On Friday and Saturday, May 17th and 18th, 2019, in the Telašćica Nature Park, a volunteer action “Marine Eco Patrol” was organized by the Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development Sunce. The action was attended by 36 students from the Craft Technical School in Split, Ivan Lucić High School from Trogir and the Center for Community Services Split, along with mentors from Association Sunce and the League for Addiction Prevention and teachers.

During this action (fourth – and last in the project “VOLUNTEER FOR NATURE, VOLUNTEER FOR YOURSELF!”), volunteers were divided into three groups. The first was in charge of waste collection on the route Tripuljak – Mir, the second for cleaning the bay Turčin, and the third for waste collection in the bay Strižna.

Despite the strong south wind and occasional rain, the cleaning action in Nature Park Telašćica lasted for two days. Volunteers sorted marine litter collected at multiple locations. The waste was then weighed separately, so that a clear picture of the type and amount of waste collected could be obtained.

Thus, in the action “Marine Eco Patrol”, a total of 149 kilograms of various waste was collected, and subsequent sorting and weighing determined that as much as 130 kilograms are plastic! Also, about 14 kg of glass was collected, as well as slightly less rubber, metal and textile waste.

As part of the project “VOLUNTEER FOR NATURE, VOLUNTEER FOR YOURSELF!”, numerous activities were realized last year and this year: info workshops, educational workshops and volunteer actions (last year they were held at Nature Park Biokovo and National Park Krka). The volunteers involved in this project fulfilled its basic goals: they were empowered as young capacities who understand what it means to protect nature and volunteer for nature. This action, like the previous ones, helped the participants of the program to raise awareness of the importance of participation in the local community, with an emphasis on preserving nature and the environment.

The holder of the project “VOLUNTEER FOR NATURE, VOLUNTEER FOR YOURSELF!” is Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development Sunce, and partners are the League for Addiction Prevention, Craft Technical School Split, Ivan Lucić High School – Trogir, Center for Community Services Split, Public Institution “Biokovo Nature Park”, Public Institution “Krka National Park”, Public Institution “Vrana Lake Nature Park” and Public Institution “Telašćica Nature Park”. The project is funded under the Operational Program “Effective Human Resources” 2014-2020 European Social Fund and co-financed by the Office for cooperation with NGO’s of the Republic of Croatia.