Photo caption: Cleaning up at San Luis Beach, San Andres

This programme, which is supported by several organizations, including Small Islands Voice, consists of adopting an area of beach, coast or mangrove by a school, who then commit themselves to keeping the area clean and educating the wider community about their activities. The schools have the option to associate themselves with other organizations such as church groups, private companies etc. Other aspects include participating in the International Coastal Clean-up (which is organised by the Ocean Conservancy), monitoring of the beach/mangrove or coastal area, and creation of artwork by younger students.

Involving the wider community in all the activities is a vital part of the Adopt a beach programme. In the photos below, Ms. Giovanna Peñaloza of the CORALINA Office in Old Providence, explains to some community members the different parts of the beach being measured.

The programme started in Old Providence and has spread to San Andres, where it has been running for three years, 2002-2004. A report has been prepared (in Spanish) that details the participating institutions in San Andres and their achievements; the report also includes an analysis of the results of the coastal clean-up - this includes clean-up of the land area and the underwater zone.