European Coastal Dunes: Ecological Values, Threats, Opportunities and Policy Development

摘要: This chapter describes international policy to conserve coastal dunes. Because it is not possible describe all instruments of the world, authors selected those Europe as a case study. Perhaps more than other continents, aims at common and consistent nature for whole its coastline. As result, countries in European Union have national well legal protect interest regions world where attempts are made an cooperation management Compared Europe’s winding indented coastline very long, roughly 3.5 times Earth’s perimeter (European Environmental Agency 1995). landscapes highly varied due differences geology, climate, processes, geomorphology, biogeography, history land use actual human influence (Klijn 1990; Arens et al. 2001). Coastal habitats therefore valued their geological geomorphological, historical, ecological scenic properties (e.g. Bennet 1991; Doody 2000). Coasts, especially so-called soft coasts such dunes, vulnerable erosion, host influences. Coasts attracted man since prehistoric times. Settlement, fishing, hunting, agriculture possibilities easy transport were traditional attractors. Later, reclamation, afforestation, water extraction, defence works, urbanisation, industrial expansion, harbours, infrastructure tourism became important. Well over one third population 200 million inhabitants lives within 50 km In many Mediterranean great majority urban areas (85 %) situated near which attracts industries people goods. Low-lying, fertile plains inductive intensive agricultural use.