This video shows volunteers picking rubbish, mostly plastic waste, at the Lim Chun Kang mangrove in Singapore, as part of the coastal clean-up efforts organised by the International Coastal Clean-up Singapore (ICCS), on 4th February 2017. The total amount collected on this occasion was 888kg, by a group of 67 volunteers (Abdullah, 2017).
Some of us may have participated in coastal clean-up activities (especially during primary and secondary school days). These activities are more commonly conducted for beaches, however, mangroves are also another important location that requires cleaning but they usually get very little attention. Mangroves are important habitats that are home to many native flora and fauna species. They also help reduce damage to the inland habitats by protecting them from violent storms, and the roots of mangrove trees help prevent soil sediment from getting washed away. Having rubbish in mangrove forests not only creates an impact on the natural ecosystem, but it also has effects on us, humans. As mentioned in previous posts, plastic breaks down further into microplastics and they seep through the soil, into the groundwater, and get released back into the water bodies. Fishes and other aquatic organisms living within these waters bioaccumulate these plastics within their bodies hence entering our bodies when we eat them.
Mangrove clean-up activities are organised in Singapore by parties like the National Parks Board (NParks)Â ICCS, and the Public Hygiene Council. There are activities conducted all year round, however, you may also organise your own cleanup by registering with the Public Hygiene Council at least three weeks in advance, and they will allocate you with the sites, although these sites are mainly beaches (ICCS, n. d.). You may also look out for monthly cleanup sessions at the ICCS website for their fixed dated events.
If each individual human being starts playing a small part, big impacts can be achieved! Consider volunteering to cleanup mangroves, for our future’s sake 🙂
References:
Abdullah, Z. (2017, February 4). 888kg of rubbish cleared during mangrove clean-up on 8th day of Chinese New Year. The Straits Times. Retrieved November 11, 2020, from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/888kg-of-rubbish-cleared-during-mangrove-clean-up-on-8th-day-of-chinese-new-year
International Coastal Cleanup, Singapore. (n.d.). International Coastal Cleanup, Singapore. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from http://coastalcleanup.nus.edu.sg/yrcc.html
Lee, B. (2015, February 25). Celebrate World Water Day with a coastal cleanup at Pandan Mangrove, Sat 21 Mar 2015: 4.00pm! Retrieved November 12, 2020, from https://coastalcleanup.wordpress.com/tag/pandan-mangrove/
National Parks Board. (2019, March 29). Habitat Enhancement. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/partner-us/volunteer/habitat-enhancement
Public Hygiene Council. (2018). Public Hygiene Council. Retrieved November 12, 2020, from https://www.publichygienecouncil.sg/beachcleanup