Environmental management of the beaches of Castelldefels.
This is a European project that aims to find management formulas that allow for the recovery of dune processes. It consists of reconstructing dune relief and/or restoring some habitats behind the lost dune zone, making frequent beach use compatible with the dunes by promoting good practices among beach users and encouraging participation in this project (#volemdunes).
The "Hybrid Dunes" program is coordinated by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area and began development in 2010 with the organization of an initial international workshop, as part of the European OPERAs (Operational Potential of Ecosystem Research Applications) project. Its field work began in 2014, with two phases of reconstruction of the beaches of Castelldefels, Gavà, and Viladecans. A third phase was carried out in 2016 to eliminate exotic and invasive plants from the dunes. Work continues to strengthen the dune ecosystem.
Goals:
- Reinforce existing dunes.
- Preserve the existence of beaches.
- Defend urbanized areas from storms.
- Increase the resilience of beaches to climate change (sea level rise).
- Enhance the biodiversity and visual quality of the beach landscape.
- Optimize the ecosystem services provided by dunes.