Dunas y procesos costeros en una isla tropical caribeña amenazada por erosión, actividades humanas y aumento del nivel del mar

Abstract

Coastal dunes mitigate the effects of coastal hazards. Nevertheless, information about the importance of coastal dunes in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean is limited, preventing their effective integration in coastal management plans. This article highlights dunes as a potential alternative in the search of coastal resiliency. Despite conspicuous human impact, such as dam construction, sand mining and coastal infrastructure, most of the municipalities in the northern coast of the Puerto Rico fulfill the dune forming criteria including: 1) dominant on  shore wind, 2) a continuous supply of sand, and 3) the presence of obstacles to cause sand deposition. Therefore, there is more potential in dune restoration than it is acknowledged, and many municipalities could benefit from dune protection and/or restoration as mitigation alternatives for erosion and sea level rise. This study aims to provide necessary baseline knowledge to benefit from this potential and achieve the effective integration of dunes in Puerto Rico coastal management plans.