The project Urban Dunes for Coastal Adaptation (DUAL) promotes the restoration of dunes in urban environments through Nature-based Solutions (NbS), as a key strategy for adaptation to climate change. The project responds to the widespread retreat of dune ridges observed on most beaches along the coast of Occitania and Catalonia, a phenomenon that entails significant environmental, social and economic impacts.

Dune systems provide multiple benefits, such as the protection of communities and human infrastructures, the conservation of biodiversity and the aesthetic values associated with the landscape. Despite these benefits, adaptation measures for urban coastal fronts are often little known and poorly understood by citizens, and in some cases generate social rejection.

In this context, the DUAL project, promoted by four entities from both sides of the Catalan–French border — University of Girona, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Calafell Town Council and Agence d’Urbanisme Catalane Pyrénées Méditerranée — combines technical dune restoration actions with scientific research activities, citizen participation, environmental education and dissemination.

DUAL was created with the aim of promoting dune regeneration and recovery as an opportunity to mitigate some of the impacts of climate change in these regions. For this reason, it is also necessary to analyse the perspectives of citizens and other stakeholders, and to disseminate and exchange knowledge among them in order to promote an informed understanding of these actions.