Building Resilience: Dune Creation Demonstration Project

In June 2017, MARES and the Dune-CAT launched an innovative initiative with financing from the Caribbean Landscape Conservation Cooperative (CLCC): the Dune Creation Demonstration Project.

The goal was ambitious yet essential to show how green infrastructure can protect and revitalize our coastlines.

Why Dune Creation Matters

Coastal dunes are more than sand formations. They are natural barriers that protect inland areas from storm surges, erosion, and sea level rise. At the same time, they serve as habitats for biodiversity and as spaces that can coexist with human recreation.

By restoring dunes, communities can strengthen both ecological stability and social resilience.

Demonstration and Education

The project was designed as a living classroom an exposition on how to design and create a coastal ecosystem that is:

• Ecologically functional

• Physically resilient

• Compatible with human use

Through hands on demonstrations, the project addressed community needs, expectations, and concerns. These activities helped shift negative perceptions and fostered support for dune restoration.

Community Participation and Responsibility

A cornerstone of the initiative was community involvement. Local residents, stakeholders, and organizations were invited not only to observe but also to participate directly in the creation of the dunes.

This process helped:

• Promote a sense of ownership and responsibility

• Strengthen community ties to the coastal environment

• Encourage long-term stewardship of restored areas

Restoring Beach Profiles

One of the key lessons was the importance of restoring a typical beach profile. Healthy dunes improve the dynamic stability of beaches, making them more adaptable to natural changes while preserving their ecological and socio-economic functions.

By reconnecting communities with the natural processes of the coast, the project highlighted how green infrastructure can serve as a sustainable alternative to traditional, hard engineering solutions.

Looking Ahead

The Dune Creation Demonstration Project was more than a pilot, it was a vision of how communities can prepare for climate challenges through education, awareness, and active participation.

Takeaway: When communities understand the value of dunes as living infrastructure, they are more likely to support and sustain efforts that protect both nature and people.