Protection helps Yyteri dunes recover

Yyteri’s famous dunes in Pori are beginning to recover after nearly 14 years of protection, Yle reports.

Large events held on the beach in the early 2000s badly damaged the dunes. During beach football competitions, for example, goals were dragged through a high dune. Much of the beach vegetation essential to dune formation also disappeared.

Protection measures began about 14 years ago. Visitors were directed onto designated paths and discouraged from climbing the dunes, while fences were put up and beach grass was planted to help the dunes strengthen.

The measures have helped create a new, continuous dune, which a study found captures almost all the sand carried from the beach. Beach grass is now also spreading from its own seeds, rather than relying solely on planting.

Some dunes remain weakened. The crest of an old, damaged dune near the main boardwalk is still getting lower, and erosion threatens natural dunes south of the boardwalk. The city plans to focus protection efforts there.

Pori will continue planting beach grass and bringing in pine branches and used Christmas trees to hold the sand in place. The city has not installed wind fences recently. Playground equipment on the beach is partly too close to the dunes and may hinder their growth, so the city is considering moving the playground.

The aim is to gradually end restoration work in the coming years so the dunes can develop on their own. The next assessment of their condition is planned for the end of the decade.