BARLETTA A memorandum of understanding to defend the coastal dunes. An agreement was signed yesterday between the Municipality of Barletta, Legambiente Circolo di Barletta and the Italian Society of Environmental Geology (Sigea-Aps), in order to promote correct management of the beaches and dune belts characterizing the Mennea seafront of Barletta. This is an important project for the «Restoration and Renaturalization of the Dunari Cordons along the Western Coast Road» already approved with a resolution of the municipal council on 23 April.
The project plans to dedicate a portion equal to at least 30% of the width of the emerged beach of the Mennea seafront (starting after the Massawa lido) to the restoration and renaturalization of the dune cords by promoting, in agreement with Bar.SA spa, collection interventions of waste and the initiation of forms of sustainable management that favor the formation of dunes.
“The coastal dunes are real natural habitats of considerable importance for the protection of the flora and fauna present along the coast – it was underlined by the parties during the signing of the protocol -. What we are aiming for is the renaturalization of part of the coast, a process that can be admired along natural beaches sought after by tourists such as in Salento, on the northern Gargano or in Sardinia just to name a few”.
The implementation plan The document envisages: promoting the management procedures of beached biomass in compliance with the Guidelines of the Puglia Region; provide elements of knowledge for operators involved in beach cleaning operations and for users of the coast so that they acquire awareness of the real impact that natural resources and the coastal environment suffer due to the intense summer use of mechanized beach cleaning operations beaches (see deep plowing); promote protection, recovery, restoration and valorisation activities of the areas of naturalistic value present along the coast, with particular attention to the beaches.
The objectives “The restoration of the dunes would constitute an effective natural system to combat the effects of climate change on the local sandy coasts with forms of mitigation against the effects of climate change – explains the Municipality -. Furthermore, the restoration of dune ecosystems favors the implementation of the extension of public green areas, as is already happening in a small experimental area along the same coast and favors the containment of coastal wind erosion.
The commitment – The protocol is the result of the commitment of the Municipality of Barletta, in the person of the mayor Cosimo Cannito and the councilor for the Environment Giuseppe D’Alba, the UTC of the Environment Sector, Legambiente and Sigea who have chosen to work together. The protocol also includes awareness-raising activities, some of which have already begun some time ago, and to defend the beach ecosystem and the nesting plovers, protected with care and attention by volunteers. The small wader, the Fratino, is proving to be a great ally in identifying the foot of the “potential” dune that will be reconstituted, which will represent a natural work to counteract the dispersion of the greatest resource of our coasts: sand. Furthermore, the presence of this small bird and its nesting close to the natural areas on our beaches is an indication of the well-being of the ecosystem and of correct management of the natural areas of the beach.
The protocol signed yesterday together with the renewed regulations for beach cleaning will be presented and shared with the competent authorities of the Port Authority in the coming days.
