Field Notes – February
in this month’s edition, we go plogging with our team in the Dominican Republic, venture into SEYCHELLES’ MANGROVE FORESTS AND party at Carnival on Cozumel
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 🇩🇴
Our Parley DR team recently organized a unique “Saving the Mangroves” plogging event at the Nigua Wetlands Park. More than 300 volunteers joined the run/cleanup with amazing enthusiasm and dedication, collecting nearly one ton of waste in just an hour from this challenging environment.
Parley’s team oversaw all aspects of the event, including planning, logistics, execution, safety supervision, team coordination and the selection of award recipients. Participants were recognized with medals, digital certificates and four statuettes representing different mangrove species. These awards were produced by Eco Trofeos using fully recycled materials, reinforcing the event’s sustainability principles.
Beyond the waste removed, the event highlighted one of the region’s most urgent environmental challenges: the severe impact on mangrove ecosystems caused by plastic waste carried downstream from the Haina, Ozama and Nigua rivers. As Parley DR’s Eric Jimenez explains, “Collecting a ton of waste in just one hour is an achievement that alarms us. The sea is returning what never belonged there; true cleanup begins upstream.”
SEYCHELLES 🇸🇨
Parley Seychelles celebrated two special events in February – starting on World Wetlands Day with a major cleanup at the Parliamentary Mangrove Sanctuary, a site The National Assembly adopted in 2022. The mangrove ecosystem there – an important wildlife hotspot – is increasingly threatened by man-made debris. Together with speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles, Azarel Ernesta, and members of the country’s Environmental Policy Implementation Committee, the crew was joined by children and teachers from the Deaf Centre Seychelles led by Anita Gardner. Working together, the volunteers collected a staggering 126.7 kg of waste, underscoring the ongoing pressure on this fragile habitat. The effort highlighted Parley’s continued commitment to safeguarding Seychelles’ vital wetlands.
On 14 February, Parley Seychelles continued their annual “Love for the Oceans” initiative with a cleanup on Île Longue. Originally launched in 2020 in honor of Dr. Sylvia Earle’s visit to the islands, the Valentine’s Day series celebrates ocean conservation through direct action. This year’s event saw 143.7 kg of waste intercepted with support from Nouvobanq and participation from Round Table Seychelles, Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority and the Landscape and Waste Management Agency.
As Jessica Lawen of Parley Seychelles notes, “From the sea, Île Longue looks pristine. But inland, the reality is different. Intercepting 143.78 kg of waste on a sparsely inhabited island is unacceptable. We must do better.”
MEXICo 🇲🇽
The annual Carnival in Cozumel is one of the island’s most important cultural traditions, with a history stretching back more than a century. For two weeks each year, the main town transforms into an outdoor celebration of music, dance and elaborate costumes, with participants competing to be crowned Carnival king and queen.
This year, Parley Mexico used this iconic celebration as a platform to spark change. Recognizing the huge amount of waste generated from single-use plastics like disposable cups and straws, the team launched a campaign encouraging attendees to bring and use reusable water bottles. Along the island’s main coastal avenue, where vendors line the streets selling drinks in plastic cups, waste often ends up scattered across the road directly next to the sea.
Partnering with carnival king Eduardo Alcalá as an ambassador, Parley amplified its message across the community, drawing in local organizations, businesses and eventually government representatives. A social media contest encouraged people to share photos with their reusable bottles for a chance to win hotel day passes, helping spread awareness even further. As if that wasn’t enough, Parley’s team even joined the parade itself – dressed in ocean themed outfits and carrying nets to collect trash as they walked. While the initiative was a first step, it planted a seed the team hopes to grow next year.
”We were happy to see that the local government was on board with the strategy,” says Alejandra Tellez of Parley Mexico, “We’re keen to prepare for Carnival in 2027, not only with a campaign, but also enforcing the local regulation that bans the use of single-use plastics.”
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