In Antigua and Barbuda, ahead of International Coastal Cleanup Day 2026, local environmental organization IHO Nature Rangers has launched a wide-reaching call to action, mobilizing young people and community organizations from across the nation to join a collective effort to clear coastal and marine waste and boost youth-led conservation of the country’s fragile coastal and marine ecosystems.
Organized under the leadership of IHO Nature Rangers and its specialized Volunteer Litter Prevention Wardens division, the 2026 cleanup initiative opens participation to all youth groups and community partners across the country. Organizers have specifically put a call out to young residents from Parham, Seatons, Glanvilles and their surrounding neighborhoods to join, emphasizing that healthy coastlines are irreplaceable pillars of Antigua and Barbuda’s natural environment, local communities, and fast-growing blue economy.
The impetus for this targeted cleanup effort came from a recent site assessment conducted by the project team in coastal zones falling within the North East Marine Management Area (NEMMA). During the visit, team members documented significant volumes of debris originating from both land-based and ocean-based sources accumulating along the region’s shorelines. This on-the-ground observation underscored the urgent need for sustained intervention: cutting waste at its source, removing accumulated trash from vulnerable coastal habitats, and fostering a widespread culture of accountability for marine ecosystem health across local communities.
Britney McDonald, Project Manager for IHO Nature Rangers, shared her first-hand perspective from the NEMMA assessment: “During our recent visit, we saw directly the scale of debris that is reaching our coastal zones from both land and sea. These areas are non-negotiably important to our communities and our national blue economy. Our coastlines underpin fisheries, tourism, recreation, native biodiversity, and the livelihoods of thousands of people, so protecting them demands collective action from every one of us. This cleanup event gives our young people, volunteers and communities a chance to lead by example, and show that environmental stewardship is accessible to everyone.
Marked globally on September 19, 2026, International Coastal Cleanup Day brings together communities across every inhabited continent to remove litter from coastlines and inland waterways. For IHO Nature Rangers, this event is far more than a one-time trash pickup: it is a core component of the organization’s long-term work to build public environmental awareness, cultivate youth leadership capacity, and drive hands-on conservation action across all NEMMA communities. The organization has previously hosted successful cleanup initiatives in Parham, Seatons, and Glanvilles as part of this ongoing program.
The Volunteer Litter Prevention Wardens will take on a dual role during the event: beyond supporting on-the-ground cleanup activities, the team will also lead outreach to local communities to promote responsible waste management habits and long-term litter prevention.
The 2026 cleanup event will take place on Saturday, September 19, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Spencer’s Bay, and all members of the public are invited to register to participate via the online portal at https://qrco.de/bgzlSv.
Organizers note that every piece of trash removed eliminates one more hazard for marine wildlife and ecosystems, and every volunteer helps strengthen a culture of collective environmental stewardship that will protect Antigua and Barbuda’s coastlines for generations. The goal of the event is to leave the nation’s coastal spaces cleaner, healthier, and more resilient to environmental pressures.
This cleanup initiative forms a core activity of the broader “Strengthening Conservation Actions in the North East Management Area, Antigua and Barbuda” project, which is headed by IHO Nature Rangers. The project receives funding from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and the World Bank, with implementation support from the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute, plus local partners Integrated Health Outreach and the EcoShores Sustainable Futures Network.
For members of the media seeking additional information or to interview project team members, inquiries can be directed to Project Manager Britney McDonald at (268) 785-5169.