The Loro Parque Foundation has made, this Saturday June 8 and in commemoration of World Oceans Day, a major cleanup of plastics in the area of Playa de Martiánez. The event was organised in collaboration with the non-profit association Promemar and, in addition, several specimens of turtle that were in the La Tahonilla Wildlife Recovery Centre were returned to the sea.
The recovery of these animals, in addition to being an important achievement in its own right, made it possible to publicise the danger faced by marine biodiversity due to damage caused by human action. And, through the cleanup project, it was expected that a massive amount of plastic would be recovered. The day was successful with several dozen volunteers who participated in workshops and games. In addition, more cleanups of the coasts are planned for the summer, the next one is scheduled for June 15.
With these actions within the framework of World Oceans Day, it’s intended to promote the search for solutions to keep the oceans cleaner and raise awareness among volunteers with different educational activities on the environmental problem faced by the oceans and the different species that inhabit them, with special emphasis on the effects of marine litter.
With all this, Loro Parque is highlighting that the accumulation of plastics in the oceans has a terrible effect on marine biodiversity, because according to United Nations figures: 13,000,000 tons of plastic seep into the ocean each year, causing, among other things, the death of 100,000 marine species annually. All this makes the role of wildlife conservation centres particularly relevant for the future of generations of species.
For this reason, among so many actions carried out such as the previous cleanup of the Punta Hidalgo coast in May, the Loro Parque Company avoids using single use plastic in its facilities and promotes biodegradable and compostable products that are environmentally responsible.
–
This cleanup was made possible thanks to the organisers, Promemar and The Loro Parque Foundation, and to the environmental collaborators: Loro Parque, Martínez Cano; Libera, naturaleza sin basura (nature without garbage); Seo Birdlife; Ecoembes, Fonteide; the Tenerife Cabildo, the Island Environmental Department and the Puerto de La Cruz Town Council.
