Tides of Transformation: Thousands of Portuguese Scouts Leading the Charge Against Marine Litter
Every year, the dedicated Portuguese Scouts of Corpo Nacional de Escutas lead the Month of the Sea (Mês do Mar) campaign, a collaborative effort with the Oceano Azul Foundation (FOA) and the Lisbon Oceanarium. Their collective goal? To surge through the country with a wave of beach and riverside clean-ups while fostering awareness among Scouts and their communities about the critical issue of marine litter.
This year’s campaign was an incredible success. From November 5 to 27 and across the nation, 70 initiatives unfolded, engaging an inspiring 3,164 Scouts. Their collective effort resulted in the cleansing of an impressive 72.9 kilometres of coastal areas, ridding them of 11.9 tons of marine litter.
The 5th edition of the campaign witnessed a monumental effort—the largest National Action of the Month of the Sea. On November 18 at Agudela Beach, this initiative was led by the National Environment Department (DNA-CNE) in collaboration with the Regional Scout Group of Porto and the Municipality of Matosinhos. A significant turnout of 750 participants joined forces to remove 161.04 kilograms of marine litter and eradicate 1.5 tons of the invasive species "chorão-da-Praia" (Carpobrotus edulis). This species had been detrimental to the environment, hampering native vegetation growth, altering soil acidity, and occupying vast expanses of land.
Complementing these efforts were workshops conducted by 15 DNA-CNE partners, addressing various environmental and sustainability themes linked to the ocean and marine litter. This National Action received support from the "Scouts4Ocean - Supporting Litter Less Campaign and Earth Tribe in Portugal" project, aligned with the "LitterLess Campaign" by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
Since 2019, the CNE has involved over 11,000 volunteers across 330 diverse actions, removing more than 54 tons of marine litter. This resounding commitment showcases how Portuguese Scouts are vigilant guardians, directly contributing to the ocean’s protection and conservation. The next campaign is slated for November 2 to 30, 2024.