Coastal degradation and dune habitats in Tuscany coasts (Italy): the study case of the Regional Park of Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli

Sandy coastal ecosystems, occupying the transition zone between marine and sedimentary terrestrial environments, are susceptible to constant changes in their morphological structure and vegetation landscape.In most cases, human pressure and coastal erosion act not only in a dominant, but often in a synergistic mode, making these habitats highly vulnerable and threatened, as is recognized by the international community itself. An example of great interest is represented by the coast of the Regional Park of Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli (Tuscany, Italy) which, on a total length of about 30 km of coastline, shows some stretches of coastline in progradation (N sector), some in erosion (C sector), still others in balance (S sector), all stretches with very different issues of human pressure.