Braving temperatures over 30°C, volunteers on Xiao Liuqiu pick up trash to clean the beach and protect the island

▲Group photo of participants in the Xiao Liuqiu Ecotourism Development Alliance's June 24 beach cleanup activity (Photo provided by the Xiao Liuqiu Ecotourism Development Alliance)

ReporterYan Xintong/ Reported from Pingtung

A group of people braved temperatures over 30°C to pick up trash, all in an effort to protect this beautiful coral reef island rich in ecological resources — “Xiao Liuqiu.” This was part of the“Mobile Beach Cleanup to Protect Our Ocean Home” event initiated at 10 a.m. on the 24th by the Xiao Liuqiu Ecotourism Development Alliance. The cleanup took place at the Yufu Village Intertidal Zone Control Station and saw enthusiastic participation not only from alliance volunteers but also from snorkeling operators, homestay owners, ecology guides, students from Shu-Te University, and tourists.

Xiao Liuqiu boasts unique ecological, scenic, and cultural resources. However, in recent years, the annual influx of millions of tourists has led to a surge in marine pollution and waste on the island, severely impacting its ecological resources. Coupled with the worsening issue of Taiwan-drifting marine debris, efforts have been made to launch a beach cleanup initiative. This aims to engage local shops, homestays, guides, and visitors in actively promoting the conservation of Xiao Liuqiu’s marine resources, with hopes of transforming the island into a model for green tourism in the future.

Zeng Yuwen, Secretary-General of the Xiao Liuqiu Ecotourism Development Alliancestated that members of the cleanup effort were previously all volunteers, and this time marks the first occasion they reached out to invite other public sector entities to join. After each cleanup, evaluations are conducted to improve future efforts. Those interested in participating in the next beach cleanup event are welcome to contact the Xiao Liuqiu Ecotourism Development Office for more information.