Every year 11,500 tonnes of plastic waste ends up in the Mediterranean. Almost 70% of that waste pollutes the Greek coasts, seriously affecting not only our health, but also our economy in the sectors of tourism, shipping and fishing. From June 2021, Katheti, as a member of the Ec(h)o initiative, joined WWF’s program “Adopt a Beach”, by adopting the beaches of Agia Sotira in Galatas and Vagionia in Poros. We will meet again, together with student of Galatas High School, on December 13th on the beach of Agia Sotira. The reasons we are continuing with our adopted beaches are, on the one hand the obvious benefits of the clean-ups, and on the other hand the valuable data collected from recording collected waste, as they reveal the specific conditions under which pollution occurs in each area.

The program “Adopt a beach”

WWF’s program “Adopt a Beach” has a panhellenic scope. Within its context, observation of coastal pollution takes place in line with established scientific methods, and simultaneously data is recorded. Observation and evaluation result in effective measures being put in place for the protection of marine life and of our health, as we also consume plastic in the form of microplastics found in our food.

The program’s aim is the development of timelines which would enable the recognition of trends in relation to the snapshots of simple clean-ups. This information leads to effective measures being put in place, resulting in healthy marine environments and the sustainable development of human activities.

The presence of our young friends is very important both for the volunteer group participating in the program and for the children themselves. The program operates within the context of “citizen science”. In other words, it is an action with which children, as well as adults, come into contact with scientific methodology. It also contributes to the development of environmental awareness in children from an early age, because environmental degradation mainly concerns them and their future.

Katheti, actively supports the natural environment’s improvement and the sustainable development of our area. Therefore, we continue working on our “adopted” beaches, with consistency and undiminishable interest.

Join Katheti’s work!