Restoration of Dune Habitats along the Danish West Coast
In Denmark and in the rest of Europe dunes and coastal dune heathlands are considered to be threatened and vulnerable habitats.
The first monitoring of the Danish coastal priority habitats has shown that the conservation status is not favourable.
11 Sites of Community Interest covering a project site surface of more than 24.000 ha within the Natura2000 network are included in this project.
The sites are mainly selected for the priority habitat types fixed grey dunes (2130*) and decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum (2140*).
LIFE is a financial instrument aimed at nature conservation within the European Community.
28. February 2007
Just before the end of 2006, the EU Commission approved the final technical report and the final fiancial report for the project. Not all expenses were considered eligible for co-financing, but all in all the accounts look fine. The project has managed more hectares than planned at a lower expense than budgeted for. The project is thus now completely finalised.
The final, technical report (in English) can be found here in a revised version, following the comments form the EU Commission.
Final technical report
A total of 21 annexes are attached to the report. Many of these are already accessible on this homepage. Of the remaining annexes, the following are of particular interest:
Annex A: Maps of project areas, including targets and final results.
Annex B: Photos of restoration of natural hydrology on Lyngbos Hede
Annex C: Maps of other project areas where natural hydrology was restored
Annex K: Photos (before and after) from all project areas (2 documents)
Annex L: After-LIFE Conservation Plan (in English)
19 September 2006
The recommendations given in the intensive and extensive monitoring reports have been compiled in a small leaflet. The Danish version has been distributed to all project participants and other interested parties. It can be used in the daily work by fieldworkers and administrators alike.
21 February 2006
As an integrated part of the project, the Danish Environmental Research Institute and University of Copenhagen conducted monitoring of the development of the dune heath areas and the effects of the management measures undertaken with regard to the conservation status of the nature type. Both institutions have prepared a monitoring report (in English):
15 November 2005
During the project, various measures were taken to improve the living conditions for amphibians on the dune heaths. These efforts have now been evaluated, and a strategic plan has been developed for continuing the efforts over the coming 20 years. The most remarkable result is that two of the new ponds have already been successfully colonised by Natterjack toad.
11 November 2005
All LIFE-Nature projects are obliged to produce a layman's report. The report for the dune heath project is now ready, and can be found here: (link). It is written in Danish as well as in English
1 November 2005
Today is the official end date of the project. During the coming months, the final reporting to the EU Commission will be prepared, and various partial reports will be made available on the website
16 september 2003
An international workshop was held 9-11 September 2003, with 40 participants from United Kingdom, Holland, Latvia, Germany and Denmark.
Objectives of the project
Three general threats are identified as follows:
Invasion of non-native species, especially Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo) and Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contórta).
Lack of natural dynamic processes (over-stabilisation of dunes).
Ammonium deposition / eutrophication.
The threat from overgrowth is within the framework of this project categorised in five degrees (from over-stabilized dunes to different percentage of tree cover). Tree growth may change the dune heathland ecosystem completely, due to the shadowing effect of the canopy and forest induced changes of nutrient circulation and microclimate.
Further site specific threats concerning drainage, pressure from tourism, and barriers to habitat management due to land ownership are identified.
The overall objective of the project is to regain a more favourable conservation status of the Danish dune habitats. The 11 sites represent 65 % of total sand dunes FFH resource in Denmark.
The main objectives of the project are:
More information – in English
Project manager Hanne Stadsgaard Jensen
Phone: +45 9797 7088