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International Coastal Cleanup Day 2021

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International Coastal Cleanup Day 2021

Start time 2022-12-20
Finished Time 2022-12-21
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International Coastal Cleanup Day got its start in 1986 when Linda Maraniss met Kathy O’Hara while working for Ocean Conservancy. Maraniss had just moved to Texas from Washington, D.C. and O’Hara had just completed a report called Plastics in the Ocean: More Than a Litter Problem. Concerned about the negative effect of plastic in our waters, the two of them reached out to other ocean-lovers and organised a Cleanup for Ocean Conservancy. The first cleanup consisted of 2,800 volunteers. Since then, the cleanup has grown into an international event in more than 100 countries.

Engagement

The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) was started by the Ocean Conservancy in 1986 to engage volunteers in collecting marine debris from the world’s waterways. During the cleanup, volunteers act as “citizen scientists,” tallying the items they find on data cards. International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICCD) is traditionally held on the third Saturday in September. This year, it will be held on September 18. It is one of the world’s largest volunteer annual events to preserve and protect our oceans and beaches. ASCOA have engage and motivate their communities to take action at local beach cleanups.

International Coastal Cleanup is a collaborative outreach programme that brings the world together to clean up our beaches and conserve the environment. Ocean conservation groups, along with environmental organisations, are concerned about the amount of trash that litters the world’s coastlines. International Coastal Cleanup Day came as a result of that concern. 

Every year ASCOA joins Ocean Conservancy and the international community to commemorate International Coastal Cleanup day. This year, ASCOA’s theme is: “SAVE OUR OCEAN AND BEACH”. The project will take place along the Ngeme-Batoke coastal area in Fako Division, South West Region Cameroon. It covers 5 km of coastline, which includes black sand beaches and mangrove forests. Marine litter is any “persistent, manufactured or processed solid material [that is] discarded, disposed of, or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment.” The most common types of garbage found on the beaches include cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic straws, plastic bottle caps, and plastic beverage bottles. Plastics are especially harmful as they are non-biodegradable and breakdown into tiny pieces due to the weather and ultraviolet rays. Microplastics then filter into the environment polluting entire ecosystems. Plastic debris kills over one million marine animals each year. It destroys habitats leading to the extinction of entire species. The impact is felt not only by the aquatic ecosystems but also the human population that depends on the sea and rivers for food and commerce.

Coastal cleanups require committed volunteers, supporters and partners. ASCOA welcomes partnerships with organisations that align with its environmental protection values.

ASCOA Objective for ICC 2021 

The International Coastal Cleanup Day will be observed under the theme: SAVE OUR OCEAN AND BEACH. It will gather approximately 200 volunteers along 5km of coastline, out of the 10 km of Ngeme-Batoke. we aim to remove an estimated 50 tonnes of debris. Besides cleaning up the coastlines, the ASCOA team will educate the public about the importance of keeping the coast clean, and how to encourage others to keep the waterways free of trash. Although the event focuses on the beaches, conservation of our waters goes beyond the oceans and even those who don’t live near the sea can clean up the lakes and rivers in their community and also learn about the importance of keeping all bodies of water free from debris. Even if you don’t live near the coast, you can still participate in International Coastal Cleanup Day because about 80% of all marine debris comes from a land-based source. In fact, cleaning up your neighborhood is one of the best ways to prevent trash from entering waterways that will carry it to the ocean. You can also join ASCOA by sharing this information on social media to create awareness. Beach cleanups increase public awareness about the accumulation and negative effects of litter in oceans, on coastlines and beaches.

It’s time to take action 

Every day our environment is being threatened by ocean pollution. There is so much trash in our waters that marine life is suffering at an alarming rate. Plastic has contaminated every last corner of the world’s seas with huge floating garbage patches piling up in the middle of the oceans, as in the case of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It’s heartbreaking to hear about a pregnant whale that died with 50 pounds of plastic in her stomach, or a baby dolphin found dead full of plastic waste. Millions of people depend on the seas and rivers for food, transportation and trade. Our negative impact on the oceans is evident and we must take action now to clean them up.

Our oceans are our lifeline 

The oceans cover over 70 per cent of the planet. Marine life has been a major source of oxygen production for all beings on Earth. When dolphins and whales return to the surface to breathe, they fertilise tiny marine plants called phytoplankton. Each year, these microorganisms absorb four times more carbon dioxide than the Amazon rainforest and generate up to 85 per cent of the oxygen we breathe. By protecting these animals from plastic pollution we also protect the planet. When animals such as whales and dolphins perish, the oceans die. And if the oceans die, so do we. Can you imagine what the future will look like if we don’t take action now?

Why is this important? 

Every day our environment is being threatened by ocean pollution and, as you might expect, with this much trash in the ocean, marine life is suffering at an alarming rate.

It’s heartbreaking to watch news about a pregnant whale that died with 50 pounds of plastic in her stomach, or a baby dolphin found dead with a stomach full of plastic trash. When news about animals washing up with their stomachs filled with plastic began to surface, we realised the enormous negative impact human activity has on the seas. It is time for us to take action to protect our ocean life from plastic pollution.

What can we do to protect marine life? 

Join ASCOA’s Beach Clean-up on sept 18 along the Ngeme-Batoke coastal area.

Through its clean-up and awareness educational campaign ASCOA is committed to changing the behaviours of local communities who contribute significantly to plastic pollution. We’re joining Ocean Conservancy and the international community to commemorate World Oceans Day 2021. Our project will take place along the Ngeme-Batoke’s 3 km coastline. The area includes breathtaking black sand beaches and mangrove forests.

However, ASCOA cannot do this without the support from local volunteers. We need your help!

About Limbe Coastline 

The Limbe Down Beach -Idenau Coastline area in Cameroon:

It covers 43 km of coastline, which includes black sand beaches and mangrove forests. These serve as nesting grounds for bird species like the critically endangered sociable lapwing, as well as four species of marine turtles, the African manatee, and other species listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The ecosystem in this and its surrounding forested areas are threatened by large quantities of plastic which travel downstream from major urban centres such as Limbe and Douala. This in turn, represents a major public health issue, through contamination of drinking water, foodborne diseases, and other conditions related to pollution.

 Indiscriminate dumping of waste on coastal areas and in the sea in Limbe also devalues the area, which depends greatly on tourism to sustain its economy. Efforts must be taken to preserve the natural ecosystem from the threat of industrialisation and plastic pollution.

Location 

Limbe 2, Rural Area

The project will take place in Ngeme-Batoke beaches which cover 10 km.

Activity Overview 

  • The project will consist of:
  • Collection and disposal of trash
  • Recording every item of trash collected through the ‘Clean Swell’ App by Ocean Conservancy App or manually (with data collection form)
  • Segregating/sorting the trash you collect. Biodegradable waste will be separated from non-biodegradable waste.
  • Spreading awareness by sharing cleanup results and impact with friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media platforms.

What do we provide the volunteers? 

  • Orientation Webinars
  • Transportation
  • Gloves, face masks, and hand sanitiser
  • Snacks
  • Certificate form Ocean Conservancy
  • Cleanup orientation before and after cleanup

Call for Partnership 

Over 1 million marine animals perish each year due to plastic debris in our oceans, habitats are destroyed and the entire species wiped out. The impact is felt   not only by the aquatic ecosystems but also the human population that depends on the sea and rivers for both sustenance and commerce. ASCOA cannot do this alone without its volunteers, supporters and partners.

From 2018 till date. ASCOA have involved 690 people. volunteers on coastal cleanup, collected 35,020 plastics bottles, and removed a total of 86,404 items and a total of 100 tons from the Limbe-idenau coastline in Cameroon.

ASCOA will like to partner with your organization, institution, company to help free ocean and coastline from trash.

Saving the ocean and coastline from trash and plastic pollution is our goal and we cannot do it alone, Therefore, we look for long-term partnerships with those who want to make a difference and sustained commitment to our goal.

1. What ASCOA offers

(Benefit as partner) ASCOA is representative of ocean conservancy,

  • Appreciation certificate issued to your volunteers provided by our international partner (Ocean Conservancy)
  • ASCOA will issue your organisation a certificate after receiving your data
  • Logo on Project report
  • Logo on Marketing Materials
  • Logo on ASCOA’s website
  • Networking with other organisations, both national and international
  • Train staff of partner organisations, on how to record data on coordinator form and Clean Swell App.

2. What is expected from Partners:

    • To carry out activity during ICC event
    • To submit a summary of their project activity
    • Data of trash collected and recorded
    • Pictures from the event

REGISTER AS VOLUNTEER:


    YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

    Last Name *

    First Name *

    Email *

    Nationality *

    Gender
    MaleFemale
    Phone Number *

    City *

    Region *

    Date of Birth *

    T-shirt Size:


    ASSIGNMENT

    Select the top 2 assignments you wish to participate in from the drop-downs below. You’ll be notified which assignment you’ve been assigned to during the cleanup event.

    1st CHOICE *

    2nd CHOICE *


    SUPPLIES

    We will provide work gloves, facemask, hand sanitizer, transportation and refreshments. We are still in need of the items listed below. Please check the box next to any item(s) you can help with.

    Available Supplies *

    WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT?


    HOW DID YOU GET TO KNOW ABOUT THIS EVENT? *


    If Others, specify:


    SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

    Any Volunteer Experience?

    Training or Conference?


    LEVEL OF EDUCATION *

    First schoolAdvanced levelDegreeMaster, PhD


    EMERGENCY CONTACT *

    First Name *

    Last Name *

    Email *

    Phone Number *

    Relationship *


    ANY SPECIAL MESSAGE YOU WILL LIKE US TO KNOW?


    We will have two webinar sessions for orientation and safety measures on COVID-19 during the event, through “ZOOM” will you be able to attend.
    It`s important that participants take part in the webinar!

    Webinar *