Cleanups
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Citizen science on Marine Litter: Combining Research and Action!
Since 2018 HZ Green Office is organizing clean-up events at the beaches, canals, forests, and harbors in Vlissingen, in collaboration with the Municipality of Vlissingen and “Doe Mee, Verlos de Zee!”. Together with Rijkwaterstaat, also integrated monitoring is carried out of the marine litter distribution on the coasts of the Eastern and Western Scheldt. In this way, we participate in scientific research and at the same time contribute to efforts to keep our local beaches clean.
With our clean-ups we contribute to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
6.Clean Water and Sanitation
14. Life Below Water
17. Partnerships to achieve the Goals
In 2019 we monitored marine litter on five beach locations in Zeeland and tested different monitoring methods. The outcome of this research in 2019 can be read in this report: USING CITIZEN SCIENCE IN MONITORING PLASTIC DEBRIS ON BEACHES. Read the story that Janine Vink, student journalism from Utrecht University, wrote about one of these cleaning and monitoring events.
One year later, we are building upon this research; in collaboration with Delta management and Rijkswaterstaat, the 5 locations that were studied in 2019, are again monitored during the World Cleanup Day on 19 Sep 2020.
Join us!
Clean-ups and monitoring sessions are taking place on a weekly basis. To always be up to date about the weekly clean-ups, visit the HZ Green Office Instagram. Students can link the cleanups to HZ Personality/ free credits.