Simonetta Bagella

Coastal dunes are transitional systems between land and water, characterized by steep ecological gradients and which life is dependent on a delicate balance between sand erosion and deposit. They are currently exposed to several pressures, including mechanical disturbances and alien invasive species, and threatened globally. The Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC) includes the habitats of dune systems among them of European importance for which adequate protection is necessary. This process implies a considerable effort for periodic monitoring of the state of conservation and intervening with appropriate management measures, where required. Supervised and semi-supervised tools (e.g. satellite or drone imagery) are nowadays available for supporting human operators. Artificial robotics, which made tremendous advancements in recent years, could give further support. The challenge is to develop tools for repetitive and time-consuming activities in habitat monitoring, offering a valuable benefit for biodiversity conservation in coastal dunes.