Threatened habitats of bare sand

Endangered unvegetated sandy habitats
Unstabilized sand dune habitat under threat

Nature

Sand dunes are limited and specialized habitats threatened by urbanization and development, especially coastal and tourist development with its associated activities such as "off-roading" with motorised vehicles are destructive to sand dunes. Pollution and the dumping of litter are a problem on many coastal sand dunes. Natural disasters such as storms and hurricanes can destroy sand dunes.

Background

Sand dunes occur throughout the world, from coastal and lakeshore plains to arid desert regions. In addition to the remarkable structure and patterns of sand dunes, they also provide habitats for a variety of life which is marvelously adapted to this unique environment. Many dunes have unique habitats that occur in no other dune chains.

Less than 20 percent of the earth's total desert area is covered with sand, and sand dunes only account for about two percent of the surface of North American deserts. Sand Dunes are important because they: protect islands from storm surges, hurricanes and erosion; provide habitat for coastal plants and animals; provide nesting sites for sea turtles; and provide a nesting place for birds. Sand dunes are especially important for small island economies in attracting tourism and for their fishing industries, as they are crucial in the formation of beaches and coral reefs.

Incidence

In Anguilla sand has been extensively mined for construction.

Claim

The rapid loss of bare sand habitats is an urgent environmental crisis that demands immediate attention. These unique ecosystems support rare species and vital ecological processes, yet they are vanishing due to development, pollution, and neglect. Ignoring their decline is reckless and short-sighted; we risk losing irreplaceable biodiversity and natural resilience. Protecting bare sand habitats is not optional—it is a critical responsibility for the health of our planet and future generations.

Counter-claim

The so-called “threat” to bare sand habitats is vastly overstated. These areas are simply patches of sand—hardly vital compared to forests or wetlands. Nature constantly reshapes landscapes, and bare sand will always exist somewhere. Prioritizing their protection wastes resources that could address truly urgent environmental crises. Let’s focus on real problems, not on preserving empty stretches of sand that offer little ecological or practical value.