Implementing a Source to Sea based approach to tackle marine litter in five priority river systems in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
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Duration of project:
2 Years
Objectives of project:
A. Overall objective: To reduce the impacts of litter on the freshwater, coastal and marine environment and ecosystem health by implementing river basin wide interventions to recover land-based and riverine based litter, thereby reducing marine litter loads, and reducing litter generation at source.
B. Immediate objectives: to implement a pilot project aimed at reducing marine litter by intercepting land-derived litter in priority river systems which serve as conduits or pathways for marine litter to enter the marine environment. The project aims to recruit personnel to conduct litter recovery and riverine and community cleanups further upstream, to reduce litter loading on marine environment. As part of the pilot project, opportunities will be investigated and pursued to address mismanaged waste in targeted communities
Marine litter—and its effects on marine life, beaches, and fisheries —has become a pressing issue for South Africa. The proponents underscore that the country has grown increasingly concerned about beach litter originating from river systems. The project will demonstrate how a 'Source to Sea' approach in five river systems in KwaZulu-Natal, can reduce litter generation and recover litter with river basin-wide interventions. Under the project, targeted rivers will be mapped, collection points for the community and private sector identified, and litter recovery and recycling initiatives launched. The interventions will be studied to evaluate how they can be applied to other South African coastal areas.
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