HUMAN ACTIVITY AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON DUNE BREEDING BIRDS IN THE ALEXANDRIA COASTAL DUNEFIELD

Human use of coasts has increased considerably with increasing demand for recreational experiences, increased availability of off-road vehic les (ORVs) and population increase. Besides impacts on dune morphology and flora, humans and ORVs also affect the fauna. The Alexandria Dune field in Algoa Bay comprises a 50 km sandy beach backed by a 2.1 km wi de strip of dunefield. The dunefield is largely conserved, but access to the beach is allowed under permit, and the beach is heavily utilise d by fishermen and recreational ORV drivers. The area is also importan t for dune breeding birds. Beach and dune use by fishermen and other u sers was quantified by recording their position relative to the high w ater mark and along a 20 km stretch of beach, and through analysis of access permits and angling competition data. An increase in vehicle us e in the area was observed. An indication of human perception of the a rea was obtained by questionnaires. Eighty percent of human activity w as concentrated in 50% of the study site where the highest concentrati on of dune breeding birds nest. Sixty percent of the vehicles recorded , were on or above the high water mark (in the dunes). Of the beach-us ers interviewed, 74% suggested that only registered vehicles should be allowed on the beach. Most (80%) anglers had no problem determining t he position of the high water mark. There is an overlap in area and se asonal use between beach-users and breeding birds. With specific areas along the beach being heavily impacted and vehicles utilising the are a above the high water mark the potential for impact on the fauna and flora of these areas is high. There is a need to educate beach users a s to the vulnerability of dune systems and to develop appropriate mana gement guidelines to minimise the impacts of beach users on the dune f auna.