Through utilizing European Union funding the island of Porto Santo underwent Dune restoration efforts to increase its coastal resiliency.

Nature-based Intervention:

This intervention focuses on the restoration and continued survival of the sand dune ecosystem on the island of Porto Santo. In order to achieve this the project is focusing on the restoration of a higher-risk depression dune area. The intervention involves the replanting of 39,000 native plants in the area, working to control invasive species in a buffer area and geomorphological work to support the dunes using approximately 90 000 meters cubed of dredged sand from near-shore sand banks. This dredging is strategically done to occur without without compromising regular coastal dynamics. They also plan to utilize sustainable agricultural techniques in pre-dune areas to mitigate the losses threatened through wind-erosion. There are currently 19,000 meters squared worth of agricultural demonstration plots which have show wind-erosion reductions including almost 11,000 meters squared of vineyards.

Overview of context and outcomes:

The sand dunes on the coastline of the Madeira archipelago island of Porto Santo Island are an attractive tourist and recreation destination on island which is mainly rocks and rolling hills. This dune ecosystem is however at risk, due to increases in extreme weather events due to climate change which threaten the ecosystem. Increases in sea level rise are also likely to lead to coastline regression within the area.