Dos Manos

The Dos Manos project aims to combat plastic pollution through a hands-on education programme for schools.

Students engage in citizen-science activities where they collect, categorise, and analyse plastic waste on the beach. This project raises awareness and motivates students to reduce plastic use, ultimately decreasing demand and preventing environmental pollution.

Explore the Sa Dragonera Blava project

The Sa Dragonera Blava project is dedicated to the regeneration of Sa Dragonera Island and its surrounding areas in the Municipality of Andratx. Its premise is a holistic and bottom-up approach that pursues environmental, cultural, and socio-economic progress by integrating terrestrial and marine ecosystems, all while empowering the community through active engagement and participatory governance.

ABOUT SA DOS MANOS

Empowering Youth Against Plastic Pollution

Inspired by the Two Hands project, founded by education pioneers Paul Sharp and Silke Stuckenbrock who travelled the coasts of Australia engaging local youth on the growing plastic pollution challenge, the Dos Manos project teaches primary and high school students citizen science methodologies to analyse the impact of plastic, explore the connection between our behaviour and the marine environment, and understand its effects on biodiversity loss and human health.

This hands-on experience includes a field trip to a nearby beach, where students collect waste and conduct a scientific study to categorise and analyse the sources of pollution. Based on the collected data, participants study their results and draw conclusions about the most commonly found plastic items in their local environment. The activity concludes with a participatory session where alternatives and solutions are proposed to promote responsible and circular consumption models.

Waste prevention is crucial for contributing to the transition toward a decarbonised economy and mitigating the impact of climate change. In addition to raising awareness about environmental pollution among the younger members of our society, the data and insights gathered from these activities also enhance Save the Med’s understanding of how plastic affects beaches across Mallorca, enabling our team to develop targeted awareness campaigns based on honest solutions and alternatives.

Participatory governance at play

Since 2018, Save the Med has been running community engagement projects focused on protecting the area's biodiversity and encouraging a culture of regeneration. These projects are designed to connect people with the sea, helping them learn more about their environment. They also inspire citizens to take responsibility for protecting nature and get involved in decision-making through participatory governance.

As a result of these efforts, community members have come together to form the Xarxa Dragonera Blava (Blue Dragonera Network). This group includes people from different sectors, all working with a shared goal: to protect the local marine ecosystems.

What is the Xarxa?

The Xarxa Dragonera Blava (XDB) is a social network for the Sa Dragonera community. It brings together local citizens, government representatives, experts, activists, and anyone who wants to help regenerate the region. Its purpose is to create participatory governance for the marine area around Sa Dragonera, ensuring that the community is actively involved in making decisions about its management.

How Does It Work?

The process starts by building strong community relationships and learning about the area's values and threats. Once this understanding is shared, the community sets goals collaboratively. These goals are tackled through participatory forums, where community input shapes how the marine area is managed. This includes working with different local sectors to implement best practices . Additionally, three working groups have been formed to focus on specific local issues in the municipality of Andratx: Education & Best Practices, Mooring & Anchoring, and Water Quality.

Successful outcomes from the Xarxa and its bottom-up approach include launching an environmental good-practice campaign for visitors and establishing a community-led protocol for mooring and anchoring among local boat owners to help reduce overcrowding in Sa Dragonera's waters. These achievements are a direct result of the participatory governance of the Xarxa’s working groups, allowing local community inputs to tackle issues and contribute solutions.

Join us

Save the Med envisions restoring biodiversity through active community and stakeholder engagement. By increasing knowledge about the sea, involving people in caring for the area, improving practices at sea, and setting up a stewardship program with participative management, our goal is to bring back the rich biodiversity of Sa Dragonera.

To learn more about the Xarxa Dragonera Blava and its upcoming activities, visit the project's website. Get involved and help us restore Sa Dragonera’s marine biodiversity!

Discover Xarxa Dragonera Blava