Problem Statement

The main marine-coastal ecosystem of Guayaquil city is mangrove forests. This habitat is unique because it provides several ecosystem services. Carbon sequestration is an important one. According to (WFP, 2022), mangroves are the most effective ecosystem at capturing atmospheric carbon, one of the most abundant greenhouse gases. Nevertheless, this ecosystem has been continuously affected by deforestation, mainly to create space for residential urbanizations and intensive shrimp farms. As a result of urban sprawling and poor residue management, plastic contamination has emerged as a collateral environmental stressor that is also affecting mangrove habitats, especially with the accumulation of single use plastics, glass, and other solid residues. This is the case of 4 rural communities settled in Puna Island: Subida Alta, Cauchiche, Bellavista and Estero de Boca, where more than a thousand people share about 15km of sandy beach and mangrove forests that are frequently polluted with marine litter.

This problem is particularly concerning because the Puna Island inhabitants feel abandoned by the local government and no authority has given a substantial solution to the pollution problem. In response to this matter, a few local organizations have tried to mitigate the marine litter accumulation through cleaning campaigns from time to time, but none has implemented a comprehensive plan for cleaning affected areas engaging and sensibilizing the communities to tackle this problem.

Proposed Solution

Empower at least 40 community leaders through engagement – sensibilization and informative workshops, as well as a collaborative cleaning and guiding campaign that will prepare them to organize monthly clean-up brigades but also to improve local and touristic solid waste disposal.

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