Child-led citizen science helps Ecuadorian community tackle beach pollution and shape environmental decisions
Pollution from human-generated waste in marine ecosystems has reached critical levels, with cigarette butts (CBs) among the most persistent and harmful pollutants. Globally, an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded annually, making them the most common type of litter on beaches over the past three decades.
This story reports on a child-led citizen science initiative in Ayangue, Ecuador, aimed at tackling beach pollution and influencing environmental decisions. Cigarette butts (CBs) are highlighted as a significant marine pollutant, with an estimated 4.5 trillion discarded annually, making them the most common beach litter. In Ayangue, a commune with autonomy over its resources, children aged 7 to 12 were positioned as leaders in environmental governance through the Monitoring of Cigarette Butts Ayangue Limpio (MCBAL) project.
This project employed a participatory approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to monitor CBs over 1,500 m² (16,100 square feet) of beach, using standardized protocols. A key component was the installation of cigarette butt collectors and an "Exchange Point" where visitors could trade waste for sports equipment, significantly reducing CBs and overall litter.
The project's success was tied to the integration of the MCBAL program with the local community council (Cabildo), which supported the children's proposals and publicized the results. Participating children acted as "environmental ambassadors," sharing their knowledge with families and peers. The initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 11, 12, and 14, promoting ecologically engaged citizenship.
While the project showed a 53.2% reduction in CBs and a 53.2% reduction in overall litter between 2023 and 2024, there are calls for improved dissemination of findings in academic journals to enhance the scientific impact.
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