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Restoring the natural functional capacity of coastal dune ecosystems: Utilising research records for New Zealand littoral refurbishment as a proxy for analogous global responses

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Abstract

Aggregated results from twenty years of community-engaged assiduous restoration of severely degraded coastal littoral systems in New Zealand (NZ) reveal numerous fundamental and substantive natural improvements to dune form, function, and storm resilience. This is accomplished by simple, low-cost exclusive utilisation of the variably threatened local indigenous dune plant species. These valuable and innovative enhancements succeed countless decades of cascading consequences from numerous impacts instigated by historic (and frequently continuing) damaging effects on those previously natural coastal dune ecosystems – impacts that subsequently induced problematic littoral retreat – the true root cause of prevailing coastal erosion. The durable reversals were often generated in less than two decades, contemporaneously with adverse storm surge and sea level rise conditions. Research reveals many global dune ecosystems are afflicted with analogous normalised degradation and erosion difficulties, with the earliest active circumvention recorded in sixteenth century Denmark (McKelvey 1999). Historic plus current pressures such as coastal settlement impacts and continuing agricultural use of dunelands similarly threaten numerous global littoral margins, alongside recent concerns regarding the compounding effects of climate change. Successful, affordable, diligent dune restoration work pioneered in NZ has extensive benefits for other nations experiencing similarly challenging attrition on degraded coastal zones. Persuasive data is presented to validate the numerous persistently accrued benefits of this cost-effective and enduring coastal adaptation response.

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Acknowledgements

This fresh and entirely innovative work began 20 years ago as a simple operational-scale dune restoration project, originated in attempts to control the obvious anthropic degradational impacts being experienced on local littoral ecosystems, resulting largely from dune grazing and subsequent inappropriate plantings incorrectly used to stem that clearly-induced aeolian erosion. But as this pilot project grew with time and experience, the beneficial truly natural behaviour of the transformed dunes became increasingly useful and unparalleled. This restoration option then evolved as a possible solution to many coastal erosion problems evident as each and every storm now impacts with decreasing severity. With over 120 km of coastal margins restored at very low and competitive costs, dunes are responding increasingly naturally and positively to many large storms, with accretion more often now replacing erosion. So a new paradigm has emerged, one which is entirely unique and not previously observed. Dunes dominated once more by indigenous coastal vegetation now behave as they evolved originally – in a naturally protective and progradational fashion.

This long-term project activity could not have occurred without the encouragement and much appreciated support of all the following people, and the many other significant but unnamed contributory heroes:

Council managers (in the participating Councils – Bay of Plenty Regional, Western Bay of Plenty, Tauranga City, Whakatane District and Opotiki District Councils) and colleagues: Tony Hall, Mike Houghton, Vaughan Payne, Lawrie Donald, John Mather, Walter Stahel, Maria Nicoll (nee Corbett), Mark Bruhn, Geoff Canham, Marie Gordon, Peter Watson, Tim Senior, Wayne O’Keefe and Pim de Monchy (all Bay of Plenty), Allan Tiplady (TCDC, Whitianga) and Cr. Chris Peterson (MDC).

Our fine community volunteer partners: Sandy & Moina Garland, Ian & Edna Stuart, Neil Probert, Pru and Peter Burt, Allan Mundy, Ruth & Marty Kingsford, Jim Cowern, George Clark, Antoinette & Chris Mountfort, Pat, Glynnis and Lisa Carrington, Tangimoe Clay, Maniapoto Mokomoko, Pat & Elvis Rata, Tuihana Pook, a huge range of helpful schools, marae and volunteer groups, Pat la Roche (Piha), Dr. Jo Rosier & Richard Herdegen (at Waitohu) - and for the other 1,200 restoration volunteers: please read this as a personal and grateful acknowledgement of your fine contributory endeavours to this uniquely ethical coastal transformation: the 21st century paradigm for superior coastal management.

Department of Conservation colleagues: Dr. Peter de Lange (Principal Threatened Plant Scientist), Chris Lester (Conservation Partnerships Manager), Garry Foster and Brian Rance (Partnership Rangers).

Academia: University of Waikato: Dr. Willem de Lange, Dr. Karin Bryan, Dr. Terry Healy, (in order - Senior Lecturer; Associate Professor and Professor of Earth and Ocean Sciences, for their ever-generous collaboration and expert guidance on coastal process science, plus ongoing support and encouragement to present these research outcomes); Dr. Per Bruun (originator of the Bruun Rule), for his open and willing discussion about amending existing rules in response to new research outcomes; Prof. Richard Warrick (International Global Change Institute [IGCI] and CLIMsystems Ltd), for early helpful discourse on the possibilities of these results off-setting sea level rise [SLR] through the beneficial effects of assiduous dune restoration; Dr. Peter Urich & Dr. Peter Kouwenhoven (CLIMsystems Ltd. & IGCI, for enduring research encouragement and later confirmation of the role of dune restoration for reversing global coastal erosion problems & SLR off-set); Prof. John E. Hay (Adjunct Professor at both Lincoln University NZ & University of the South Pacific, Visiting Professor at Ibaraki University in Mito, Japan, plus Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2007, for citing our earlier dune transformation work in the IPCC 4AR 2007, and seeking updated input for the “Urban Coastal Zones” chapter of the UCCRN Second Assessment Report on Climate Change and Cities (ARC3-2, 2015) for COP21; Professor Tom Wigley (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research [UCAR], for his significant and useful confirmation of the SLR off-set being forced entirely by assiduous coastal restoration).

Members of Parliament (MP): Hon. Tony Ryall (former MP for Bay of Plenty, former Minister of Health and State Owned Enterprises Minister); Hon. Simon Bridges (MP for Tauranga, Leader of the NZ Opposition, Spokesperson for National Security & Intelligence); Hon. David Parker (Attorney General, Minister for the Environment, Economic Development, Trade and Export Growth, and Associate Minister of Finance.); Metiria Turei (former MP and Co-leader, Green Party of Aotearoa).

Local Mayors: Stuart Crosby, John Forbes; for their interest, assistance and enduring support.

Councillors: Joye Adams, Karen Summerhays, Malcolm Whitaker.

Government Agencies: Justine Daw (Landcare Research), John Coster (NZ Forest Service Archaeologist), Doug Ramsay (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. [NIWA]).

Ecological Consultants: Willie Shaw and Sarah Beadel, Directors of Wildland Consultants.

Native coastal plants: Jo Bonner, and her wonderfully helpful team at Coastlands Native Plant Nursery.

Local Industry: Allan Mundy (National Lifesaving Services and Education Manager, Surf Life Saving New Zealand), Placemakers Building Products, Tauranga (for donation of materials), Ballance Agri-Nutrients (for donation of fertilisers, where and if required).

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    Gregory Kenneth Jenks

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Jenks, G.K. Restoring the natural functional capacity of coastal dune ecosystems: Utilising research records for New Zealand littoral refurbishment as a proxy for analogous global responses. J Coast Conserv 22, 623–665 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-018-0598-9

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