More than 8,000 Pounds of Waste were Removed from a Mangrove in Veracruz.

Approximately 8,818 pounds of solid waste were removed from a mangrove area located in the communities of Esperanza 1 and 2, in the township of Veracruz, district of Arraiján, during a day of cleaning and environmental conservation.  The activity was organized by Manglares Seguros, in coordination with the Directorate of Environmental Culture and the Regional Directorate of Panama West of the Ministry of Environment (MiAMBIENTE), with the participation of community residents, volunteers and various institutions.  During the day, plastics, foam, clothing, towels, shoes, tires, appliances and other waste that had been thrown or dragged into the mangrove and its surroundings were collected. 

Workers from the Westin Playa Bonita Hotel, staff from the Arraiján Mayor’s Office, volunteers from the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC), and members of the Scouts from Group 29 Panama South participated in the cleanup.  Iván López, president of the Community Base Organization (OBC) in formation, highlighted the importance of continuing to join efforts to protect the mangrove, due to its contribution to the conservation of the coasts and marine resources.  For her part, Yolanda Jiménez, a social worker from the Environmental Culture Section of MiAMBIENTE in West Panama, highlighted the community’s participation and announced that new activities will be developed in the area to keep these ecosystems free of pollution.