UNESCO launched a coastal dunes restoration plan based on a scientific assessment to protect an area of Tabasco

UNESCO presented a feasibility assessment and conducted a workshop for federal and state authorities in Tabasco on the revegetation and restoration of coastal dunes in the Barra de Santa Ana area, as part of its actions to strengthen resilience, adaptation to climate challenges, and disaster risk reduction through scientific and participatory processes.

Coastal dunes are among the main natural defences against phenomena such as hurricanes and storm surges, cushioning the force of waves and erosion while protecting beaches, mangroves, communities, and infrastructure. However, climate change has intensified extreme weather events and weakened these sand formations.

In Mexico, erosion affects the northern Pacific coast, the Yucatán Peninsula, and the Gulf coast—the latter, which is shared by Tabasco, and has a very high Coastal Erosion Vulnerability Index (included in the third phase of the Comprehensive Water Plan of Tabasco). This particularly affects the Sánchez Magallanes region in the municipality of Cárdenas, as well as the mouths of Mecoacán in the municipality of Paraíso—areas located between the sea and coastal lagoons.

Currently, UNESCO in Mexico is implementing the Dunas Vivas (Living Dunes) initiative, together with the Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco (UJAT) and the Autonomous University of Carmen (UNACAR), to restore natural protective barriers. The project began with a feasibility assessment that prioritized ecological criteria and considered social and logistical factors.

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The areas with the most urgent need for restoration were presented in a meeting with officials and local stakeholders at UJAT. The areas identified by the scientific diagnostic study to achieve the greatest positive impact were San Rafael, Sinaloa (Arjona), Sinaloa (Second and First Sections), and El Alacrán (Manatinero).

The native plants most suitable for the revegetation of coastal dunes, and identified by the diagnostic, were Amaranthus Greggii (Gregg’s amaranth or Yucatecan amaranth), Canavalia rosea (bay bean or beach bean), and Commelina erecta (dayflower), among other species. These species can anchor and stabilize sand with their roots, increasing the resistance of sand bodies to wind and wave action. In addition, they slow the movement of air and water, promoting sediment accumulation and the formation of new dunes.

To continue rebuilding the vegetative barrier, seeds and cuttings of the most suitable native species are being collected and later propagated in a community plant nursery. The next steps will include strategic planting and the installation of sand catchers made from organic materials to facilitate dune formation.

Social participation is key for communities to lead restoration processes, ensuring ownership and long-term continuity. To this end, UNESCO will convene coastal communities in Tabasco to form local brigades, participate in training workshops, and engage in a community-based monitoring system.

Dunas Vivas is part of a set of interlinked actions that were previously designed through participatory processes to reduce disaster risks in Tabasco. Through this effort, UNESCO has designed and is implementing a comprehensive program made possible with the support of ENI Mexico, which includes technical assistance for developing the Water Security Plan for the Mezcalapa–Samaria sub-basin; strengthening Tabasco’s Early Warning System, including collaboration with local media and journalists; and the revitalization of Sánchez Magallanes through community-led management of its cultural and natural heritage.