Conservation status of Italian coastal dune habitats in the light of the 4th Monitoring Report (92/43/EEC Habitats Directive)

Abstract

Coastal dunes are among habitats with the worst conservation status on a global, European and national scale. Monitoring and reporting are of strategic importance to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of Habitats Directive and to preserve the unique biodiversity heritage of the Italian dunes. In this study we show main results of the 4th National Report with specific reference to the macro-habitat “Coastal Sand Dunes and Inland Dunes”, highlighting its updated current conservation status at the national and Biogeographical level. A comprehensive Working Group of territorial experts collected, updated, validated and integrated the data available for 11 Annex I Habitats, distributed in the Alpine, Continental and Mediterranean Biogeographical Regions. The conservation status was evaluated through the following criteria: geographic range, surface area, structure, functions, pressures, threats, conservation measures and prospects. Results highlighted the dramatically bad conservation status of Italian dune Habitats: the overall assessment reported 88% of habitats in bad conservation status and the remaining 12% is in inadequate conditions. Results showed a generalised threat and a worrying conservation status both on herbaceous and wooded communities, in particular in some relevant habitats, such as the shifting dunes. Main pressures and threats were linked to residential, commercial and industrial activities, as well as alien species. Although some of the changes in distribution and trends are probably deriving from more accurate and updated data, the alarming conservation status of Italian sand dunes requires a better knowledge of pressures and threats for further management actions and monitoring plans, inside and outside protected areas.

Getting the measure of the biodiversity crisis in Mediterranean coastal habitats

“…During the analysed time-span, almost 25% of the historical community plots were lost, mainly (but not exclusively) in the most seaward habitats. Although coastal dunes are, by nature, highly dynamic habitats, our observed loss rate exceeds more than three times that reported by Pakeman et al (2017a) for Atlantic systems, suggesting that coastal dunes in the Mediterranean basin are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss (Malavasi et al, 2013;Prisco et al, 2020). In addition, the large SER r values revealed substantial and widespread shifts in the composition of Mediterranean sandy habitats (67%-100% exchange of species occurred across habitats), supporting our initial hypothesis and confirming previous preliminary results from the same study area (Sperandii et al, 2019).…”

“…Monnet et al, 2014;Villéger et al, 2010) showing that a multifaceted approach to biodiversity dynamics allows to better describe and understand changes in ecological communities. Moreover, as human activity has historically modified natural vegetation in Central Italy in a similar way as across the whole Mediterranean basin (Calvão et al, 2013;Defeo et al, 2009;Malavasi et al, 2013;Prisco et al, 2020), the trends highlighted here are likely to be representative also for other Mediterranean sandy ecosystems. Nevertheless, while here we provide a comprehensive assessment of recent changes, their causes remain to be confirmed.…”

“…coastal protection), their degradation is likely to have cascading effects on the entire coastal dune ecosystem and on the wide range of services it provides (Arkema et al, 2013;Van der Biest et al, 2017). Finally, though fixed dunes underwent relatively small diversity changes, the considerable decline of Crucianella maritima, endangered and with a highly fragmented distribution (Acosta et al, 2006) represents an early warning of habitat disruption (Del Vecchio et al, 2016) in a particularly rare and threatened habitat type (Acosta et al, 2007;Janssen et al, 2016;Prisco et al, 2020).…”

Unmanned aerial systems‐based monitoring of the eco‐geomorphology of coastal dunes through spectral Rao's Q

“…Coastal dune ecosystems are crucial for human health, delivering a wide range of essential services to society including coastal defense, groundwater storage and water purification, in addition to tourism and recreation (Mendoza‐González et al 2012; Drius et al 2013; Liquete, Piroddi, et al 2013; Drius, Bongiorni, et al 2019; Drius, Jones, et al 2019). Nonetheless, in Mediterranean areas, the loss and degradation of littoral landscapes and the associated services have been particularly severe in the last decades (Malavasi et al 2013; Carranza et al 2020; Prisco et al 2020). For instance, results from the 4th Monitoring Report (European Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, hereafter HD) depicted a dramatically impaired conservation status of Italian natural coasts with 88% of the dune habitats being in a bad conservation status and the remaining 12% inadequately protected (for details, see Prisco et al 2020).…”

“…Nonetheless, in Mediterranean areas, the loss and degradation of littoral landscapes and the associated services have been particularly severe in the last decades (Malavasi et al 2013; Carranza et al 2020; Prisco et al 2020). For instance, results from the 4th Monitoring Report (European Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, hereafter HD) depicted a dramatically impaired conservation status of Italian natural coasts with 88% of the dune habitats being in a bad conservation status and the remaining 12% inadequately protected (for details, see Prisco et al 2020). According to the HD, the preservation, continuous monitoring, and reporting of the coastal ecosystems is currently a priority at both the national and European level (Janssens et al 2009; Gigante et al 2018).…”