One of ASCOA’s main focus is environmental protection. The land, water, and air are being polluted every day by human activities that degrade the natural environment. ASCOA strives to contribute towards ocean cleanup as this activity has been carried out severally in the past. The TEAMSEAS ocean clean-up, a fundraiser campaign that seeks the removal of 30 million pounds of marine debris from the ocean, started early this year and ASCOA will continue to contribute to this effort by cleaning up the Limbe Down Beach in the South West Region of Cameroon.
Marine pollution has been a persistent problem in Cameroon for decades now. Plastic pollution is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the country. Marine litter or debris is humanly created waste that has intentionally or accidentally been released into a body of water. It is estimated that 600,000 tons of plastic materials are produced year-round and due to poor waste management, they mostly end up in our water bodies instead of being recycled.
Cleaning up the coastline reduces land pollution by washed-up debris from the seas and other human activities that litter the environment. It also prevents the entanglement of marine life that gets in contact with them. The debris picked up along the 3km stretch of coastline was mainly plastic materials that take a very long time to decompose; some of them remaining for up to one hundred years in the environment. The importance of a clean environment to our ecosystem and life cycle fuels the need for us to educate the community on different mediums and consciously gather the masses to rid our coastlines, especially of marine debris.
ASCOA’s main objective through this project is to protect and sustain the environment through cleaning the coastal area and creating awareness to reduce pollution. This bottom-up project hopes to create a sense of ownership for the community members whose waste is managed.
Why is this beach Cleanup Important?
- To fight Water pollution in the form of plastic and toxic chemicals that can be harmful to humans by contaminating food and fresh water supplies.
- To save Animals that can easily mistake litter for food, putting marine wildlife at risk of poisoning.
- Participating in a waterway cleanup brings community and stakeholders together and raises environmental awareness.
- Maintaining clean, healthy beaches and waterways are vital for regions that depend on tourism and water usage.
- To contribute to the 30 million pounds goal set by TeamSeas.
About the cleanup city
Limbe is the center of Cameroon’s oil industry. Rising 150 above sea level, it is located at the foot of Mt. Cameroon and home to approximately 72,106 inhabitants. It is a beach town in the South West Region of Cameroon that takes pride in its many touristic sites, captivating foreigners and locals all year round. Natives depend on the fishery for a livelihood. The Limbe down beach was the target area for the Teamseas Clean-up project.
Although the beach spans about 3km, only about 1km is cared for by the Hygiene and Sanitation Company, HYSACAM. Business booms along the coastline; fishermen with their fishing gear are ever-present, ‘buyam-sellams’, food vendors, hawkers, sightseers/tourists, and other small businesses are run in the area. With the burst of activities comes an increased amount of waste littered daily along the shores of the ocean. Though the sanitation company and locals who do business on the coastline work to keep it clean, there is seemingly always too much litter than they can handle; partly because the ocean washes up debris ashore constantly.