FIELD NOTES
This month, we explore how our teams are protecting mangroves, rivers and islands in the north of australia, the south of brazil and across the entire maldives
AUSTRALIA
PROTECTING THE MANGROVES AND COASTLINES OF a vast, uninhabited island
Set between the coastline of Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Hinchinbrook is a vast island and World Heritage Site in northeastern Australia. Stretching across 50 square kilometers, its dense mangrove forests are likely the most diverse in the country, with 31 different species identified so far. Since 2019, Parley Australia has been working with Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and intrepid volunteers to conduct cleanups on the uninhabited island.
The team recently conducted their fourth coastal cleanup at Ramsay Bay on Hinchinbrook with 27 dedicated volunteers. Over the course of seven days, they collected more than 3,000 kg (6,600 pounds) of washed-up marine debris, filling twenty 1-ton bulk bags. The group camped on the mainland, traveling by boat to the island then embarking on long hikes in each day – covering up to 16 km in brutal heat. Midway through the cleanup, the team ran out of bulk bags due to the sheer volume of debris and had to source additional bags from local farmers.
“On the final day,” explains Belinda Flanders of Parley Australia, “the weather was calm enough to enable a drop-off at the stunning northern end of the beach where we found a catchment of microplastics and bottle caps – plus large items like a buried plastic pallet, fridge doors, car tires and plastic ropes littering the picturesque coconut grove. The most common debris included PET plastic drink bottles and thousands of bottle caps, often discarded overboard by ship crews. Other significant items included car tires, fishing ropes, nets and fish-attracting devices from the industrial fishing industry.”
“Hinchinbrook Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and ecological significance,” adds Parley Australia director Christian Miller. “Throughout the cleanup, we were fortunate to witness the incredible wildlife that calls this region home. Volunteers spotted turtles, migrating humpback whales, stingrays and dolphins, adding to the magical experience of working there. This unique environment holds exceptional cultural value for the Giramay and Banjin peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the land and sea. Our efforts were guided by an understanding of this cultural heritage, and we are grateful for the opportunity to care for these lands and waters in a way that honors the connection to the land, the sea and its people – past, present and future.”
This ambitious coastal cleanup was made possible through the generous funding provided by the Queensland Government Department of Environment, Science and Innovation and Frank Green. Their support was crucial in enabling Parley Australia to undertake this important conservation effort and help protect one of Australia’s most significant natural and cultural landscapes.
Brazil
PADDLING AGAINST POLLUTION
In celebration of World Cleanup Day, our team in the south of Brazil organized a special Parley Ocean School in collaboration with Bombinhas Municipality, the local environmental department (FAMAB) and other collaborators. Participants had the opportunity to learn from Ocean Ambassadors, take to the water in Hawaiian canoes and participate in a uniquely interconnected river, ocean and beach cleanup. The event brought different parts of society together for the oceans and environment: individuals, government, the traditional fishing community, local business and schools.
The location chosen for the event, Praia de Zimbros, is a strategic one for the traditional fisherman community that lives and works there – a beautiful place where a river surrounded by mangrove vegetation meets the ocean. The local canoeing clubs Ka'Ora Va'a, Ama Ama Va'a and Akahai Hoa Canoa Havaiana got together for the first time and offered volunteers a basic canoeing clinic. Participants got the chance to learn about Hawaiian canoeing culture, get out on the water then paddle together to Praia do Cardoso, a small beach nearby located inside the Parque Municipal de Zimbros, a Brazilian protected area. The location was chosen to maximize impact – with participants splitting into groups to do cleanups not only on Zimbros but also in the Passa Vinte River and mangroves, and at Cardoso, where the canoeing clubs took the paddling volunteers. In total, 214 kg of waste was removed in just over an hour. All the waste collected was separated and recyclables were sent to a local cooperative. A huge ‘obrigada’ to our speakers and collaborators at this special event!
Letícia Frozza Teive, biologist at Fundação de Amparo ao Meio Ambiente de Bombinhas (FAMAB) who spoke about the threats facing Zimbros Bay.
Joana Dark, a teacher at Leopoldo José Guerreiro School, who presented with one of her students the success case of a student-led Eco-Barrier project and the results of their installation in the Passa Vinte River.
Tainá Santos, oceanography student and Parley Brazil collaborator, who spoke about the beauty of and threats facing our oceans.
Prefeitura de Bombinhas, Fundação de Amparo ao Meio Ambiente de Bombinhas (FAMAB), Escola do Mar Bombinhas – SC, Secretaria de Pesca e Aquicultura de Bombinhas, Instituto Sueco-Brasileiro de Economia Circular e Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ISBE ), E.E.B. Prefeito Leopoldo José Guerreiro, Ka'Ora Va'a, Ama Ama Va'a, Akahai Hoa Canoa Havaiana, Associação Das Mulheres do Mar da Comunidade Tradicional de Bombinhas (AMAR), UNINTER, JED Bombinhas, Zimbros Ecotour, Pique Livre and Lions International.
MALDIVES
a new campaign bringS educationAL EVENTS and cleanups to every atoll in the nation
To help engage a new generation of Ocean Guardians, Parley Maldives recently kicked off Reethi Raajje – a year-long campaign led by MATI (The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry) with monthly cleanups planned in each of the country’s atolls over the next year. Our team will also be supporting MATI in organising fun and out-of-the-box activities engaging different communities across the islands. Since Reethi means ‘beautiful’ and Raajje means ‘Maldives’ or ‘the nation’ in Dhivehi, the initiative embodies the idea of advocating for and protecting the Maldives’ ocean ecosystems.
At the launch in Malé, over 50 participants from 10 schools joined games curated by our team. Activities included “Every Second Breath” – focused on understanding how every second breath is generated by the oceans. Mechanisms and cycles like phytoplankton photosynthesis, the poop loop, ocean conveyor belts and whale falls were all explained to the children, highlighting the importance of creatures large and small in ocean carbon sequestration. Another activity centered on Heylhi – the first line of vegetation on every island. Acting as a protective barrier against the surf and high tides, Heylhi is an incredibly significant part of Maldivian culture. It’s typically formed from layers of shrubs such as Magoo, Boashi and Kuredhi, followed by taller trees such as Hirundhu, Dhiggaa and Ruh. For the Reethi Raajje events, youth are invited to explore, photograph and identify the plants in these ecosystems, and complete a checklist.
The new initiative comes as our team celebrates another big milestone – shipping out over 170 containers of recyclable plastic bales made up of waste plastic collected across the country. As head of Parley Maldives, Shaahina Ali, explains: “this brings our total export of plastics out of the Maldives to over 3,054 tons. This is a huge reward for our team’s tireless work to engage with people all over the country, find ways to work in one of the most logistically challenging island nations and gain the trust of communities wanting to do the right thing. We’re excited to continue the work.”
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