More than 6,000 volunteers, including Queen Sofia, collected over 46,000 pieces of waste weighing more than seven tonnes across 279 Spanish coastal enclaves during the 1m2 for beaches and seas campaign. The event ran from September 17 to 24 under the Proyecto Libera initiative.
Ecoembes and SEO/BirdLife jointly organized the environmental effort with the aim of removing cigarette butts, plastic fragments under 2.5 centimeters, and wet wipes. The MARNOBA mobile app, developed by Asociación Vertidos Cero and KAI Marine Services, facilitated the process of recording and reporting findings during the activity.
The campaign coincided with International Beach Cleanup Day. Cleanup teams worked at 279 locations across Spain to study the types of garbage, assess the impact on natural areas, and raise awareness about the issue. In total, 46,800 residues were cataloged by more than 6,000 participants, providing insight into the problem and its consequences.
There was a photo of a beach cleanups in Libera during the release period.
The initiative involved several organizations, including the Spanish Red Cross, the Human and Territory Association, Matalascañas Dunar Park Association, Promemar Association, Terramare Association, ADESP, Alnitak, Mater, Murcia Clean Zone Association, and ANSE.
In addition, collaboration with the Marine Observers Network, an initiative of the non governmental organization Oceánidas, and the Spanish Federation of Underwater Activities FEDAS mobilized around 2,000 volunteer divers in 30 regions of the country. They collected a total of 5.3 tons of waste from the seabed, including fish waste and other debris necessary to remove from the marine environment.
The campaign received support from Queen Sofia, who has partnered with Project LIBERA through the Foundation bearing her name since 2018. On Saturday, September 24, Doña Sofia participated in releasing two turtles in Puerto de Andratx, Majorca, and visited a collection organized by Red Cross volunteers in the Balearic Islands.
The data gathered during this campaign will be added to the more than 670 objects already characterized and compiled in the LIBERA Garbage Barometer since 2017 and will be integrated into the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge data system of Spain. The information is maintained within the national environmental data framework managed by MITEKO.
Miguel Muñoz, LIBERA Project coordinator at SEO/BirdLife, highlighted the series of LIBERA campaigns and stressed that the issue of beaches underscores the global nature of the problem.
There is a photo of people collecting waste from the shore during the release period.
Experts note that waste ends up on shores around the world after years of accumulation and that a sustained influx of plastics into the oceans cannot continue. The message calls for responsible waste management and a commitment to protect coastal ecosystems from plastic pollution. Sara Güemes, coordinator of the LIBERA Project at Ecoembes, emphasized that the sixth edition of 1m2 for beaches and seas not only highlights the litter problem in natural environments but also showcases the strong commitment and awareness of Spanish citizens toward the environment. Finally, Güemes expressed gratitude to all volunteers and organizations for their participation in protecting the Spanish coast and preserving its treasures for future generations.