A guide for planners and managers - IUCN

Boundaries: If the beach alone
is the MPA, the boundaries should
extend far enough landward to
include, and protect, the dunefield
that lies behind the beach. The outer
boundary should be far enough
seaward to include any offshore bars
or sand deposits that interact with
the beach.
Facilities: Parking lots, snack
bars, water sport stands, and other
facilities should not preempt the
dunefield or the beach berm.
Access: Boardwalks should be
built for passage to the beach so that
visitors do not trample the dunes.
Vehicles should be prohibited except
for hard beaches where vehicular
use is long standing and can be
limited.
Visitor control: Rules of behavior
should be clearly displayed on
signs. Decency should be upheld and
courtesy required. Rangers should
immediately eject miscreants.
FIGURE II-49.
PART II
Protected Areas for Beaches
Nature trails at Oxwich National Nature Reserve, England.
Source: Nature Conservancy Council.
Safety: Visitor safety rules should be posted clearly and management should have
well organized programmes to prevent drowning and to treat victims of jellyfish
stings, shark bites, etc.
Animal control: Domestic animals should normally be prohibited and wild and
feral animals controlled to protect the habitat and seasonal breeding activities of turtles,
birds, etc.
Vegetation: Dune and berm vegetation should be protected and replaced with
native plants if damaged .
Dune maintenance: Dunefields should be protected with sand holding plants and
fences or other devices if dune erosion is a problem.
Species protection: The beach (or key parts of it) should be closed to unsupervised
use during nesting of turtles and birds; signs should be placed to explain the purpose
of the closure; lighting controls should be exercised and sometimes rescue of eggs
undertaken. (Box II-5 and Figure II-50).
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