| |
Lisfannon 'natural' dune development
Lisfannon is a dune of recent origin (post 1950s) located on the east shore
of Lough Swilly, Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. This is an example of a
dynamic shoreline where a limited sediment supply has been driven in a southerly
direction to create successive drift aligned forelands. As one system develops
and breaks down another accretes to the south. Today a former wide intertidal
area is cover by sand dune, salt marsh and coastal wetlands. It is extensively
used for recreation to the detriment of the dune system. The site illustrates
the speed with which 'natural' habitat can develop where there is a suitable
supply of sediment and the physical conditions for it to become stabilised (Power
et al. 2001). NB This is one of seven sand dune sites in Donegal which
formed part of the European Union Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme.
| Guidance: This site illustrates how new habitat is created in areas
where sediment accumulation takes place. In this case new sand dune (as
well as salt marsh, brackish lagoon, freshwater wetland and alder scrub)
developed over a period of 40-50 years partly as a result of human actions
involving land
claim and coastal
protection works. |
The site forms part of the European Union Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Programme project for Irish Beaches and Dunes. For details of the sites in the
Demonstration Programme see the EC web site. http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/iczm/home.htm
References
Power, J., Cooper, J.A.G., McGourty, J., McKenna, J. & MacLeod, M.J.
2001.
A Life-ICZM demonstration project for Irish beaches and sand dunes.
In: Coastal Dune Management: Shared Experience of European Conservation Practice, eds.Houston, J.A., Edmondson, S.E. & Rooney, P.J.Liverpool University Press, 24-33.
Abstract...
|
|
