Experts ensuring survival of sand dunes in P.E.I. National Park

A team of dune experts are checking on the health of the sand dunes in the Greenwich section of the P.E.I. National Park.

The scientists have been watching and testing the dunes for the past 14 years to track the changes that occur each year.

They said the dunes have been moving inland by one metre each decade.

"They are moving backwards. Right where we are right now at the east end of the park, they've been moving steadily for the past 10 years," said scientist Jeff Ollerhead.

"Down to the west they were relatively stable but last fall there was some evidence that they moved back a little more than expected and that's one reason we're back here in July to measure them again."

Biggest threat

While climate change, rising sea level and shoreline erosion are threats to the dunes, the scientists said the the biggest threat is people.

"Dunes really don't need protection from anything except human activities so the main thing is to keep, as much as possible, people from trampling all over dunes because the dunes are held together by vegetation that grows on them," said Robin Davidson-Arnott.

The research conducted each year helps the park planner decide where to build or not build roads, walkways and hiking trails in the park.

Park staff have moved walkways away from the dunes, to areas where the structures will last longer, and the public will do less damage.

Staff have also strategically planned the location of buildings and parking lots away from the dunes. And rather than roads, walkways connect them to the dunes.

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