• Climate Change

Recovering Tonpoi Cliffs: A Model for Climate-Adapted Coastal Restoration in Bermeo 

The Tonpoi cliffs, located in the picturesque town of Bermeo, Spain, have long held high natural and landscape value. Situated between the Talape cliffs and the iconic San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, and within the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, the area is part of the Natura 2000 Network, signifying its importance for biodiversity and environmental conservation. Before its restoration, the area was degraded and with no public access due to illegal market gardens and temporary settlements, such as huts, provisional enclosures, fencing, invasive vegetation and waste.  

Given its proximity to the sea and the slope of the land, Tonpoi was vulnerable to landslides due to the combined effect of heavy precipitation and extreme swell, which were increasingly more frequent, puting the users of the plots at risk. Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, Bermeo embarked on a mission to restore this degraded coastal setting while applying climate change adaptation criteria. The goal: to transform this forgotten landscape into a public park that balances social and environmental needs while ensuring long-term sustainability. 

The Urban Klima 2050 video details the actions carried out in Bermeo, an area of great scenic and environmental value which has been recovered for public use. ©Urban Klima 2050

A New Beginning: Social and Environmental Restoration 

After over two years of careful planning and labor, the Tonpoi cliffs have been restored to their natural glory, now open for public. This 3-square-kilometer area, with its high environmental value, stretches across the scenic Talape and Tonpoi cliffs and serves as a core zone within the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. The once-degraded coastal land has been reclaimed as a peri-urban green infrastructure, designed to meet both ecological and public needs. 

Constructed with natural materials and sustainable gardening practices, the park offers shaded areas with newly planted local species of trees. It represents a model for climate-adaptive infrastructure, aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change while fostering biodiversity through the creation of microhabitats, including small ponds and areas for deadwood, all essential for local wildlife. 

By blending natural beauty with functional design, the restored Tonpoi cliffs serve as a gateway for Bermeo residents to connect with nature, seamlessly linking the town center to the coastal environment along a newly constructed 3-kilometer path that leads to the serene Aritzatxu beach. 

A Comprehensive Approach to Restoration 

The Tonpoi cliffs restoration project was far more than an aesthetic undertaking. It was an ambitious plan to reinstate ecological balance while addressing the environmental challenges of the area. The project involved several key phases: 

  • Acquiring and Preparing the Land: The first step required the acquisition of plots, followed by the demolition of illegal constructions and the removal of temporary enclosures and waste. 
  • Rewilding and Landscaping: The rewilding efforts included planting native species of trees and bushes, creating a walking path, and establishing rest areas and viewpoints for visitors. Seventy-seven trees were planted, including holm oaks, cork oaks, bay trees, and pear trees, carefully selected to restore the original Cantabrian holm oak ecosystem. Over 1,500 bushes, including strawberry trees, hawthorns, and glossy buckthorns, were introduced to the area, ensuring diverse and vibrant plant life. 
  • Sustainable Design: Emphasizing minimal disruption to the natural landscape, the park includes no street furniture or public lighting, helping preserve the area’s authentic, wild character. Local and natural materials were reused where possible, further minimizing the environmental footprint of the intervention. 
  • Climate Resilience and Biodiversity: The project not only restored the cliffs to their original state but also enhanced resilience to climate change. By improving soil quality through organic carbon measurement and reducing erosion, the restored land is now better equipped to handle rising sea levels and extreme weather patterns. Microhabitats were created to encourage biodiversity, attracting wildlife to the revitalized area. 

A Community-Centric Achievement 

The transformation of the Tonpoi cliffs is not just an environmental success, but also an achievement for the local community. By creating a pedestrian-friendly park close to the urban center distant from the noise and pollution of the town, the project provides a vital green space for residents to exercise, relax, and immerse themselves in nature. 

As one municipal technician from Bermeo Local Council stated, “Apart from the environmental restoration, this intervention has allowed us to create a pedestrian route where the people from Bermeo can exercise in a natural environment, adapted to climate change and close to the urban centre, but away from noise and pollution.” 

This opinion echoes the broader social value of the restoration project. The cliffs, once a neglected and unsafe space, have become an sanctuary where people can reconnect with the environment and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds them. 

Looking Ahead: Sustainable Coastal Management 

The restoration of the Tonpoi cliffs represents a significant achievement in climate-adaptive restoration, demonstrating how degraded coastal areas can be successfully revitalized through careful planning and sustainable practices. As Bermeo continues to implement climate resilience strategies, the Tonpoi project stands as a model for other coastal regions facing similar challenges. 

By addressing both environmental and social needs, Bermeo has not only restored the Tonpoi cliffs but also created a lasting legacy of sustainable coastal management. As climate change continues to reshape our landscapes, projects like these show the way forward, blending nature, community, and sustainability into a harmonious and resilient future. 

 

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