This week in Ours to Protect we're taking a look at the incredible work carried out by the local community in the Maharees to restore local sand dunes which were almost destroyed.
The work to stabilise the dunes was not just a win for nature but also for the local communities in Tralee Bay who depend on the dunes for protection against storms.
9 years ago the sand dunes of the Maharees were crumbling. Large scale illegal camping, parties on the dunes and people taking short cuts across the dunes to the beach had degraded the marram grass which knits the sand dunes together. A series of storms showed just how vulnerable the local community was.
Aidan O'Connor and Martha Farrell of the Maharees Conservation Group explain how the issue came to a head..
A crisis meeting of the local community was called to see what could be done to tackle the problem.
A key part of protecting the sand dunes was stopping all illegal camping there. Aidan says large groups camping and partying in the dunes had become a regular occurrence in the Summer.
He also explains why the marram grass is so important and why we need to stay off the dunes.
Young people in Castlegregory have also gotten behind the project. Students from Mean Scoil Nua An Leith Triuigh, Castlegregory led by their principal Karen Blennerhasset have organised beach clean ups, planted marram grass and raised awareness about protecting the dunes.
Leaving cert students Patrick Harrington-Stack and Emily Heasman talk about the work they've done - which recently saw the students selected as all-island finalists selected for this year’s ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalists Awards.
TY students at the school Roan Geoghan Hayes, Aodán Murray and Cillian Flynn believe educating the public on why the sand dunes matter is really important. They have been learning all about that during their TY year.
A new project called Neart na Machairí, funded by Creative Ireland is taking place which is looking at finding new ways to build coastal resilience and community-led adaptation on the Maharees.
Silka Michels is one of the creative artists working on that.
9 years on from the degradation of the sand dunes in the Maharees, the community have shown that if you work together, the damage can be reversed. Coastal Communities in Kerry who're worried about coastal erosion are are welcome to contact the Maharees Conservation Group for advice and help.
Ours to Protect is brought to you by Radio Kerry, the IBI and funded by Coimisiún na Meán with the Television Licence Fee. For more information check out www.ourstoprotect.ie. Find your ecological footprint at footprintcalculator.org
