Sand dunes are crucial coastal features that act as natural barriers against storms, protecting inland areas from flooding and erosion, while also providing unique, dynamic habitats for specialized plants and animals like sea turtles, shorebirds, and unique grasses that bind the sand. They store sand, absorb wave energy, filter water, and offer important recreation and tourism opportunities, making them vital for healthy coastlines and community safety. Recent 2025 reports from the Global Center on Adaptation and others advocate for protecting and restoring dunes and marshes over building hard seawalls. These natural barriers are more resilient to the “stronger storm surges” observed in 2025.
A study published in November 2025 warns that almost half of the world’s sandy beaches could disappear by 2100 due to a “coastal squeeze”—a combination of rising sea levels and human development that prevents dunes from moving naturally. For beaches where sand was deposited thousands of years ago and is not replenished by modern processes, removing dunes for lawns, boardwalks or retaining walls means the sand is “gone for good”.
Some articles of interest:
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1106124
https://www.catchments.ie/sand-dunes-they-protect-us-lets-protect-them/
https://gca.org/solutions-for-vanishing-coastlines-adapting-to-coastal-erosion-in-small-island-developing-states/