Participants next to garbage bags. Photo by Julián Sotomayor.
By Joan N. Contreras Otero
(September 16, 2023- Vieques, Puerto Rico) The non-profit organization, Conservation Opportunity (CO) extended its collaborative arms and joined the traditional International Coastal Cleanup held every third Saturday of September by the Ocean Censervancy and Scuba Dogs Society, this time at the Sun Bay Spa in the municipality of Vieques. At the same time, the event was part of its “Enjoy with Conscience”The purpose of the sign was to encourage the conservation of natural resources, promote and educate the public on how to keep natural resources clean.
The event was a success with the collection of 330 pounds of garbage and the participation of 43 volunteers, including various non-profit organizations, community leaders and municipal employees. Among the waste collected were the following: knives, glass bottles, gates, toys, propane gas, cigarette butts, construction materials and general trash. “Our goal was, in addition to installing our conservation sign, to specifically impact this beach because of its geographic importance to protect the biodiversity and marine life of these waters adjacent to Mosquito Bay also known as the Bioluminescent Bay of Vieques” expressed Fabiola Torres founder and President of CO.
On the other hand, the Mayor of Vieques, Hon. José ‘Junito’ Corcino Acevedo participated in the activity and provided some of the materials and equipment necessary for this type of event. “Seeing this group of young people come to the Municipality of Vieques with much effort and sacrifice to carry out this activity fills us with much pride because this motivates young Viequenses to be part of the cleanup of their coasts and beaches. We also recognize your organization for carrying out this cleaning activity because we are few and we do not have great economic resources and this collaboration helps us greatly, we are very grateful,” said the Mayor of Vieques, Hon. José ‘Junito’ Corcino Acevedo.
Conservation Opportunity would like to thank the Mayor, the municipality, and especially Troop 723G for bringing all of its members, and the community for joining us in this cleanup and installation of our seventh environmental conservation sign. He would also like to thank the local non-profit TICATOVE and HatiCoop. and Scuba Dogs Society for sponsoring the activity. “It fills us with great joy and satisfaction to be able to contribute our organizational resources and bring our conservation message to one of the busiest resorts on our island, here in Vieques. It is fundamental for us as an organization to continue carrying this message of conservation of natural resources on our island,” said Amilkar Cruz Pastrana, Director and member of the Board of Directors of Conservation Opportunity.
With these expressions, Conservation Opportunity highlights the importance of joining efforts between non-profit organizations and community leaders to conserve, rehabilitate and recondition our beaches, forests and bodies of water. The nonprofit organization explains that the installation of signs as part of its campaign around the island, seeks to expand the message of conservation and encourage visitors to these spaces to be aware of our natural resources.
Conservation Opportunity team with the mayor of Vieques. Photo by Mario Marrero.