The northern coast of La Manga del Mar Menor faces a large-scale environmental intervention to try to recover part of the dune systems that have disappeared over the years. In a section heavily transformed by urban development, the central government has launched a specific project to reorganize, protect and regenerate the dunes that still retain ecological potential.
The project focuses on six zones located between the Stacio and Veneziola Canal, in the municipality of San Javier (Murcia), one of the most sensitive areas of the coastal strip separating the Mar Menor from the Mediterranean. With a budget of 210.000 Euros and a deadline of execution of eight monthsThe initiative is part of the Framework of Priority Actions to Recover the Mar Menor (MAPMM) and is financed with funds from Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the European Union.
A key project to alleviate urban development pressure on the coastal strip
The action promoted by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO)Through the General Directorate of the Coast and the Sea, it was created with a clear objective: to preserve the natural values ​​of a highly degraded environment due to decades of intense urbanization. The northern section of La Manga combines buildings, roads, and residual areas where fragments of dunes still persist, often colonized by exotic flora.
In this context, the works seek improve and expand dune habitats existing dunes, reinforcing their role as a natural barrier against storms and rising sea levels. The dunes act as a sand reserve for the beaches and help to cushion the effects of the waves, so their degradation increases the vulnerability of the coastline.
The project is part of a broader strategy for the recovery of the Mar Menor, which combines actions on land and at sea. In this specific case, the priority is reduce direct pressure on the dune ecosystem and to curb the loss of biodiversity associated with coastal occupation and the spread of invasive species.
The six areas defined by the Directorate General for the Coast and the Sea present highly variable surfaces and uneven states of conservationSome still retain a recognizable dune system, while in others the sand formations and vegetation are highly fragmented or almost gone.
Six areas of action between the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor
The intervention is located in six sectors of northern La Mangadistributed between both sides of the coastal strip. On the Mediterranean side, action will be taken in North Esparto Cove and South Esparto Cove, two sections where dune ridges still persist that can be reinforced and gain continuity.
On the inner bank, facing the lagoon, the work will focus on Playa Chica and in three sections of Veneziola (South, Central and North). In these areas of the Mar Menor, the dunes have undergone intense transformation, so both to bolster existing plant communities how to create new vegetation bands where the system is most disrupted.
To organize the restoration, within each zone, areas have been delimited parallel bands according to distance from the seaThese strips allow us to reproduce, in an approximate way, the natural zoning of the dune vegetation: species more tolerant to salt and to the wind in the most exposed areas, and larger plants or plants of different composition as you move inland.
In areas where the dune relief is relatively well preserved, the priority will be strengthening of existing communities and the restoration of the ecosystem's typical structure. In contrast, in the most degraded areas, the focus will be on expand the area occupied by native vegetation and to help the system recover, in the medium term, part of its natural dynamics of sand supply and retention.
This spatial organization of the work will also allow to assess the evolution more accurately for each type of habitat, study its response to storms and adjust future management measures according to the results.
Elimination of invasive species: the cat's claw, in the spotlight
One of the pillars of Phase I is the eradication of invasive exotic floraConsidered by European and Spanish authorities as one of the most serious threats to coastal ecosystems, the most problematic species in La Manga in this area is the cat's claw (Carpobrotus edulis), a succulent plant native to South Africa that expanded for years as an ornamental and gardening plant in gardens and embankments.
This species forms dense blankets that displace native vegetationThese processes alter soil properties and modify moisture and light conditions, reducing the diversity of native plants and, consequently, that of invertebrates, birds, and other organisms associated with the dune system. Therefore, the first phase of the work will focus on remove the cat's claw masses manually or mechanically and other non-native species present in the selected plots.
The elimination actions are not conceived as a one-off intervention, but as a continuous process over timeExperience in other stretches of the Spanish coast indicates that many invasive species have a great capacity for regrowth and spread, which is why MITECO has planned Repeat eradication efforts every four months for at least four years.
This periodic monitoring will allow detect residual outbreaks and new outbreaks in early stages, preventing them from quickly recolonizing the cleared spaces. The combination of intensive initial removal and regular checks is considered the most effective strategy for minimizing the presence of these plants in the medium term.
The fight against invasive species not only benefits threatened flora, but also improves the overall functioning of the dune ecosystemIt promotes water infiltration, stabilizes sand profiles, and helps maintain the structural diversity of the habitat, which is key to its resilience to climate change.
Recovery of native flora and reinforcement of threatened species
Alongside the removal of exotic flora, the project includes the massive planting of native species characteristic of Mediterranean dune systemsThe idea is to accelerate the recovery of natural vegetation cover, preventing the gaps left by invasive species from being taken over by new problematic species.
Among the selected plants, several species native to the Murcian coastal strip stand out, such as the Mar Menor asparagus (Asparagus macrorrhizus), the samphire (Crithmum maritimum), the sea ​​bell (Calystegia soldanella) and sea ​​lily (Pancratium maritimum)All of them are adapted to extreme conditions of salinity, wind and water scarcity and play an important role in the stabilization of the dunes.
The asparagus plant of the Mar Menor occupies a particularly relevant place within the project, as it is a endemic species of the area, included since 2023 in the category of "in danger of extinction" in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species. Its distribution is concentrated mainly in dune areas of La MangaMany of them are classified as developable land and located outside the public maritime-terrestrial domain, which increases their vulnerability to potential urban developments.
With the restoration of dunes in these six areas, MITECO aims to strengthen the natural populations of asparagus in the Mar Menor and create new areas favorable for their settlement. At the same time, the mosaic of vegetation characteristic of these systems will be restored, where creeping herbaceous species, shrubs, and bulbous plants coexist, stabilizing the sand and providing food and shelter for wildlife.
The improvement of native flora will also result in a higher quality landscape of the coastal stripThis directly impacts the experience of those who visit or live in the area. A well-preserved dune system not only has ecological value, but is also perceived as a defining element of the Mediterranean landscape.
Furthermore, the presence of diverse native species favors the appearance of pollinators and other invertebrateswhich in turn serve as food for reptiles and birds, helping to rebuild the food chains associated with this type of coastal habitat.
Fences, sand traps and traffic restrictions
For restoration to have a real effect, it is not enough to plant native species and remove invasive ones: it is necessary to minimize discomfort to the regenerated areasTherefore, the installation of a perimeter fencing of wooden posts and ropes around the dune areas under restoration.
These lightweight enclosures aim to to prevent the passage of people and vehicles On the dunes, one of the factors that most contributes to their degradation is foot traffic. Continuous trampling causes the loss of vegetation, compacts the sand, and facilitates erosion by wind and waves. The fencing is intended to channel traffic to designated areas and thus minimize the impact on the recovering flora.
Next to the fences, they will be placed sand collectors at different points of the dunesSimple structures help retain windblown sand grains and promote the formation and growth of sand ridges. This measure is essential in areas where the dune landscape has been significantly altered and needs a boost to regain volume.
The project also includes the Installation of internal soft fencingThese barriers delineate planting areas and protect young trees from accidental access by people or pets. Over time, once the vegetation has taken root and the dunes have stabilized, these barriers can be reviewed and adapted to the new situation.
In addition to the wooden structures, it is planned Remove remnants of obsolete infrastructure and debris which are scattered throughout the areas of intervention. The removal of these materials not only improves the aesthetics of the environment, but also reduces risks to wildlife and helps to restore the landscape to a more natural state.
Medium-term monitoring and resilience to coastal erosion
Although the works in this Phase I include a formal execution period of eight monthsThe design of the performance incorporates a prolonged follow-up periodThe Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has planned for the invasive flora control work to be repeated. every four months for at least four years, a duration that responds to the need to consolidate the changes introduced.
During that time, the evaluation will be carried out evolution of native plantationsThe degree of natural recolonization by other species native to the dune system and the terrain's response to storms at sea will be monitored. This monitoring will allow for adjustments to supplemental irrigation, plant replacement, or modifications to fencing, based on the observed results.
Dune restoration ultimately aims to to increase the resilience of the La Manga coast in the face of the combination of climate change, more frequent storms, and intense human occupation, a healthy dune system acts as a natural protective barrierabsorbing some of the wave energy and reducing sand loss during periods of heavy swell.
By reinforcing these sandbars and their associated vegetation, we also contribute to maintain sedimentary equilibrium between beaches and seabeds, an aspect that has direct effects on the quality of bathing, the practice of nautical activities and the state of submerged ecosystems near the coast.
In parallel, the enhancement of the dunes as natural heritage can foster a a more respectful social perception of these spaces, promoting responsible behavior by visitors and residents and thus reducing the need for corrective interventions in the future.
Phase I of dune restoration in La Manga del Mar Menor is therefore conceived as a comprehensive action that combines physical work, ecological management and long-term monitoringWith an eye toward recovering a key coastal system for the protection of the Murcian coastline and the conservation of unique species such as the asparagus plant of the Mar Menor, in an enclave where every square meter of well-preserved nature makes a difference.
