Have we neglected the societal importance of sand dunes? An ecosystem services perspective

Everard, Mark; Jones, Laurence; Watts, Bill

doi:10.1002/aqc.1114

Cited by 224 publications

(127 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…In the context of coastal management, it is critical to recognise that any change in type, functioning and area of these ecosystems has the potential to influence carbon sequestration and storage (Everard et al 2010). In addition to policy at a global scale, this capacity is also of importance for local scale ecosystem service accounting, for example when making decisions on coastal flood defence options such as managed realignment (Andrews et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The value of carbon sequestration and storage in coastal habitats

Beaumont

Jones

Garbutt

et al. 2014

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

149

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Abstract:Coastal margin habitats are globally significant in terms of their capacity to sequester and store carbon, but their continuing decline, due to environmental change and human land use decisions, is reducing their capacity to provide this ecosystem service. In this paper the UK is used as a case study area to develop methodologies to quantify and calculate a monetary value for the service of carbon sequestration and storage in coastal margin habitats. Specific changes in UK coastal habitat area between 1900 and 2060 are documented, the long term stocks of carbon stored by these habitats are calculated, and the capacity of these habitats to sequester CO 2 is outlined. Changes in value of the carbon sequestration and storage service of coastal habitats were then projected for under two scenarios, the maintenance of the current state of the habitat and the continuation of current trends of habitat loss. If coastal habitats were to be maintained at their current extent, their sequestration capacity over the period 2000-2060 is valued to be in the region of £1-3 billion UK sterling. However, if current trends of habitat loss continue, the capacity of the coastal habitats both to sequester and store CO 2 will be significantly reduced, with a reduction in value of around £0.25 -1 billion . If loss-trends due to sea level rise or land reclamation worsen, this loss in value will be greater. This case study provides valuable site specific information, but also highlights global issues regarding the quantification and valuation of carbon sequestration and storage. Whilst our ability to value ecosystem services is improving, considerable uncertainty remains. If such ecosystem valuations are to be incorporated with confidence into national and global policy and legislative frameworks, it is necessary to further address this uncertainty. Recommendations on achieving this are outlined.3

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The value of carbon sequestration and storage in coastal habitats

Beaumont

Jones

Garbutt

et al. 2014

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

149

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“…Sand dunes are a highly biodiverse habitat (Grootjans et al, 2004;Howe et al, 2010) providing many ecosystem services to society (Everard et al, 2010;Ford et al, 2012;Jones et al, 2012). They are also sensitive to N deposition, showing loss of plant species diversity, altered soil processes and accumulated N in plant and soil pools under enhanced deposition (Jones et al, 2004(Jones et al, , 2008Plassmann et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Upwind impacts of ammonia from an intensive poultry unit

Jones

Nizam

Reynolds

et al. 2013

Environmental Pollution

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Abstract:This study investigated potential ammonia impacts on a sand dune nature reserve 600 m upwind of an intensive poultry unit. Ammonia concentrations and total nitrogen deposition were measured over a calendar year. A series of ammonia and nitrogen exposure experiments using dune grassland species were conducted in controlled manipulations and in the field.Ammonia emissions from the intensive poultry unit were detected up to 2.8 km upwind, contributing to exceedance of critical levels of ammonia 800 m upwind and exceedance of critical loads of nitrogen 2.8 km upwind. Emissions contributed 30% of the total N load in parts of the upwind conservation site. In the nitrogen exposure experiments, plants showed elevated tissue nitrogen contents, and responded to ammonia concentrations and nitrogen deposition loads observed in the conservation site by increasing biomass. Estimated longterm impacts suggest an increase in the soil carbon pool of 9% over a 50-year timescale.

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“…Our results can be used to improve models predicting coastal dune development. ation, store drinking water and shelter unique biodiversity (Everard et al, 2010). Coastal dunes and their services are threatened by climate-induced sea-level rise (Carter, 1991;Feagin et al, 2005;Keijsers et al, 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the contributions of vegetation and dune size to early dune development using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imaging

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Dune development along highly dynamic land-sea boundaries is the result of interaction between vegetation and dune size with sedimentation and erosion processes. Disentangling the contribution of vegetation characteristics from that of dune size would improve predictions of nebkha dune development under a changing climate, but has proven difficult due to the scarcity of spatially continuous monitoring data.This study explored the contributions of vegetation and dune size to dune development for locations differing in shelter from the sea. We monitored a natural nebkha dune field of 8 ha, along the coast of the island Texel, the Netherlands, for 1 year using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with camera. After constructing a digital surface model and orthomosaic we derived for each dune (1) vegetation characteristics (species composition, vegetation density, and maximum vegetation height), (2) dune size (dune volume, area, and maximum height), (3) degree of shelter (proximity to other nebkha dunes and the sheltering by the foredune). Changes in dune volume over summer and winter were related to vegetation, dune size and degree of shelter.We found that a positive change in dune volume (dune growth) was linearly related to initial dune volume over summer but not over winter. Big dunes accumulated more sand than small dunes due to their larger surface area. Exposed dunes increased more in volume (0.81 % per dune per week) than sheltered dunes (0.2 % per dune per week) over summer, while the opposite occurred over winter. Vegetation characteristics did not significantly affect dune growth in summer, but did significantly affect dune growth in winter. Over winter, dunes dominated by Ammophila arenaria, a grass species with high vegetation density throughout the year, increased more in volume than dunes dominated by Elytrigia juncea, a grass species with lower vegetation density (0.43 vs. 0.42 (m 3 m −3 ) week −1 ). The effect of species was irrespective of dune size or distance to the sea.Our results show that dune growth in summer is mainly determined by dune size, whereas in winter dune growth was determined by vegetation type. In our study area the growth of exposed dunes was likely restricted by storm erosion, whereas growth of sheltered dunes was restricted by sand supply. Our results can be used to improve models predicting coastal dune development.

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Have we neglected the societal importance of sand dunes? An ecosystem services perspective

Cited by 224 publications

References 43 publications

The value of carbon sequestration and storage in coastal habitats

The value of carbon sequestration and storage in coastal habitats

Upwind impacts of ammonia from an intensive poultry unit

Exploring the contributions of vegetation and dune size to early dune development using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imaging

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