International congress on dune habitat rejuvenation

The LIFE projects Dutch Dune Revival (LIFE09 NAT/NL/000418) and Amsterdam Dune project (LIFE11 NAT/NL/000776) are organising an international congress dedicated to the rejuvenation of dynamic dunes and the restoration of the dune habitats from 7-to-9 October 2015. The NH Hotel, Burgemeester van Alphenstraat 63, in Zandvoort will be the venue for the first two days, while the last day of the event will take place at the Hotel Olaertsduyn, Windgatseweg 2, in Rockanje.

The first day of the congress will give an overview of dynamic dune management, including a fieldtrip to the national park Zuid-Kennemerland and its dynamic dune landscape ‘Noordwest natuurkern'. In 2014, Noordwest natuurkern was among the finalists for the EU Natura 2000 Award in the conservation category, as one of the subprojects of Dutch Dune Revival.

Participants will also get the chance to find out more about the Dutch approach to coastal management and aftercare management in various workshops devoted to topics such as:

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  Management of white dunes
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  Creating blowouts: what to expect?
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  Dynamic coastal management: the best way forward?; and
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  Public communication.

On the second day, the focus will be on the restoration of grey dunes. A new round of workshops will tackle the following topics:

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  Invasive alien species;
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  Large scale vs. mosaic management in dune grasslands;
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  Dune grasslands and fauna;
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  Grazing the dunes: are the goals and effects clear?
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  Dune slack restoration; and
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  Dune challenges in a European context.

Once again, attendees will have the opportunity to go on fieldtrips to Zuid-Kennemerland or alternatively the Amsterdam Dunes.

An introduction to the Dutch Dune Revival project and a fieldtrip to the Voornes Duin will round off the programme on the final day of the congress.

Registration closes on 15 September 2015 (early-bird rate available until 1 August 2015).

Further information is available from the conference website.