Last Updated on February 17, 2025, 7:32 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Committee, cleaned up the Keys to Cayon Beach in Nevis as part of the UNESCO Sensitization on the Elimination of Single Use Plastics. The MAB Committee is responsible for taking care of the St Mary’s Biosphere Reserve (SMBR).
The committee collaborated with the Ministry of Environment, the Turtle Monitoring Network, and Ross University. This clean up activity was held to eliminate the use of plastics in face of the plastic ban legislation.
This clean up removed almost 4,114 pounds of plastic waste, including plastic bottles from the beaches, fishing nets and tires that could impact the beaches and reserve negatively.
This clean up activity was held to raise awareness regarding the single-use plastics and how it affects the environment, leading to health problems in humans and animals.
UNESCO Sensitization on the Elimination of Single Use Plastics
The main aim of this project is to reduce and eliminate plastic pollution, while protecting the reserve as it is an important site for biological diversity, such as cloud forests, mangroves, and coral reefs.
Moreover, this project uses real world examples of the hazard that plastic poses to the endangered leatherback, hawksbill, green sea turtles, and other wildlife in the St Mary’s Biosphere Reserve.
The ban on single-use plastics is already in effect, while the ban of plastic t-shirt bags will start from March 31st, 2025. These bans will be followed by the ban on importing Styrofoam food containers and plastic straws by April 30th, 2025, and on their sale and distribution by July 31, 2025.
Moreover, a ban on the import of single-use plastic cups, plates, and utensils will be in effect by August 31, 2025. After the ban, the items will stop selling or distributing by November 30, 2025.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
