DUNES AND TOURISM: GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

The dunes have the important function of naturally defending the hinterland from storm surges. But how to keep the dune systems intact on the beaches invaded by tourists? Experts and scholars who have worked in the field along the Venetian coast in the last four years have developed guidelines for sustainable tourist use and the correct management and long-term conservation of dune ecosystems.

They will be presented during the final event of the LIFE REDUNE project, scheduled for Friday 25 March from 9.30 in the Mainardi Auditorium of the Scientific Campus of the Ca ‘Foscari University of Venice (via Torino, 155). The event is open to the public and will be an opportunity to learn about and deepen the ecological value, in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem services, of Mediterranean coastal systems. The conference will be held simultaneously in person and online.

The LIFE REDUNE project “Restoration of dune habitats in Natura 2000 sites of the Veneto coast”, co-financed by the European Union and led by researchers from the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics of the Ca ‘Foscari University of Venice, with the partnership of the Veneto Region, Veneto Agriculture, EPC srl and SELC soc. coop., has been active in the restoration and conservation of the habitats typical of coastal systems in the areas of Bosco Nordio, Peninsula of Cavallino, Laguna del Mort and Pinete di Eraclea and Laguna di Caorle and Foce del Tagliamento.

The conference aims to promote the exchange of knowledge and good practices for the conservation and sustainable management of sandy coastal systems. Classified as globally threatened habitats, these ecosystems are an important reservoir of biodiversity and crucial elements of resilience of coastal territories, contributing to the control of coastal erosion and the mitigation of extreme climatic events

Attendants:

Gabriella Buffa , Ca ‘Foscari University of Venice – Scientific Coordinator of LIFE REDUNE

Salvatore Orlando , Director of the Department of Environmental Sciences, Computer Science and Statistics of the Ca ‘Foscari University of Venice

Cristiano Corazzari , Councilor for Territory, Culture, Security, Migration flows, Hunting and fishing, Veneto Region

Federico Vianello , Director of the Operational Unit for Plumbing, Forestry and Naturalistic Areas, Veneto Agriculture

Speakers:

Annelore Bezzi and Giorgio Fontolan , University of Trieste, The beach and dune system: processes and functions

Alberto Barausse , University of Padua, The conservation of coastal biodiversity in a context of climate change: cost or opportunity for sustainable development? The experience of the Interreg Italy-Slovenia “ECO SMART” project

Alessandro Berton , President of Unionmare Confturismo Veneto, Environmental sustainability as an economic driver for seaside tourism

Giovanni Mattias , Councilor for the Environment Municipality of Pomezia, Managing a man-made dune: the example of the municipality of Pomezia

Marco Abordi , Technical-scientific coordinator of the process “Wet Area Contract of the Caorle and Bibione Lagoon System”, The experience of the “Wet Area Contract of the System of the Lagoon of Caorle and Bibione ”in the involvement of all local actors aimed at shared actions for the protection and enhancement of coastal and lagoon ecosystem values.

Corrado Battisti , Metropolitan City of Rome, Citizen Management aimed at protecting disturbed dune ecosystems: case study at ‘Torre Flavia’ SPA

Giosuè Cuccurullo , Councilor of the Municipality of San Michele al Tagliamento – President of the Foce del Tagliamento Nature Reserve Committee, Here everything is dune

Francesco Cancellieri, Vincenzo Piccione , Assocea Messina APS; President of the Committee of Promoters of the Charter of the Guardian Municipalities of the Mediterranean Macchia, The path of the Charter of the Guardian Municipalities of the Mediterranean Macchia and future perspectives

Federica Piccolo , EPC srl – Communication and Project Manager of LIFE REDUNE, Inform and listen to stakeholders

Edy Fantinato , Ca ‘Foscari University of Venice, The containment of tourist flows and anthropogenic pressure

Jacopo Richard , Veneto Agriculture, Methods of cleaning the beach and management of beached material

Francesco Scarton and Marco Baldin , SELC coop. Low-impact naturalistic engineering

Roberto Fiorentin , Veneto Agriculture, Restoring dune habitats

Mauro Giovanni Viti, Veneto Region, Regional adoption of the Guidelines for the sustainable management of beaches