Gravel Beaches in Marina di Pisa: Coastal Safety and Ecosystem Protection at the Heart of Public Debate

he safeguarding and enhancement of gravel beaches will be the focus of a public meeting organized by the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, in collaboration with the Regione Toscana, the Comune di Pisa, and the Università di Firenze. The event will take place on Monday, March 2 at 9:00 a.m. at the Parish Hall in Marina di Pisa (Via Don Mander).

The initiative represents an opportunity for dialogue among local and regional institutions, trade associations, and civil and environmental organizations, with the aim of gathering suggestions and contributions to strengthen the role of gravel beaches as coastal protection works, now fully integrated into the territorial context of Marina di Pisa.

The event is part of the European project Med-IREN (Mediterranean Critical Infrastructure Resilience Engineering with Nature-Based Solutions), funded by Horizon Europe. The project promotes the dissemination of Nature-Based Solutions capable of mitigating the impacts of climate change and protecting ecosystems. In this context, Marina di Pisa represents a virtuous pilot case, where pebble and gravel beaches have for years played a strategic role in protecting the marine-coastal ecosystem and urban infrastructure.

The debate on gravel beaches has long been rooted in the local area and has actively involved the local community.

“Finding a balance between public use of these protective works and territorial safety is a fundamental challenge for the future of Marina di Pisa,” states Marco Frey, Coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Center for Sustainability and Climate at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna.

The March 2 meeting represents the second step in a participatory process structured into four phases, which will conclude at the end of 2026. The first meeting, held last May, focused on territorial critical issues, extreme marine weather events, and expectations regarding existing solutions. The contributions gathered provided useful guidance for developing the content of subsequent meetings.

Marina di Pisa is in fact one of the pilot sites of the European project, which includes a structured process for engaging local stakeholders to develop recommendations and proposals aimed at improving coastal system governance. This participatory process seeks to transform gravel beaches into a key element for urban protection and the sustainable attractiveness of the area.