1. Management of a fragile coastline

2. Ainsdale Dunes Reserve

4. Ainsdale Dunes Reserve

5. Ainsdale Dunes Reserve
• Main threats were from public, invasion by
other species and competition from
surrounding land use.
• Two aspects of management; Visitor and
Ecosystem.

6. Ainsdale Dunes Reserve – Ecosystem
Management
• Threats:
– Overuse by public, invasive species (species that
don’t usually grow here), competition from other
land uses
• Two ways of managing the area; Ecosystem
Management and Visitor Management

7. Visitor Management
• This involves a zoned system of closed
(sanctuary) areas, permit sections and open
sites to the public (encouraging people to stay
on the beach)
• Facilities provided to help and educate
visitors. These include notice boards, car
parks, boardwalks, fencing off and a warden
service.

8. Ainsdale Dunes Reserve

9. Ainsdale Dunes Reserve

10. Ecosystem Management
• Bulldozers were used to remove plants and
tree stumps that were not needed. Expensive
but a last resort.
• Scraping involves excavating the dune slacks
(far end of dunes inland) and withdrawing
water in drought conditions. This has
encouraged the growth of natterjack toads
and encouraged the growth of rare patalwort.

11. Dune Slacks

12. Ecosystem Management cont.
• Grazing is important to control overgrowing.
Rabbits have done this naturally but selected
access for Herdwick sheep and some beef
cattle is providing very successful.
• Sand management to create open areas is
important to the succession and for species
such as lizards.

13. Leaflet

14. Management Strategies for the future

15. Management Strategies for the future
• Three needs;
1. Ensure strategies are sustainable
2. Take a holistic view and abandon old piecemeal,
one issue at a time approach.
3. Encourage cooperation between stakeholders.
• These have led to both Shoreline
Management Plans and Integrated Coastal
Zone Management.

16. 1. Shoreline Management Plans (SMP)
• This strategy uses a combination of systems to
provide the best long term solution to coastal
defences
• Hard engineering could protect an economically
important area and softer options could be used
for beaches or values ecosystems (e.g. )
• Overall package would be more sustainable,
economically, environmentally and socially.
• Most of UK have a SMP in place.
• E.g. Beachy Head to South Foreland SMP
Handout

17. 2. Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (ICZM)
• Aims to establish sustainable levels of
economic and social activity in Britain's coastal
areas, while at the same time protecting the
coastal environment.
• In other words they deal with broader
economic and social issues in regions where
the coast plays a significant role.

18. 3. Coastal Realignment
• Where is this?

19. Coastal Realignment

21. 3. Coastal Realignment
• Communities along the East coast of England (e.g.
……………….) have recently adopted this strategy to
manage their coastline.
• Old sea defences have been broken through to allow
the (low value) land to flood.
• The deliberate creation of new salt marsh land has
meant that a greater ‘buffer’ has been created.
• This relives the pressure that rising waters would have
in storm surges. It slows down the movement of the
water inland and allows for greater energy dispersal.

22. Management Strategies for the future