States and values of sand dunes

Three states are identified for sand dunes, which are mostly defined by the stability of the system:

• State 1 - Erosional dunes are those where the proportion of bare sand is high and where sand movement is such that little vegetation can develop and land and infrastructure is threatened by blowing sand;
• State 2 - This state includes a range of dune types with dune grassland and heath in open or semi-stable dunes. These may or may not have significant areas of mobile sand within them. However by virtue of the mosaic of open communities they support a wide range of plants and animals. Their value if often sustained by grazing management and/or periods of instability;
• State 3 - At the other end of the spectrum lie those dunes which are considered to be over-stable.

Comment: There are general values applicable to all three states. Links to the values attached specifically to the individual states are provided via the page describing each State.