Porto Santo Island, Madeira Archipelago, Portugal
Project ended
Landscape level
LIFE DUNAS is a large-scale restoration project launched in 2020 to strengthen the resilience of the fragile sand dune ecosystems of Porto Santo Island against climate change impacts such as coastal erosion, flooding, and sea-level rise. The project combines geomorphological interventions, native vegetation replanting, invasive species control, and sustainable land-use demonstrations to improve biodiversity, protect infrastructures in costal areas, and enhance local climate governance.
The coastline of Porto Santo Island is one of the few sandy environments in the Madeira Archipelago (Portugal), and represents a vital ecological and touristic asset. The coastline faces however increasing risks from storms, erosion, and sea-level rise, which threat its dunes and nearby infrastructures. Historic tourism development and invasive species have further degraded natural dune dynamics. As an EU outermost region, the island is highly exposed to climate impacts. However, it has limited space for managed retreat, prompting the use of ecosystem-based restoration as a resilience strategy.
The LIFE DUNAS project applies ecosystem-based approaches to strengthen coastal resilience and biodiversity conservation on Porto Santo Island. The intervention combines geomorphological reshaping with sand nourishment, large-scale replanting of native species, control of invasive species, and demonstration of sustainable agriculture in pre-dunal zones. The project integrates social outreach and knowledge transfer, contributing to EU and regional climate adaptation, as well as biodiversity strategies.
The intervention was implemented as a coastal sand dune restoration programme to enhance coastal stability and climate resilience on Porto Santo Island, part of the Madeira archipelago in Portugal. The action focused on a highly vulnerable depression dune system exposed to erosion, storm surges, and projected sea-level rise. Restoration activities covered approximately 65,000 m² of dune and pre-dune ecosystems, combining geomorphological reshaping with ecological restoration to reinforce natural sediment dynamics. Around 90,000 m³ of sand dredged from near-shore sandbanks was used to rebuild dune structure, with operations designed to avoid disruption of coastal processes.
Ecological restoration involved the production and planting of more than 39,000 native plants selected to stabilise substrates, improve microclimatic conditions, and enhance habitat quality. Invasive alien species were controlled across a wider buffer area to support long-term ecosystem integrity. The intervention also extended into pre-dune zones through agricultural demonstration plots covering roughly 19,000 m², including vineyards, where soil-conserving and wind-mitigating practices were applied to reduce sand loss while maintaining productive land use.
Implementation was coordinated by the Madeira Regional Secretariat for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, with financing primarily provided through the LIFE Programme and complementary national co-funding. The project aligns with regional and European climate adaptation and biodiversity strategies, contributing to reduced exposure of households, businesses, and public infrastructure to coastal hazards.
Operational design emphasised the multifunctional role of restored dunes. Beyond providing protection against storms and erosion, the intervention supports biodiversity conservation, including improved habitat for coastal bird species and endemic flora. By safeguarding the island’s primary recreational and tourism assets, the restored dune system also delivers socio-economic benefits. While full impacts will depend on longer-term monitoring, the intervention illustrates how nature-based solutions can jointly address climate adaptation, ecosystem health, and coastal risk reduction in small island contexts.
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