Sustainable management of fixed dunes:: example of a pilot site in Brittany (France)

The sand-dunes of Quiberon was chosen as a pilot site to investigate experimentation in conservatory management. Sand burial is necessary to conserve the semi-fixed dune which is a transitory dynamic stage. In the fixed dune, low disturbances benefit the vegetation diversity while heavy ones create serious injury. An opening of the milieu can restore very fast but a naked substrate is difficult to heal. The deposition of gorse branches is then efficient to facilitate the restoration. The fixed dune biodiversity is linked to human activities. Disturbances, natural or not, may be used as management tools. (C) 2003 Academie des sciences. Published by editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.