Tourism in Coastal Areas and the Effects of Dune Trampling

The *Centro de Investigaciones costeras "La Mancha"* (CICOLMA) is a research center which aims to generate knowledge related to local ecological processes. This knowledge is transferred through activities such as ecotourism programs. In this case, people in the local communities who are interested in the conservation of the area are trained as eco-guides, and a sustainable business model has been developed, which includes ecotourism, training activities and fishing [30].

Hesp et al. [31] stated that in the dunes of La Mancha, pressure from tourists (see Figure 1) causes trampling, which can become a relevant disturbance factor. They pointed out that natural dunes are among the most sensitive environments to trampling. They also suggested that there is a relationship between the slope of the footpath and the disturbance to the dune vegetation and considered the height of the dune an important factor when quantifying the trampling damage to these ecosystems through trampling. As the dunes are trampled on, sediment dynamics may be altered, and this could indirectly affect the lagoon. Due to the feedback between dunes and the beach, modifications of dune dynamics may affect the sand budget of the beach which can eventually alter the opening and closure of the inlet. Psuty et al. [15] described the complex, indirect dynamics of the study site.
