The Seville Aquarium Collaborates in this Action Integrated in the LIBERA Project
Several volunteers from the Seville Aquarium participated today in an abandoned waste collection action, organized by the Man and Territory Association, and integrated into the “LIBERA Project, nature without litter”, a project created by SEO/BirdLife in alliance with Ecoembes.
The day counted with the participation of 40 volunteers from Red Cross Youth in Seville, the Seville Aquarium, SEO/BirdLife, and the Man and Territory Association. These volunteers were previously trained in a session at the Aquarium to learn about the waste characterization methodology being applied at a national level to advance the understanding of the origin of litter in natural spaces and oceans, which have become a sink for tons of waste, accumulating 10 million tons of garbage each year.
During the activity, 124 kg of garbage were characterized and removed in just 100 m of beach. After classifying the waste, it was determined that almost 20 kg corresponded to material destined for the yellow container, highlighting the importance of waste reaching its destination to improve the effectiveness of the circular economy. In general, the most frequent elements were plastic material. The amount of waste found is noteworthy, considering the periodic maintenance work carried out by the Park’s cleaning service.
The Seville Aquarium also collaborates, as compensation for the participation of Red Cross Seville (Youth Area), by organizing a free visit to the Aquarium for beneficiaries of Red Cross programs for children at risk.
““Together we must free nature from litter, especially in a space of such ecological value as Doñana. It’s a great challenge that must be addressed at all levels, from the garbage thrown into the sea or natural parks, to the cigarette butts abandoned on beaches. We can all be Libera Heroes,” stated Juan Antonio Romero, Director of the Seville Aquarium.
Libera, nature without litter is a project created by SEO/BirdLife, in alliance with Ecoembes, to free nature from litter, inviting all citizens to become LIBERA Heroes through various campaigns held annually. This year, from September 28 to October 7, LIBERA has launched the second edition of “1m2 for beaches and seas”, a participatory citizen science campaign that, in addition to collecting litter from these environments, seeks to characterize the waste found both on the coast and in marine depths to gain in-depth knowledge of this serious environmental problem. This campaign will count on more than 2000 volunteers in 90 cleaning points.