Capbreton’s dunes lie between the beach and the densely urbanised seaside town, which puts a great deal of human pressure (trampling) on these fragile natural habitats. Since the 1990s, the dunes became very exposed to wind as a result of a lack of management and chronic marine erosion. In the 2000s, dune movement began to cause the silting-up of urbanised areas (Santocha, Piste, Océanides (including a car park) and CCAS), generated by very significant inland sand movements.
Slideshow:
• Adaptation to climate change : Resistance to coastal recession through the restoration and sustainable management of dunes
• For biodiversity : Restoring the biodiversity of dune flora and fauna
Faced with those problems of erosion and dune mobility, in 2012 the local authorities launched an initiative to restore the dunes. Following several public meetings and consultations with property owners, it obtained the agreement of the vast majority of dune owners. With the support of the French National Forest Office (ONF), in 2013-2014 it carried out a preliminary study, divided into two phases (an inventory and analysis of existing structures, followed by a proposal for the restoration of the dunes), the main aim being the stabilisation and restauration of these natural habitats. A further concomitant objective is to organise the flow and reception of visitors in the various sectors. In autumn 2015, rehabilitation work was launched by the local authority in collaboration with the ONF. Using the existing dune profiles (« remodelled » by the wind), remodelling and
reprofiling were carried out to limit wind erosion and make the habitat more resistant. The topography of the dunes was thus smoothed to reduce the wind load and prevent sand being blown away. The sand was stabilised by thatching it with branches to limit the action of the wind and by planting dune-structuring plant species such as marram grass (Ammophila arenaria). Flows of pedestrians were channelled through the creation of a « dune path » to limit the trampling of the dunes and link the various beach access sites with each other and with the neighbourhoods behind them.
BENEFITS REGARDING TARGETED ADAPTATION ISSUES
• Coastal erosion: the project has led to a lasting reduction in wind erosion on the dunes.
• Dune mobility: the sectors threatened by dune recession (Beausoleil, La Piste, CCAS) are now under control.
BENEFITS IN TERMS OF PROTECTING, MANAGING AND RESTORING BIODIVERSITY
The control of wind erosion on the dunes has enabled the development of the flora, and in particular the recovery of a very rich heritage flora, characteristic of the southern Landes dunes. Many protected or heritage species that had disappeared since the 1990s, such as Astragalus baionensis, Fringed Pink, and Woolly Hawkweed, have reappeared following the stabilisation work. Ruderal species are gradually being replaced by dune species.
OTHER BENEFITS ACHIEVED
The organisation of pedestrian flows and the improvement of beach access have improved conditions for visitors along the dunes. The dune walk that was created has made it possible to showcase these ecosystems, raise public awareness with educational panels along the way, and limit illegal unauthorised paths. All the urbanised areas are now connected to the various authorised beach access points.
Moreover, the work carried out, while being a major investment, has reduced annual maintenance costs. Today, this maintenance, which costs the local community between €10,000 and €20,000 per year, is helping to preserve and stabilise 2.5 kilometres of dunes and protect the urban development just behind them.
Since 2017, actions to maintain the dune system have been an integral part of the local management strategy for Capbreton’s coastal strip and are formalised in Axis 6.1 based on a flexible management method, i.e., actions to support natural processes in dune habitats. These actions are divided into two areas of action:
• Axis 6.1: implementation of a cooperation agreement between the ONF and the municipalities of Capbreton and Labenne
• Axis 6.2: implementation of actions assisting natural processes
The annual costs are between €20,000 and €30,000 in Capbreton and are 80%-subsidised by the local strategy funding partners.
- Developing climate change adaptation; improving risk management and resilience
- Better protection and restoration of coastal ecosystems
- Restoring ecosystems and their functions
- Increase Biodiversity
Levers of success :
• Technical expertise : The ONF is responsible for
stabilising and preserving the natural dune areas
which was one on the key points of the success of
the project.
• Funding : The GIP Littoral beach plan scheme and
the involvement of financial partners (European
Union, State, Region, Department) permitted
securing regional fundings.
• Institutional and political support : support from
GIP Littoral and government agencies throughout
the consultation phase (technical committees,
steering committees, public meetings).
• ERDF (16.79 %)
• State (20.63 %)
• Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region (24.43 %)
• Conservatoire du Littoral - coastal protection agency (6.32 %)
• Campeole Fierbois campsite (8.53 %)
• Capbreton Municipality (23.29 %)
552 524 € exc. VAT
Eric Hamelin
Territory Unit Director, Capbreton Municipal Authority,
dirpolter@capbreton.fr