Assessing the role of dune management for Irish coastal protection: An ecosystem service valuation approach

Coastal erosion is an increasing global and national concern, with over 24% of sandy shorelines worldwide and many coastal areas in Ireland experiencing significant sediment loss driven by sea-level rise, storm events, reduced sediment supply, and anthropogenic pressures, threatening both ecosystems and the socioeconomic wellbeing of coastal communities. Although coastal zones provide substantial ecosystem services (ES), these benefits are at risk due to accelerating erosion, particularly in northwest Ireland where storms and inundation events continue to intensify. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA) strategies, such as dune and beach management, offer a sustainable alternative to grey infrastructure by harnessing natural processes to deliver coastal protection, recreation, biodiversity conservation, and other co-benefits; however, their application in Ireland remains limited due to insufficient economic evidence and the undervaluation of ecosystem services. This study aims to address these knowledge gaps by evaluating the economic and ecological benefits of dune management within the Sligo Coastal City Living Lab (CCLL), where stakeholder engagement identified dune management as the most feasible EBA strategy for mitigating erosion and flood hazards. The study combines historical and future shoreline change modelling, ecological mapping, and a Benefit Transfer valuation of coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and recreational ecosystem services across three Sligo beaches, and compares these benefits to the expected costs of dune management interventions. The results indicate that dunes contribute substantial economic value, particularly through coastal protection benefits, and that dune management can outperform grey infrastructure in cost-effectiveness while supporting climate resilience and ecological integrity. Overall, the findings demonstrate that dune-based EBAs represent a financially viable and ecologically advantageous approach for Irish coastal protection, underscoring the importance of improved ecosystem service valuation, community engagement, and evidence-based policymaking to enhance the adoption of nature-based solutions in regional coastal management.

This study has been funded by the EU SCORE project, grant agreement number 101003534.