Help Preserve The Coastal Plains Today
The North Carolina Coastal Plains
The NC beach dunes provide vital and important coastal protection and erosion control while creating an ecosystem that allows biodiversity, tourism and recreational activities to thrive. Beach dunes protect shore towns and cities from rising sea levels, erosion, flooding and the aftermath of storms. Without beach dunes, species that rely on this terrestrial ecosystem will become threatened if not extinct and coastal areas will be more vulnerable to harsh conditions. Losing the beach dunes would increase the rate of erosion and threaten the infrastructure along the coast while destroying the ability to use the ecosystem as a tool for education and research.
The Beach Dunes
Many species depend on the beach dunes such as the Leatherback Sea Turtle. If these species no longer have a suitable habitat, humans can no longer observe and learn about them which in turn hurts research. Beach dunes are damaged and degraded by foot and vehicle traffic from human activities and low maintenance. North Carolina’s beach dunes need conservation actions to preserve such an essential habitat which relies on help from donors and volunteers. Beach dunes can no longer benefit tourism and protect towns if people don’t see the advantages of their services. People who donate are creating a better future for species and inhabitants that live and enjoy North Carolina’s dunes.
Why let an ecosystem be destroyed by human activities at the cost of its inhabitants and organisms? The construction of beaches, beach houses and the lack of knowledge by foot and vehicle traffic damage the dunes and make them more susceptible to erosion. Foot and vehicle traffic removes and displaces sand and compaction is caused by repeated traffic which degrades the stability and effectiveness of the dunes. Besides being a important habitat for many diverse species, the beach dunes also act as a flexible barrier that protects infrastructure from waves, rising sea levels, flooding and erosion. The conservation of this ecosystem relies on donors for financial support to fund reconstruction and stabilization actions. The preservation of NC’s beach dunes lies in the hands of the people willing to donate a little to help a larger cause that supports biodiversity and protects coastal populations.
Conservation and preservation actions for the beach dunes can range from education to reconstruction and maintenance. Any type of action to save the dunes relies on help from donors that are willing to give time or money. Stabilization projects that rebuild and stabilize the dunes require money and labor to construct sand drift fencing that will trap windblown sand. Planting perennial grasses, sea oats and American beachgrass is one way to naturally stabilize dunes that have been neglected and received little maintenance . Vegetation projects show their effectiveness overtime with a gradual build up of sand. Donors could be funding the renourishment/ fertilization of vegetation or finance the expensive machinery that creates artificial dunes such as dredges and bulldozers. After the reconstruction of dunes the public needs to be educated with signs and campaigns that publicizes the benefits and threats to the ecosystem. The dunes are more likely to be preserve and maintained if people are aware of the possible changes without this ecosystem such as erosion and a decrease in biodiversity. Crosswalks and beach accesses requires funding to give the public an alternative way of reaching the beaching without degrading the beach dunes with foot and vehicle traffic. If you donate, your money would be put to good use by financing the education, maintenance, labor effort, building equipment and stabilization efforts to ensure the lasting services of North Carolina’s beach dunes.