Interactive Qualifying Project - Exploring Flora as Nature-Based Solution To Combat Beach Erosion

The Cádiz coast faces a significant threat of beach erosion, driven by natural processes and exacerbated by human activities and climate change. This has led to the loss of beaches like El Chorruelo and Los Ladrillos in Algeciras, with Playa El Rinconcillo also at risk. The disappearance of beaches disrupts ecosystems, reduces biodiversity, and negatively impacts tourism, a vital part of the local economy.
Human activities, such as residential housing and port expansions, have worsened the problem. Plant life, which naturally defends against storms and flooding, is also threatened by climate change and coastal development. Preserving these beaches is essential for sustainable tourism, ecosystem health, and cultural heritage.
The project, sponsored by professors from the University of Cádiz, explored the feasibility of using flora as a nature-based solution to combat beach erosion. Key objectives included:
1. Identifying Current Practices: Investigating existing coastal management practices and their limitations, and integrating nature-based solutions.
2. Evaluating Study Sites: Conducting lab tests to understand beach morphology and erosion patterns at Playa de Bolonia, Playa de Getares, Playa de El Palmar, and Playa El Rinconcillo.
3. Comparative Study of Coastal Flora: Assessing flora species for dune protection characteristics and their effectiveness in combating beach erosion.
The project culminated in designing beach protection strategies using flora, with specific guidelines for the most eroded beaches. Informative signage was developed for Playa de El Palmar and Playa El Rinconcillo to raise public awareness about the importance of dune systems and the role of specific flora in protecting these ecosystems. These recommendations were provided to ecological companies to support their beach protection efforts.