13/10/2026

Context of the visit

Coastal dunes are not merely features of a landscape. They support native biodiversity, regulate sand movement and provide natural protection against erosion. At Dunas da Cresmina, near Guincho Beach in Sintra–Cascais Natural Park, the Guardians of the Coasts team examined how vulnerable dune habitats can be protected while allowing responsible public visits.

Activities, meetings and practices

The visit highlighted practical measures: raised wooden walkways to reduce trampling, removal of invasive plant species, restoration of native vegetation, and natural barriers made from plant material that slow near-ground winds and help stabilise sand.

In a meeting with a wildlife management ranger working with Cascais Ambiente, the municipal environmental management company, we discussed ongoing habitat monitoring, wildlife protection and visitor awareness. The case demonstrated that public access and ecological conservation need not be competing goals: both depend on appropriate design, maintenance and informed participation.

Learning outcomes and relevance to GOTC

For GOTC, these practices provide concrete examples for non-formal learning and discussion of vulnerable coastal areas in Greece. The available report does not provide quantified restoration outcomes.

The visit took place within the Guardians of the Coasts project, in cooperation between Fotoessa and Aequalitas. More information: https://guardiansofthecoasts.info/

Our beaches. A common good. A shared responsibility. A common future.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.