Decontaminate coasts and seas and analyze how it affects ‘rubbish’ (litter abandoned in nature) is the raison d’etre to promote marine natural areas for the sixth consecutive year, ‘1m2 with beaches and seas’, The citizen science campaign of the Libera projecthas just been put together by SEO/BirdLife in alliance with Ecoembes. This year’s edition will take place Between 17 and 25 Septemberoverlapping with International Beach Cleaning DayIt is celebrated on the 18th of that month.
Organizations, associations or organizations interested in participation can register and create their own collection points through the Libera project website (https://proyectolibera.org/proximos-eventos/proximas-recogidas) by 11 September.
In addition To raise awareness in society about the conservation and protection of marine environmentsWith this new edition of ‘1m2 for beaches and seas’, the Libera project aims to continue to expand knowledge on the characteristics of ‘litter’ and its effects on these environments and the species that inhabit them.
A characterization task that allows for the extraction of data such as weight, quantity or type of waste and is necessary to define guidelines and guidelines. creating efficient solutions to end the problem.
To do this, as every year, campaign participants, which will include divers from the Red de Vigilantes Marinos, NGO Oceánidas or the Spanish Federation of Underwater Activities (FEDAS), will be able to use the designed Marnoba application. A platform by Asociación Vertidos Cero and KAI Marine Services that collects and stores all the information needed to discover abandoned ‘garbage’ on the coasts and seas of Spain.
670,000 wastes characterized since 2017
Once the campaign is over, all this data More than 670,000 objects already characterized since 2017 and compiled by Libera ‘Trash Barometer’ and later they will be integrated into the database of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Spanish Demographic Struggle (Miteco).
In the previous issue of this campaign and More than 4,500 volunteersin total 6.7 tons of ‘garbage’ beaches and marine environments characterized throughout the country. 61,483 waste.
One highlighted among the most found and analyzed ‘trash’ substantial quantities of cigarette butts, beverage cans, straws, cutlery and plastic cups. They also found a large part of it. glass pieces and plastic bottles.
“Knowledge of the impact on the environment is what allows us to gauge the severity of the problem. Unfortunately, the environmental state of our seas and oceans is still unknown; and through this citizen science action, we are trying to add to our grain of sand to know the truth about the health status of these ecosystems,” he affirms. Miguel Muñoz, coordinator of the Libera project at SEO/BirdLife.
‘Garbage’ seriously affects water quality and the species living in itwarns NGO, as more and more studies and cases of finding remains in marine animals show.
Sara Güemes, coordinator of the Libera project at Ecoembes, said that experience in different editions of citizen science campaigns means that waste such as bags or packaging is “on our shores, butts whose polluting effect can last between 7 and 12 years”.
“Therefore, for another year from Libera, we want to continue working and raising awareness in our community. beaches and our seasWe must do our part to keep them alive. clean and protected”, adds Güemes.
104 tons collected in June
The last action of the Libera project went into action last June. More than 12,000 volunteers removing 104 tonnes of ‘garbage’ at 711 natural sites in Spain. On that occasion, among the most common ‘garbage’, cigarette butts stood out as well as other waste such as plastic parts ranging from 0 to 2.5 centimeters, bags and packaging papers, paper and cardboard.
Specifically, it was possible to aggregate and characterize. 69,134 abandoned waste in the terrestrial, fluvial and marine environments of all Spanish provinces. Additional 104 tons.
The campaign later Her Majesty Queen SofiaThrough the Foundation that bears his name, he has shown his support for the Libera project by participating as a volunteer of the project in a collection in Boadilla del Monte (Madrid).
In addition, the action included: cooperation and support of scientific, educational and informative organizations It is part of the Libera network of alliances, including Red Cross, ANSE, Promemar, Alnitak, ADESP or Clean Landscape.
Also created garbage collection points in 110 municipalities such as Jaca, Almansa, Barco de Ávila or Fuenlabrada; national parks such as Cabrera or the Guadarrama archipelago; natural parks such as Lagunas de La Mata-Torrevieja or Lagunas de Neila Park House; hydrographic confederations such as the Tagus or Guadiana; Local associations and groups or training centers supported by Libera, such as Doñana Guides Association, S’agulla, Faunatura Association or AHE-Galicia, and companies such as P&G, Pescanova, Henkel or Freixenet.
Garbage Barometer website: https://proyectolibera.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Bar%C3%B3metro-2022-junio.pdf