/atl-background-document- 15062012_en.pdf

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De Panne: creation of a tidal breach (slufter) by removal of a section of sea wall and continuing the promenade on a bridge.

Interference with natural dynamics (and natural hydrology) is also caused by planting Marram grass and conifer plantations. Restoring open habitats, mobile dunes and humid dune slacks can be difficult where there is root material and regrowth of vegetation. Also, as discussed in the plenary sessions, there is still a view held by many dune managers across Europe that dune stabilisation is a management option. There is a need to raise public awareness of the value of the dynamic dune landscape and also a need for intra-sector and inter- sector communication to mainstream this type of restoration activity.

Lack of an integrated approach

All dune systems have impacts from the accommodation of land uses including sea defence function, water supply, recreational use and others including forestry and military training. Dune coasts require an ecosystems-approach to management using Integrated Coastal Management approaches. Improving the connectivity, coherence and natural dynamics of dune habitats can be a challenge but there are opportunities to share good practice.

Invasive Alien Species

Invasive alien species pose a high risk to dune habitats and climate change is likely to exacerbate existing problems. There is concern that only a few species are listed on the EU Alien Species Regulation40 yet species such as Prunus serotina and Rosa rugosa are major problems for Atlantic dunes.

Japanese Rose (Rosa rugosa) is identified as a major threat to the dunes of the Atlantic region. © Jean-Louis Herrier

There is an increasing number of ‘newcomers’ escaping from gardens and benefiting from climate change, such as Mahonia aquifolia and Yucca gloriosa. There is a need for an overview of the issues and threats, solutions and costs, across the region so that effective early warning systems can be put in place.

Climate change

40 Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. The Regulation only includes species of European importance where there is already an assessment. Many species of concern to dune habitats are not on the list.

- 29 - Climate change and increased Nitrogen deposition may be the cause for ‘spontaneous’ encroachment of the mobile dunes by Marram grass and sea-buckthorn at the Westhoek dunes.

Westhoek, De Panne: Central ‘mobile’ dune in 1993 and 2011. © Jean-Louis Herrier

Climate change and possible increased storminess is a cause for concern in many regions and, particularly in France, it has stimulated discussions on new approaches to shoreline management.

Westhoek, De Panne: embryonic dunes and foredunes washed away in the Saint Nicolas storm of 5-6 December 2013 © Jean-Louis Herrier.

Climate change is also evident in the northward shifts in the distribution of flora and fauna. In Belgium, for example, the Annex II species Liparis loeselii is becoming endangered.

Communication

At the 2012 seminar there was a proposal to establish an expert-network of government agencies responsible for conservation and management of dunes sites and to make better use of the existing networks of the Coastal & Marine Union –EUCC41 and the European Dune Network42. To raise awareness and develop and integrated approach an expert-network should go beyond conservationists to engage with other social and economic sectors.

Discussion

Participants agreed that the set of issues identified in 2012 remain relevant. Additional issues which impact on the condition of dune habitats include:

 Agricultural land use: e.g. fertilisation and soil enrichment, use of herbicides and transformation of grasslands into fields.  The impact of Nitrogen deposition  The need to involve and engage the general public

41 Coastal & Marine Union –EUCC www.eucc.net 42 UK Sand Dune and Shingle Network / European Dune Network www.coast.hope.ac.uk

- 30 - These are generic and shared issues which have to be considered in restoration plans.

The ecosystem services value of dunes should be stressed in communication.

Networking is necessary but requires both an ‘engine room’ and resources. The Natura 2000 biogeographic process provides an opportunity to encourage Member States’ nature conservation agencies to support networking. These organisations will have their own interests in knowledge transfer and cooperative studies, e.g. developing more standard approaches to monitoring. Whilst desirable, the cooperation between Member States is probably not ‘required’ as part of the biogeographical process.

The recommendations of the 2012 seminar included forming an expert-network of governmental agencies responsible for conservation policy and the management of coastal dune sites in all Member States. This level of cooperation remains an ambition and further support should be sought at the 2016 Atlantic seminar. Areas where international cooperation would be welcome include:

 An early warning system for Invasive Alien Species and the sharing of practical control methods with costs  A comparative review of Conservation Objectives for dune habitats in Member State to help standardise reporting under Annex 17  Developing and promoting a research programme on e.g. impacts of N-deposition  Guidelines on how to incorporate dynamics into the interpretation of Favourable Conservation Status  Further interpretation of habitat types, especially fixed dune sub-types

Opportunities in the next period include supporting the development of the European Dune Network, developing stronger links between LIFE projects and the Natura 2000 biogeographic process and making the best use of communication and dissemination activity in LIFE projects. However, it is recognised that projects seldom have spare capacity for networking beyond that envisaged in the original design. Nevertheless, the stress on new projects to demonstrate networking, replication and transferability is welcomed.

Good networking can be effective and can be time-saving, especially when new or more efficient techniques are shared, so a case can be made at national level, and by extrapolation also at international level. Whilst intra-sectoral networking is productive any roadmap for dune habitat restoration must also include dialogue with other public and political stakeholders.

Field Trips

Three field trips were organised to share the experience of dune management in the Kennemerland-Zuid Natura 2000 site. The site is managed by several organisations including the platform hosts PWN, Waternet and Natuurmonumenten, and the excursions (including the optional excursion to the Kraansvlak Bison project) showcased both large scale dune reactivation and mosaic management approaches.

Excursion to the Amsterdam Dunes project

Two groups led by Luc Geelen, Willem Stuulen, Mark van Til and Martijn van Schaik, visited the large restoration project created by the infilling of the Van Limburg Stirum canal, the results of the removal of the invasive Prunus serotina and mosaic management of grey dunes including sod-cutting, mowing, grazing and encouragement of blowouts

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The Amsterdam Dunes are owned by the Municipality of Amsterdam. Since 1850 the habitats deteriorated in area and quality from desiccation due to water extraction, from air pollution and acidification and eutrophication. This led to grass and shrub encroachment and accumulation of nitrogen-rich organic matter in the topsoil.

In recent decades this negative environmental impact decreased: the method of water production changed, groundwater is rising again and nitrogen deposition has reduced. But to meet the Natura 2000 goals it is necessary to address the effects of desiccation and eutrophication by removing nitrogen-rich soil and other nature management measures. Special attention has been given to the recent expansion of the invasive alien species Prunus serotina.

The aim of the LIFE project ‘Amsterdam Dunes –Source for nature’ is rehabilitation and improvement of 350 ha of characteristic habitat types Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (2130), Dunes with Hippophae rhamnoides (2160) and Humid dune slacks (2190)

The measures include:  mowing of vegetation and removal of organic material in the dune slacks;  removing the organic top soil layer in dune slacks and dune grassland;  excavation and reactivation of (old) blow-outs;  removal of scrub and woods, in particular the invasive Prunus serotina;  removal of a Pine plantation  rehabilitation of ponds by removal of bank vegetation and dredging.

Of particular interest is the demonstration of the results of mosaic management where shallow (5 cm) and deeper (10 cm) turf stripping is applied alongside mowing and blowout creation on a landscape scale. The work is sensitive to the existing landscape, gives quick results in terms of improving fixed dune habitat and is accepted by visitors. It is a technique which can be reapplied as necessary and which works well in the hinterdunes where large scale remobilisation would be constrained.

The invasion of Prunus serotina has been brought under control through a long programme of works without the use of herbicides . The LIFE project attracted the additional funding necessary to speed up and complete the work. Following clearance the areas are grazed but it may take several years before the habitat quality is restored.

- 32 -

Dune scrub and grassland cleared of invasive Prunus serotina

Mark van Til demonstrating the results of mosaic management

Excursion to the Noordwest Natuurkern project

Leaders: Coen van Oosterom and Leon Terlouw (PWN)

The Northwest Natuurkern is one of the most ambitious dune restoration projects ever completed in the Netherlands. Its aim is to restore natural dynamics across an area which had lost all its bare sand and shifting dunes. In the late 1980s small scale experiments were carried out to remobilise blowouts and this work was followed by the remobilisation of a large dune but in these works the dunes revegetated and stabilised in a relatively short timescale. A much larger project was required and one which had direct links to the transfer of sand from the beach inland.

In 2005 first discussions were held on the idea for five wind trenches 100m wide and 12 m deep cut into the outer dune ridge and for the reactivation of sand blow on five large dune features further inland. The aim was to allow free moving dunes to maintain bare sand and to create new slack features. The idea was possible with a link to the Dutch national sea defence policy which ensured an excess of sand being transported into the beach zone.

The project created 18 ha of shifting dunes and 15 ha of wet slacks and a large area of fixed dunes will benefit from the ‘rain’ of calcareous sand which will slow down the process of acidification. The project was impleted over two winters in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.

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Noordwest Natuurkern: remobilisation of dunes on a large scale © Karen Lunan

The project will be well monitored to study the effect of the trenches on the amount of wind, salt and sand on the innermost dunes and the effect of the dynamics on plants and animals. The initial trenches have become wider but not much deeper which is good from a coastal safety perspective. The reactivated parabolic dunes are moving but at a slower rate than the sand blow through the trenches. The white dune tops and mobile dunes have returned a feature of the landscape.

Excursion to the European bison project in Kraansvlak

Leaders: Coen van Oosterom (PWN) and Esther Rodriquez (ARK Nature)

The dune area known as the Kraansvlak, a closed-off area near the Kennemer Dunes, is the site of an experimental project for the introduction of European bison. The pilot project will run from 2007 to 2017 through cooperation between PWN, ARK Nature, Stichting Kritisch Bosbeheer, Stichting Duinbehoud and FREE Nature.

The aim of the pilot is to gain knowledge and experiences with bison in the Dutch situation, and to study their food strategy (without supplementary feeding) and the effects of bison on the sand dune landscape, dune dynamics and dune vegetation. The practical experiences gained may be used for possible future reintroductions to other natural areas in the Netherlands or other countries.

Besides the interaction between bison and landscape, the co-existence with other grazers as well as human visitors is studied. The project started with an acclimatization period, during which the animals could only be watched from a viewpoint or through the fencing. Later on, the project team started to provide guided excursions into the area.

- 34 -

The bison area now consists of more than 300 hectares.

History  In 2005, after feasibility studies, the project became a collaborative project of Stichting Duinbehoud, Stichting Kritisch Bosbeheer, ARK Nature and PWN.  In 2007 the first three bison arrived. Research work gathered a wealth of information on the effects of the bison introduction.  In 2012, main partners PWN and ARK Nature decided to continue their efforts and extended the pilot project to 2017.  Scientific research is conducted by University of Groningen, University Utrecht and HAS Den Bosch supplemented by a number of external advisors.  In 2013, the European nature organization Rewilding Europe launched the European Rewilding Network. The bison project of Kraansvlak was one of the first members of the network.  The project is supported by Prince Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Province of North-Holland, VSB Fonds, Stichting ANO Fundatie and the Dutch Postcode Lottery.

The managers are very pleased with the results so far. The animals have adapted well to the dune landscape of grassland, scrub, forest and open dunes. The grazing impact has a natural appearance although some species, e.g. spindle tree have been preferentially grazed. The 15 strong herd is led by a matriarch and contains young bulls. Other grazers include konik ponies and highland cattle. There are no problems with the interaction between species.

The herd is essentially wild. If animals need to be checked they can be lured into corrals with e.g. sugar beet or they can be tranquilised with a dart. Only emergency veterinary work would be carried out.

The studies have found no conflict with visitors. Visitors have to remain on paths but the bison have not been deterred by visitors and even seem to prefer this area.

Resources

Project website http://www.wisenten.nl/en. Before the bison introduction a report was prepared on the pre-existing situation: http://www.wisenten.nl/sites/default/files/landscape_and_vegetation_of_the_kraansvlak_dunes_in_2006.pdf A poster on the project is available at: http://www.wisenten.nl/sites/default/files/wild10-poster- wisenten.nl_.pdf General leaflet: http://www.wisenten.nl/sites/default/files/attachments/469310_folder_wisenten_eng_kl.pdf

Session 5: Ways to proceed

In drawing the meeting to a conclusion Ed Cousin, Head of Nature Management at Waternet, invited all participants to take on a more biogeographical approach to their work. Whilst knowledge exchange and networking can only move forward in steps we can try to increase the pace and gather momentum.

- 35 -

In the Netherlands the three large water companies Waternet, PWN and Dunea are working together on the challenges for improving habitat condition and protecting species. This work is significant at the national level and is similar to the examples given from Denmark, Belgium, Latvia and others where the scale and intensity of the work is making a difference.

The Dutch experience shows that there is the knowledge and the resources to take a more optimistic view on the future prospects for dune habitats. We should be able to send out a clear message that dune restoration is achievable and that we must all continue to learn from each other. In stepping up a gear we need to make use of the available tools such as national Prioritised Action Frameworks for Natura 2000 and the LIFE programme including Integrated Projects.

Jean-Louis Herrier of the Flemish Government presented the cross-border project LIFE-FLANDRE which has established the structures for the administration of a French-Belgian coastal park with a permanent cross- border board. The challenge, however, for national and international cooperation is in the marine environment where there is still a competence division between land and sea.

Juris Janieks of the Latvian Government presented a national approach to the restoration of coastal and inland dunes based on the preparation of the national Prioritised Action Framework. This was supported by a LIFE project and helped to develop practical guidelines for sand dune habitats. The value of scientific expertise is stressed but the project has managed to ‘sell’ its ideas by engaging with local authorities and getting their staff and others to make their own assessments of habitat quality. This is an exercise is ‘learning by doing’ and ensures that local decision makers and local communities understand, e.g. the threats caused by the spread of scrub and woodland, other problematic native species and invasive alien species. Prescriptive management guidelines developed by the project are tested before being rolled out in national guidance. The efficiency of management will be monitored to ensure best value for money. EU funds must be invested effectively.

Threats at the national level come from a lack of landscape planning and the lack of an integrated approach to spatial planning. For these reasons the project stresses community-based monitoring, a focus on ecosystem services and creation of synergies at policy level (e.g. with tourism planning, the national Operational Programme, the PAF, agri-environment schemes and water catchment planning).

The LIFE IPENS project supported the development of the national PAF. Sue Rees of Natural England outlined the strategic approach which has developed and will lead to project applications for national and EU funding. The national programme is supported by improvements in remote sensing, Site Improvement Plans and thematic studies. The national agency recognises the conundrum between the need for large scale dune restoration work and the hesitation of many mangers to adopt such radical approaches. There is still more work to do to develop a national programme.

Session 6: Discussion and Conclusions

Networking

The platform meeting brought together sand dune restoration projects from across Europe to share their experiences within the framework of the Natura 2000 Biogeographic Process. It helped to reinforce the conclusions of the Dynamic Dunes 2015 meeting presented by Sjakel van Wesemael of PWN:

 That the overall target of favourable conservation status can only be achieved by concerted efforts  That dunes should be higher on the European research agenda  That project experience should be widely disseminated

The meeting also confirmed that, at least for the Atlantic biogeographical region, the issues identified in 2012 remain valid and some additional issues, such as agricultural development, nitrogen deposition and ecosystem services can be added.

- 36 - The main theme to come out of the platform meeting was the value of networking and the need to better resource the ‘engine rooms’ which can make this happen. The development of a European Dune Network has been promoted by the Coastal & Marine Union-EUCC and, most recently, has been supported by the UK Sand Dune and Shingle Network. Following the meeting in Zandvoort interest was expressed by representatives from Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany and others in keeping such a network alive by encouraging networking and linking science and management.

A networking calendar will be prepared as a contribution to the Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process. Two future milestone events are already identified:

 Littoral 2017 in Liverpool, UK43  International conference of LIFE FLANDRE in May-June 2018

The Littoral 2017 is one of a series of international coastal conferences held under the auspices of the Coast and Marine Union-EUCC. The organiser for Littoral 2017 is Liverpool Hope University and special sessions will be provided on aspects of dune science, management and policy supported by excursions. It will provide a platform for the presentation of reviews of dune research and management.

The international conference of LIFE-FLANDRE on the management of sandy beaches and coastal dunes will offer the next major opportunity for the dune practitioner network to meet in the context of a LIFE project. Topics will include the impact of climate change on the dynamics of beaches and on the status coastal habitats, restoration and management of coastal dunes and ecosystem services of coastal dunes: coastal defence, drinking water supply, health, quality of life etc.

In addition, the call for increasing the support for networking activity will be taken to the Littoral 2016 conference in Biarritz44 through Luc Geelen of Waternet. A workshop will be held on coastal dune geomorphology, biodiversity and management in relation to climate change. This addresses one of the key themes to be taken forward in the coming years.

Between these large events there should be national and regional networking activity, project workshops and scientific seminars. Some offers were received at the meeting and will be included in the networking calendar. With a re-invigorated European Dune Network and the guidance of a roadmap the sharing of knowledge, within and between disciplines will be improved.

Through the EUCC Atlantic office a seminar is planned in Santander in April 201745 in association with ARCOSLIFE. Other opportunities may exisit through closer collaboration with the Society for Ecological Restoration –Europe. The 2016 conference in Friesing, Germany46, includes a workshop based on LIFE project experience on creating and maintaining bare sand.

Opportunities

The meeting confirmed a number of opportunities.

Continue to engage with the biogeographic seminar process

The Natura 2000 biogeographical process considers all EU habitats and species and highlights those, region by region, where there is a specific need for concerted efforts by Member States. Dune habitats were identified as a priority for discussion in the Atlantic seminar in 2012 and the conclusions from the Zandvoort meeting will be reported back to the 2016 Atlantic seminar in October 2016. Coastal dune habitats were also considered in the 2014 Mediterranean seminar (2110, 2230 and 2250*) and the 2015 Continental seminar (2110, 2130* and 2190) so projects in these regions should also raise awareness about the need for dune habitat restoration with their national authorities.

43 http://www.hope.ac.uk/news/conferences/littoral2017/ 44 http://littoral2016.univ-pau.fr/ 45 https://santandereuccatlantic.wordpress.com/ 46 http://www.ser2016.org/

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Inland dune habitats have not been so visible in the biogeographic process. Following the initiative at the LIFE platform further networking between inland dune projects could help to raise the profile of these habitats.

Ensure that dune restoration and management is highlighted in the Prioritised Action Frameworks

At Member State level the priority given to specific habitats or species is set out in the Prioritised Action Framework submitted under Article 8 of the Habitats Directive. The PAFs are a tool to set out priorities at national/ regional level for habitat restoration. They have to assess whether actions are required for priority EU habitats (e.g. 2130 fixed dunes) and are guided by the Article 17 reports on conservation status. Practitioners should check whether their relevant PAFs are addressing the needs of dune habitat restoration and should take the example from Sweden47 as an example of good practice for coastal and inland dunes.

Secure national and regional funding for conservation work

Whilst LIFE is providing valuable support for dune restoration projects, it should be seen in the context of other regional, national and EU funds. LIFE at its best acts as a catalyst to help draw in other funds and can only ever be part of a wider programme. National agencies, NGOs and other managers should continue to use the tools available to secure funding for projects and programmes.

Develop an international scientific programme

The platform meeting confirmed the essential partnership between science and management and gave examples where research projects can work side by side with conservation practice. For example, there was an identified need to bring together the scientific knowledge, practice, and costs from projects for programme to control the invasive alien plant species Rosa rugosa. There may also be opportunities to develop interdisciplinary research programmes through Horizon 202048. Further work is required through bodies such as OBN to identify and promote an applied research agenda.

Continue to submit applications to the EU LIFE programme

The LIFE programme49 can continue to support actions for the restoration of dune habitats through traditional projects, technical assistance projects and integrated projects. Participants were encouraged to look at opportunities through the sub-programme for climate action as well as the sub-programme for the environment. In both sub-programmes there are opportunities to present Governance and Information projects which could include projects aimed at knowledge exchange, awareness raising and networking.

Make use of the Natura 2000 Communication Platform50 .

LIFE projects have a special responsibility should be using the platform to communicate their results for the benefit of all involved in Natura 2000 management.

Further develop the European Dune Network

The platform meeting confirmed the value of networking and received pledges to increase efforts and resources in a cooperative and collaborative approach to supporting a European network. This will help to develop the initiative taken by Liverpool Hope University in the UK, along with the Coastal & Marine Union- EUCC to develop a website, newsletter and contact list for the European Dune Network51. Initially, the focus will be on developing links with national networks in north-west Europe. Feedback from the meeting indicated that a coastal dune network is required and that a combined coastal/inland network would be too broad in its scope.

47 https://www.naturvardsverket.se/upload/stod-i-miljoarbetet/vagledning/natura-2000/paf-se-mar-2013.pdf 48 http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/ 49 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/life2016/index.htm#technical 50 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/platform/index_en.htm 51 Existing networks www.eucc.net and http://coast.hope.ac.uk/

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A further level of networking through an expert-network of governmental agencies responsible for conservation policy and the management of dunes in all Member States was a recommendation from the Atlantic seminar in 2012. Whilst there has been no action in this regard to date an action from the Zandvoort meeting is to circulate a summary of the meeting and the roadmap to members of the Atlantic Steering Group and to the Expert Group on Management of Natura 200052 at their next meeting in November 2016.

Immediate Actions arising from the Meeting

Action Responsibility Dune Network Roadmap Neemo/ ECNC/ EUCC: to draw up an outline of a roadmap for circulation to participants by end of August Develop a networking calendar Neemo: all participants invited to submit opportunities for networking Inform the Member States ECNC: Circulate information to Atlantic Steering Group, inform Expert Group on Management of Natura 2000, include outcome of meeting in background note to Atlantic Seminar Support European Dune Network Nature Conservation Agencies, private companies, NGOs, universities and science centres: follow up with EUCC offers of support from participants and Liverpool Hope University

Dune roadmap

A networking calendar can give structure to the development of a roadmap setting out what can be done, by whom and when over the next period (2016-2020). The roadmap should encapsulate the enthusiasm shown for networking at the platform meeting. A first version will be developed in advance of the Atlantic biogeographical seminar with the assistance of the platform participants, the dune networks, the Coastal and Marine Union-EUCC, ECNC, the Dutch OBN science network and others.

A roadmap will give a sense of purpose to networking, collaboration and knowledge exchange. If it can be combined with new resources for national and European networks a structure will evolve which can support projects and national conservation agencies.

In the first instance the dune roadmap will look to networking and knowledge exchange in the Atlantic region, but with elements relevant to all regions. The long term aim would still be a broader European network.

The ‘roadmap’ will be presented to the Atlantic Biogeographical Seminar in Ireland in October 2016 as part of the progress report following the 2012 seminar.

52 The Terms of Reference state that the experience and good practices of LIFE projects will be promoted and used, where relevant in management guidelines.

- 39 - ANNEX 1 Programme

Wednesday 15th June

Session 1: The Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process

Chair Sjakel van Wesemael, Nature and Recreation Manager, PWN

 The Natura 2000 Biogeographical Process explained. Neil McIntosh, Deputy Executive Director, ECNC - European Centre for Nature Conservation  The LIFE programme 2014-2020 and expected LIFE project outputs in terms of dissemination, replicability and transferability. Angelo Salsi, Head of Unit B3 -LIFE and CIP Eco-Innovation, European Commission, Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME)  The LIFE programme and dune habitats João Pedro Silva, LIFE Communication Team, NEEMO-AEIDL

Session 2: Experience from the projects

 REDCOHA-LIFE Restoration of Danish coastal habitats: focus on removal of invasive alien species. Uffe Strandby, Danish Nature Agency  Restoration of inland dunes and dry grasslands in military areas - LIFE+ Military Habitats project in Southern Poland. Wojtek Mróz, IOP, District Infrastructure Administration in Krakow  The SandLIFE project: coastal and inland dune restoration in Sweden. Magnus Jönsson, Land Manager, County Administrative Board, Skåne  Conservation and restoration of inland dunes and dune heaths in Flanders: LIFE projects Most-Keiheuvel and LIFE-Together. Lennert Damen and Bart Tessens, Agency for Nature and Forests of the Flemish Government  Light and Fire –LIFE: Dune management in the Boreal Zone. Päivi Virnes, Conservation Biologist, Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife, Finland  LIFE+ARCOS: coastal dune habitat restoration in northern Spain. Ignacio Alonso Felpete, University of Oviedo

Thursday 16th June

Session 3 Linking science and management

Chair Angelo Salsi, Head of Unit B3, EASME, European Commission

 The Nitrogen problem. Annemieke Kooijman, University of Amsterdam  Invasive Alien Plant Species in coastal dunes. Maike Isermann, University of Bremen  LIFE HELVEX: From pine plantations to dunes: a practical overview of the integral restoration of inland dunes in the cross border park Kalmthoutse heide-De Zoom. Frederik Naedts, Natuurpunt  Dutch Dune Revival: Revitalising dunes in Kennemerland: beach-dune sand transport and habitat restoration. Marieke Kuipers, PWN  Amsterdam Dunes- Source for nature, dune habitat restoration project. Luc Geelen, Waternet

Session 4: Workshops

 Workshop 1: Challenges with rejuvenation and dynamics in inland and coastal dunes o Leader: Evert Jan Lammerts, Staatsbosbeheer o Presenter: Eva Remke, Bargerveen Foundation  Workshop 2: Challenges and experiences with grassland habitats in inland and coastal dunes

- 40 - o Leader: Luc Geelen, Waternet o Presenter: Marijn Nijssen, Bargerveen Foundation  Workshop 3: Drawing up a roadmap for the Atlantic Biogeographical Process o Leader: Albert Salman, Coast and Marine Union-EUCC o Presenter: Jean-Louis Herrier, Agency for Nature and Forests, Flemish Government

Field visits

1. Excursion to the Amsterdam Dunes Project: Mark van Til, Martijn van Schaik, Luc Geelen and Willem Stuulen of Waternet:

 Mosaic management grey dunes  Large scale removal of Prunus serotina shrubs  Removal of pine forest  Small scale blow-outs  Dune slack restoration and new ponds

2. Dutch Dune Revival: excursion to the Noordwest Natuurkern in National Park Zuid-Kennemerland: Coen van Oosterom and Leon Terlouw (PWN)

 Old and new Dutch coastal management  Large scale interventions in frontal dunes  Successful connection beach-dunes  Large scale reactivation of parabolic dunes  Need for aftercare management  Integration of recreation and bunkers in this nature project

Friday 17th June

Session 5: Ways to proceed, including feedback from workshops

Chair Ed Cousin, Head of Nature Management, Waternet

 LIFE FLANDRE: cross –border cooperation. Jean-Louis Herrier, Agency Nature and Forests, Flemish Ministry of the Environment  National Conservation and Management Programme for Natura 2000 Sites in Latvia - example of coastal dunes. Juris Jatnieks, Nature Conservation Agency, Latvia  Developing a UK dune restoration programme. Sue Rees, Natural England  Wuthering Heaths-Restoration on inland dunes and sandy heathland in the North-western Veluwe. Peter Dam, Natuurmonumenten

Session 6: Plenary discussion and input to dune roadmap

 Feedback and discussion from workshop groups  Developing a ‘dune roadmap’ for 2016-2020 to take the views of the meeting forward to the Atlantic biogeographic seminar in Ireland in October 2016: Neil McIntosh (ECNC) and John Houston (NEEMO)  Discussion and conclusions – close of formal meeting

Excursion to the European bison project: Coen van Oosterom (PWN) and Esther Rodriquez (ARK Nature)

- 41 - Annex 2: Participants List

First Name Surname Organisation MS LIFE Project Code Life Project Name Lars Christian Adrados Thisted Kommune, Denmark DK LIFE12NATDK001073 LIFE REDCOHA Hannie Atema Waternet NL LIFE11NATNL000776 Amsterdam Dunes Andy Bleasdale National Parks and Wildlife Service, Ireland IE Cornelia Maj Christensen Danish Nature Agency, Naturstyrelsen Thy DK LIFE12NATDK001073 LIFE REDCOHA Ed Cousin Waternet NL LIFE11NATNL000776 Amsterdam Dunes Peter Dam Natuurmonumenten NL LIFE10NATNL000023 Wuthering Heaths Lennert Damen Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests BE LIFE11NATB001061 Most-Keiheuvel Etienne Dubaille Conservatoire du Littoral FR LIFE12NATB000631 FLANDRE Karin Dubsky Coastwatch IE José Ignacio Alonso Felpete University of Oviedo, Spain ES LIFE13NATES000883 LIFE ARCOS Manuel Miranda Fernandes Quercus ANCN, Portugal PT LIFE application 2016 Karsten Frisk Danish Nature Agency DK LIFE13NATDK001357 REWETDUNE Juan Garcia de Lomas Agency for Environment and Water, Andalusia ES LIFE13NATES000586 LIFE CONHABIT Adam Garczyński District Infrastructure Administration Krakow PL LIFE12NATPL000031 Military Habitats Karen Gaynor National Parks and Wildlife Service, Ireland IE Luc Geelen Waternet NL LIFE11NATNL000776 Amsterdam Dunes Frank Gorissen European Centre for Nature Conservation NL Arnaud Hequette Université du Littoral-Côte d'Opale FR Dunes at Risk Interreg bid Jean-Paul Herremans NEEMO/ PROSPECT BE Jean-Louis Herrier Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests BE LIFE12NATB000631 FLANDRE John Houston NEEMO/ DAI UK LIFE95NATUK000818 Sefton Coast Maike Isermann Bremen University DE Juris Jātnieks Nature Conservation Agency, Latvia LV LIFE11NATLV000371 Natura 2000 Latvia Bent Jepsen Sector Coordinator, Nature & Biodiversity, NEEMO BE Søren Jessen Danish Nature Agency, Naturstyrelsen Blåvandshuk DK LIFE12NATDK001073 LIFE REDCOHA Magnus Jönsson Länsstyrelsen Skåne, Sweden SE LIFE11NATSE000849 SandLIFE

- 42 - First Name Surname Organisation MS LIFE Project Code Life Project Name Yvonne Kemp PWN & ARK Nature NL Bison Project Katarzyna Kępa District Infrastructure Administration Krakow PL LIFE12NATPL000031 Military Habitats Ērika Kļaviņa Nature Conservation Agency, Latvia LV LIFE11NATLV000371 Natura 2000 Latvia Agata Klimkowska Eco-Recover NL Ole Knudsen Danish Nature Agency, Naturstyrelsen Blåvandshuk DK LIFE09NATDK000370 RAHID Annemieke Kooijman IBED-University of Amsterdam NL Henrik Schjødt Kristensen Danish Nature Agency, Naturstyrelsen Thy DK LIFE12NATDK001073 LIFE REDCOHA Marieke Kuipers PWN NL LIFE09NATNL000418 Dutch Dune Revival Brigita Laime Nature Conservation Agency, Latvia LV LIFE11NATLV000371 Natura 2000 Latvia Evert Jan Lammerts Staatsbosbeheer /OBN NL LIFE05NATNL000124 Dutch Coastal Dunes Ignace Ledegen Benego/Grenspark De Zoom Kalmthoutse Heide BE LIFE13NATBE000074 LIFE-HELVEX Bénédicte Lemaire Département du Nord, France FR LIFE12NATB000631 FLANDRE Ulrik Lorenzen Danish Nature Agency, Naturstyrelsen Blåvandshuk DK LIFE12NATDK001073 LIFE REDCOHA Karen Lunan NEEMO/ DAI UK Ruud Luntz Natuurmonumenten NL LIFE09NATNL000418 Dutch Dune Revival Edyta Mazur District Infrastructure Administration Krakow PL LIFE12NATPL000031 Military Habitats Neil McIntosh European Centre for Nature Conservation NL Philipp Meinecke Stiftung Naturschutz Schleswig-Holstein DE LIFE07NATDE000152 LIFE Baltcoast Linda Mooij Waternet NL LIFE11NATNL000776 Amsterdam Dunes Wojciech Mróz District Infrastructure Administration Krakow PL LIFE12NATPL000031 Military Habitats Frederik Naedts Natuurpunt BE LIFE13NATBE000074 LIFE-HELVEX Marijn Nijssen Bargerveen Foundation /OBN NL LIFE03NATCPNL000006 Co-op bogs and dunes Tua Nylén University of Turku, Finland FI Katy Owen Norfolk County Council, England UK Dunes at Risk Interreg bid Janneke Pors Ecorys NL LIFE mid-term evaluation Søren Rasmussen Danish Nature Agency DK LIFE09NATDK000370 RAHID Sue Rees Natural England UK LIFE11NATUK000384 IPENS Erwin Reinstra Natuurmonumenten NL LIFE10NATNL000023 Wuthering Heaths

- 43 - First Name Surname Organisation MS LIFE Project Code Life Project Name Eva Remke Bargerveen Foundation /OBN NL LIFE03NATCPNL000006 Co-op bogs and dunes Karin Rood Dunea NL Federica Roscioni Università degli Studi del Molise, Italy IT LIFE10NATIT000262 MAESTRALE Holger Rößling NaturSchutzFonds, Brandenburg DE LIFE12NATDE000144 LIFE Sandrasen Janine Ruffer NaturSchutzFonds, Brandenburg DE LIFE12NATDE000144 LIFE Sandrasen Marie-Hélène Ruz Université du Littoral-Côte d'Opale FR Dunes at Risk Interreg bid Albert Salman Coastal & Marine Union - EUCC NL Angelo Salsi European Commission / EASME BE João Pedro Silva Communication Team/ NEEMO-AEIDL BE Andries Stoker Natuurmonumenten NL LIFE09NATNL000418 Dutch Dune Revival Uffe Strandby Danish Nature Agency DK LIFE12NATDK001073 LIFE REDCOHA Willem Stuulen Waternet NL LIFE11NATNL000776 Amsterdam Dunes Bart Tessens Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests BE LIFE12NATB001098 LIFE Together Justin Toland Communication Team/ NEEMO-AEIDL BE Harrie van der Hagen Dunea NL Vincent van der Spek Waternet NL LIFE11NATNL000776 Amsterdam Dunes Jan-Joris van Kampen Waternet NL LIFE11NATNL000776 Amsterdam Dunes Coen van Oosterom PWN NL LIFE09NATNL000418 Dutch Dune Revival Martijn van Schaik Waternet NL LIFE11NATNL000776 Amsterdam Dunes Mark van Til Waternet NL LIFE11NATNL000776 Amsterdam Dunes Sjakel van Wesemael PWN NL LIFE09NATNL000418 Dutch Dune Revival Coen Verstand Provincie Noord-Holland NL Päivi Virnes Metsähallitus, Finland FI LIFE13NATFI000099 Light & Fire Sven Wodschow Danish Nature Agency, Naturstyrelsen Blåvandshuk DK LIFE12NATDK001073 LIFE REDCOHA Titia Zonneveld Natuurmonumenten NL LIFE10NATNL000023 Wuthering Heaths

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