Description du projet
Un examen approfondi du boisement et des dunes de sable
En Europe, de longues étendues de côtes sont bordées de dunes de sable, des tas de sable formés par le vent. Elles peuvent offrir une protection efficace aux terres, aux populations et aux habitations contre les tempêtes, les cyclones et les tsunamis. Toutefois, durant des siècles, elles ont été considérées comme dangereuses étant donné que le sable soufflé par le vent était amené à l’intérieur des terres et détruisait des villages et des exploitations agricoles. Au XVIIIe siècle, des dunes ont été prises au piège par des arbres et se sont transformées en zones forestières. Le projet DUNES, financé par l’UE, examinera les origines, les raisons et les moyens inhérents au boisement des dunes de sable. Il apportera également un éclairage sur les effets de la création de nouveaux paysages sur les communautés locales et les écosystèmes. Les conclusions produiront une histoire globale innovante des dunes côtières.
Objectif
Dunes are now protected environments, being top priority for coastal managers, because of their important role as coastal defences. But, it was not like that in the past.
For centuries dunes were considered unproductive and dangerous. The sand blown by the wind was taken inland, invading fields, silting rivers and destroying villages. In the eighteenth century, a strategy was developed to fight against the dunes: trapping them with trees, with the double purpose of preventing the destruction of arable land and increasing their economic value converting them into forest areas. Different governments, in different countries supported the immobilization of the shifting sands. The strategy, developed in Europe, was taken to other places in the world. These works caused profound changes in vast coastal areas transforming arid landscapes of sandy dunes into green tree forests.
This project aims to explore human-environment relations in coastal areas worldwide, since the eighteenth century until today, through the study of dunes as hybrid landscapes. Based on selected case-studies and comparative approaches, the project will focus on the origins, reasons and means of dunes afforestation; the impacts of the creation of new landscapes to local communities and ecosystems; and the present situation of dunes as coastal defences and rehabilitated environments. The final purpose is to produce an innovative global history of coastal dunes, combining knowledges from both Humanities and Social Sciences and Physical and Life Sciences, which has never been done.
Supported by an interdisciplinary team, this research will result in new developments in the field of the Environmental History studies; provide relevant knowledge considering the need of efficient management solutions to adapt to the expected mean sea level rise; and stimulate environmental citizenship by disseminating the idea that the future of the world coasts depends on today’s actions.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
Thème(s)
Régime de financement
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitution d’accueil
1600-214 Lisboa
Portugal