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The preservation of the coastal and marine ecosystems around Barbados is critical to our island's environmental and economic health. With this principle in mind the Barbados National Trust, the Coastal Zone Management Unit, the Ministry of Tourism, and the National Conservation Commission collaborated to form the Adopt -Your-Beach Project. The project, which was launched in September 1995, is based on the belief that our coastal and marine environments can be sustained if each Barbadian and visitor alike has a relationship with our fragile beaches and reefs, characterised by respect, understanding and appreciation of these fragile environs.

The Adopt-Your-Beach Project proposes to nurture these relationships by encouraging all interested individuals, communities, organisations and agencies to adopt Barbados ' beaches. Adopting a beach is simple. It involves taking part in a range of exciting, educational; and creative conservation activities. We encourage those who adopt beaches to participate in one or more of the following activities:

• Regular beach and underwater clean ups.
• International Coastal Clean-up Day.
• Certified First-Aid courses.
• Design and provision of creative and effective garbage receptacles, benches and tables.
• Revegetation initiatives.
• Development and execution of community awareness programmes for beach users.

Steering Committee

The current committee consists of the Coastal Zone Management Unit, the National Conservation Commission and the Ministry of Tourism.

The combination and collaboration of three Government agencies offers coordination support, and provides for a more flexible and efficient operation among the organisations.

Project Highlights

In 1998, approximately twenty-seven (27) organisations had adopted beaches. Barbados has 92 km of coastline consisting of low beaches and high cliffs. Of this, approximately 20 km constituted the adopted portion. Furthermore, Barbados has been commended for its participation in all International Coastal Clean-Up events since 1995 by the Center for Marine Conservation (now called the Ocean Conservancy) in the U.S.A. The CZMU has been charged with the responsibility of developing a database using the data on the quantity of debris collected for public education programmes. To this end, the Unit has produced a documentary on International Coastal Clean-up Day 2005. This has been distributed to the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), for broadcast regionally.