THE NUMBERS ARE  IN!!!

Nearly six tons of waste were removed last Saturday from the mouth of the Juan Díaz River and the Panama Bay wetland during a cleanup organized by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) and the environmental organization Adopta Bosque .

More than 1,500 volunteers participated in the activity, including security forces, scout groups, university and high school students, public and decentralized institutions, as well as workers from the Juan Díaz pier and representatives of the European Union, who supported the initiative.

“This year, we saw that young people have become much more involved in this cleanup; that’s the legacy we want to leave them: to take care of the oceans, as they are sources of life and food,” said Yahel Hubbard de Ruiz, administrator of the Juan Díaz port.

During the day, volunteers collected plastics, tires, disposable diapers, cans, foam, and glass, waste that pollutes this ecosystem daily.

For Guido Berguido, executive director of Adopta Bosque, the event represented “a successful and inspiring day that united civil society, the diplomatic community, and security forces for a cleaner environment.”

According to official figures, the oceans, which cover more than 70% of the planet’s surface and produce more than 50% of the oxygen we breathe, face a serious threat: every year, more than 11 million tons of plastic enter their waters, endangering marine life and the food security of millions of people.