Flora of dunes

Behind the driftline, vegetation initiates the development of dunes. Strong winds and strong sand movement restrict the vegetation in this area to a few 'pioneer' species, mostly grasses and creeping plants. These hardy plants are adapted to grow ahead of accumulating sand, stabilising it so that other plant types can follow as the dune matures, in a process known as succession. Pioneer species give way to a community of bushes. On the oldest dunes "first type" of forest may develop.