Costa da Caparica, Lisboa (FUA), Portugal
City population: 2679729
Duration: 2014 – unknown
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Sea coast (e.g. dunes, beach)
Last updated: September 2024

The ReDuna project, initiated in 2014, focuses on restoring the sand dune ecosystem in Costa da Caparica (Almada) in response to severe coastal erosion exacerbated by sea-level rise and winter storms. It aims to strengthen the resilience of dunes to environmental pressures while restoring ecological balance. Actions include sand nourishment, the installation of willow sand fences, and the planting of 100,000 native species. Community engagement was a key factor, involving local residents, NGOs, and schools in maintenance and replanting efforts. The project has been successful, with significant biodiversity recovery, establishing deep-rooted vegetation, and stabilising the dunes. Ongoing monitoring and adaptive management are central to its strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability. The ReDuna project serves as a replicable model for similar coastal protection initiatives globally (Ref 1).

The image shows the results of the coastal protection intervention.
Coastal Protection Infrastructure
https://networknature.eu/casestudy/22495

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Blue infrastructure
  • Coastlines
  • Other

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
  • Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
  • Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity restoration

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

  • Climate-Related Hazards
  • Coastal hazards (e.g. erosion, flooding)
  • Sea level rise

Key priorities

Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)

Focus

Coastal landscape management or protection, Coastal ecosystems restoration and maintenance (mangroves, dunes, saltplains, underwater meadows), Improving coastal resilience

Project objectives

1. Restore the resilience of Costa da Caparica’s dune-beach ecosystem to sea-level rise and storms. 2. Mitigate coastal erosion and protect nearby infrastructure and tourism. 3. Stabilize dunes using sand nourishment, willow fences, and native plant species. 4. Increase biodiversity through the recolonization of native flora and fauna. 5. Involve the local community in restoration and maintenance. 6. Demonstrate the effectiveness of nature-based solutions (NbS) for coastal protection (Ref 1).

Implementation activities

1. Sand nourishment: The beach was replenished with sand to restore its natural profile and protect against erosion. 2. Willow sand fences installation: Fences were placed to trap sand and help stabilize the dune system, addressing sediment loss and erosion. 3. Planting 100,000 native species: Local plants were used to help bind the sand and create a strong, deep-rooted dune network, improving ecosystem resilience. 4. Community engagement: Local residents, NGOs, and schools participated in maintenance activities, ensuring continued local support and knowledge sharing. 5. Mitigation of human pressure: Pathways and fences were installed to limit human disturbance and protect sensitive dune areas. 6. Ongoing monitoring: Geomorphological and ecological parameters are monitored to assess dune health and adapt management as needed. By stabilizing the dunes, increasing biodiversity, and engaging the community, the project addresses erosion, storm vulnerability, and human impact, creating a self-sustaining protective coastal ecosystem (Ref 1).

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Restore mangroves, marshes, reefs and wetlands to dissipate the effects of storms and floodwaters
  • Restore sediment supply to coastal zone
  • Protect and restore coastal ecosystems, to address loss of land and livelihoods, due to rising sea levels

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity restoration:

  • Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
  • Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
  • Restore native species
  • Clear and control invasive alien species

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups
  • Coastal-dependent communities (e.g. small-scale fishers, coastal farmers, and indigenous peoples)
  • Young people and children

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality
  • Researchers/university

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Deliberative decision-making processes (e.g., consensus building, deliberative polling)
  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The ReDuna project is governed through a collaboration between the Municipality of Almada and scientific institutions, particularly the Faculty of Science at Lisbon University, which leads the monitoring and adaptive management efforts. (Ref 1) "The ReDuna project was financed by the EU Structural & Cohesion Funds for coastal protection through the National Environmental Agency of Portugal. In this first phase, the fund financed the hard costs associated with structural actions" (Ref 1). "The project established strong community involvement: The area’s design was presented, discussed and defined with the engagement of target groups. (...) After the implementation phase, several maintenance actions followed, which included native species plantation and invasive alien species removal with the involvement of the local community, NGOs and schools, with the support of the Municipality’s Environmental Education and Awareness Division" (Ref. 1) Portuguese Environmental Agency is also involved

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (The project aligns with regional and national coastal management policies, ensuring its integration into broader coastal protection strategies. (Ref 1))
... a national policy or strategy? Yes (Regional Coastal Management Plans (Ref 1))
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Type of enablers

NBS research project (e.g., H2020, Urban Living Labs, national research projects), Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • EU funds
  • Multilateral funds/international funding
  • Other

Type of funding

  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of labour
  • Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
  • Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Increased protection against sea level rise
  • Expected increased protection against sea level rise
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Achieved increased protection against flooding
  • Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
  • Achieved enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Achieved increased green space area
  • Increased number of species present
  • Achieved increased number of species present

Economic impacts

  • More sustainable tourism
  • Achieved more sustainable tourism

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Achieved improved access to urban green space
  • Education
  • Increased support for education and scientific research
  • Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
  • Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
  • Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature

Type of reported impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs

Unknown

References

1.
Network Nature (n.d.). ReDuna - Restoration of S. João da Caparica Sand Dunes. Accessed on September 5, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Palma; M.; Alveirinho Dias, J.; Freitas, J. (2021). It’s not only the sea: a history of human intervention in the beach-dune ecosystem of Costa da Caparica (Portugal). Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Accessed on September 5, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Palma, M. (2021). LIKE A GRAIN OF SAND. Environmental History Now, Accessed on September 5, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Rizzi, D.; Utkarsh, S.; Roca Vallejo, R. (n.d.). THE REDUNA PROJECT IN ALMADA. ICLEI, Accessed on September 5, 2024, [Source link];
naturescapes bannerInformation about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.