Sand dunes are among the most widespread coastal ecosystems. In Western and Central Europe only, coastal dunes occupy an estimated area of over 5300 km². However, dunes have suffered enormous quantitative and qualitative loss. Inspired by scientific pioneers like Prof. Géhu (France), the EUCC launched awareness campaigns to counteract this decline since 1987. As a result of that, many dune managers have initiated interesting restoration projects. The EUCC has launched the project ‘The Coastal Guide on Dune Management’ to improve the exchange of knowledge about these projects and about dune management in general. The main aims of the Dune Guide are:

• collect and collate information about coastal dune management in relation to their use under a variety of sectors, for example coastal defence, tourism and drinking water collection.
• analyse good and bad practice cases of dune management with special reference to the specific values of the natural system, e.g. sand mobility, groundwater level and water quality
• provide this information, the practical cases and the lessons to be learnt of these to planners and managers involved with dune management in Europe.

Each case can be found via geographical maps and via thematical texts putting the cases in an order of six interesting topics:

	seashore dynamics
	sand mobility
	hydrology and water management
	conservation management
	management of forests
	management in relation to recreation and tourism

© Copyright: EUCC, 2000