DESPLASTIFICATE TODOS SANTOS Y PESCADERO
Educating & preserving communities from the risk of single-use plastics in baja california sur
ATCF CONTRIBUTION: $20,000
GRANT AWARDED: 2018
LOCATION: Baja California Sur, Mexico
IMPACT: Educate and preserve the neighboring communities of Todos Santos and El Pescadero from harmful single-use plastics.
This project will promote and facilitate the reduction of single-use plastics, thereby enhancing the health and well-being of our natural ecosystems and local communities that draw tourists from around the globe. Desplastificate Todos Santos y Pescadero is a grassroots alliance of community stakeholders representing nonprofits, schools, businesses, local governmental institutions and concerned citizens. As part of a larger statewide campaign, our goal is to promote and facilitate the reduction of single-use plastics in the communities of Todos Santos and Pescadero and set an example for other communities in the state. During the first year of the campaign we will concentrate on encouraging our communities to join us in eliminating plastics straws, plastic bags, plastic water bottles, and Styrofoam food containers. In the second year of the campaign we will include recycling initiatives and waste-management strategies in our efforts. The four main targets of the campaign include: a) Tourism-related businesses b) Schools c) Broader community d)Policy-makers
The ATCF and its members have awarded Sistemas Naturales y Desarrollo A.C. $20,000 to educate and preserve the neighboring communities of Todos Santos and El Pescadero in Baja California Sur, Mexico from harmful single-use plastics.
the issue
With 1,386 miles of coastline on the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur (BCS) has more coastline than any other state in Mexico. The unique and rich marine ecosystems found here attract an increasing number of visitors from around the world, heightening our community’s impact along the coast and increasing our need for active environmental stewardship. Todos Santos and Pescadero, with a combined population of approximately 10,000, occupy about 35 miles of BCS’s southern Pacific coast. Of the world’s seven sea-turtle species, five - with status ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered - nest on the beaches of BCS; three of these species nest on the beaches of Todos Santos and Pescadero. Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for food and can die from ingesting the plastic. Plastic straws can also get stuck in their nostrils and air passageways. BCS is home to 39% of the world’s total number of marine mammal species. Sea lions and other marine mammals are getting entangled in plastic bags and packing bands and are dying from infection or strangulation. BCS is where one-third of the world’s whale and dolphin species spend their time, and dead whales and dolphins have begun washing ashore around the world with stomachs full of plastic. Over 430 bird species, many of which are coastal birds, have been spotted in BCS. National Geographic states that 90% of all seabirds are ingesting tiny bits of plastic that they lethally mistake for food. Our local fishermen supply much of the fish served by the hotels and restaurants in the area, and the tiny plastic particles being consumed by area fish are coming right back to our dinner plates.
THE GOAL
For Tourism-Related Businesses:
At least 70% of tourism-related business will have eliminated plastic straws, bags, water bottles and Styrofoam food containers. At least 20% of hotels and restaurants will have adopted composting and recycling systems.
For Schools:
100% of students will have been informed about the campaign and understand the consequences of single-use plastics. At least 70% of schools will no longer use /offer plastic straws, bags, water bottles and Styrofoam food containers.
For Community Awareness:
Awareness of the negative impacts of plastic and people reporting that they actively avoid their use will have doubled as measured in random community surveys
PROJECT UPDATES
MORE ABOUT Sistemas Naturales y Desarrollo A.C.
The mission of Deplastifícate Todos Santos y Pescadero is to create awareness of the harm we are inflicting on the health and well-being of our community, wildlife and natural environment through the excessive use of plastics, and to translate this awareness into individual, organizational and institutional action. To this end we have formed an alliance of nonprofits, businesses, schools and concerned citizens to promote and facilitate the reduction of single-use plastics - principally straws, bags, bottles and Styrofoam food containers - in the neighboring communities of Todos Santos and El Pescadero in Baja California Sur, Mexico. This is in coordination with the statewide effort known as #Deplastifícate (Deplastification).
“The Deplastifícate Todos Santos y Pescadero Community Alliance is thrilled to be the recipient of this ATCF grant! This support will significantly strengthen the ability of our grassroots movement to reduce the amount of single-use plastics consumed locally, and will go a long way towards creating meaningful, lasting improvement in the health and wellness of our environment and community. Thank you!" - McKenzie Campbell, Project Coordinator
