Third Edition on January 25, 2025

What are we doing

About the Cameroon Beach Cleanup

The Cameroon Beach Cleanup is a pioneering environmental initiative led by the Association for Community Awareness (ASCOA). Established in 2022, this initiative reflects ASCOA’s enduring commitment to preserving Cameroon’s beaches and safeguarding the marine ecosystems dependent on these environments. The Cameroon Beach Cleanup has evolved into a national event, observed annually during the third week of January. This regular event underscores ASCOA’s dedication to addressing the escalating issue of marine debris and plastic pollution along the country’s coastlines.

WHY are we doing

Objectives of the Cleanup

Clean the Beaches

By coordinating large-scale volunteer efforts to remove waste and debris, ASCOA ensures that Cameroon’s beaches remain clean, safe, and appealing for residents and visitors.

Protect Marine Life

Cameroon’s coastline has a rich biodiversity including fish, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, etc. The beach cleanup is crucial for protecting endangered marine species and their habitats.

Raise Awareness

The event serves as a platform to educate the public, both local communities and tourists, on the importance of ocean conservation and promote sustainable practices that minimize pollution at its source.

Sustainability

This initiative is designed to have a lasting impact. Its efforts are focused on ensuring that the benefits of each cleanup are felt for years to come, making the beaches cleaner and more sustainable for future generations.

ASCOA: A Leading Force Against Plastic Pollution

ASCOA is recognized as one of the leading environmental organizations in Cameroon, dedicated to addressing the global crisis of plastic pollution and marine debris. Through its leadership, ASCOA has developed best practices for organizing and managing beach cleanups, ensuring that each event is impactful and that lessons learned are applied in future initiatives.

ASCOA proudly represents Ocean Conservancy in Cameroon, strengthening its role as a critical player in the global movement to protect the world’s oceans. Data collected during ASCOA’s cleanups are shared with Ocean Conservancy, contributing to international efforts to combat marine pollution. This collaboration allows ASCOA to leverage international expertise while addressing the unique environmental challenges faced by Cameroon’s coastal regions.

The Importance of Cameroon’s Coastline

Cameroon is a Central African country with a diverse landscape that includes luxurious rainforests, towering mountains, and beautiful beaches. The country’s coastline stretches over 412 kilometers and is home to various marine ecosystems, including mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds. Cameroon’s beaches are a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world.

However, like many coastal regions, Cameroon’s beaches are threatened by pollution and marine debris. Beach clean-up activities play an essential role in protecting Cameroon’s coastal environment. By removing trash and debris from beaches, beach clean-ups help improve the marine ecosystem’s health and create a more enjoyable experience for visitors.

Plastic pollution is particularly problematic in Cameroon due to poor waste management practices and a lack of recycling and waste disposal infrastructure. This has led to significant damage to the marine ecosystems along the coastline, including the depletion of fish populations and the destruction of coral reefs.

National Reach and Impact

Since its inception, the Cameroon Beach Cleanup has grown significantly, with ASCOA successfully organizing cleanups in all major coastal regions, including Limbe, Douala, and Kribi. These beach cleanups have become integral components of a broader strategy to monitor and maintain Cameroon’s coastlines continuously. ASCOA’s leadership in this area has mobilized thousands of passionate volunteers, dedicated to preserving the ocean and protecting their local environments. The cleanups have resulted in the removal of substantial quantities of plastic waste and marine debris, preventing harm to wildlife and ecosystems.

Impact in Numbers:

Over 1200 tons of waste removed since 2022.
Mobilized thousands of volunteers across major coastal regions.

Collaboration with Ocean Conservancy

ASCOA proudly represents Ocean Conservancy in Cameroon, strengthening its role as a critical player in the global movement to protect the world’s oceans. The data collected during ASCOA’s cleanups are shared with Ocean Conservancy, contributing to international efforts to understand and combat the sources of marine pollution. Ocean Conservancy, a global leader in the fight against ocean pollution, provides ASCOA with valuable resources and tools to expand its impact in Cameroon. This collaboration allows ASCOA to leverage international expertise while addressing the unique environmental challenges faced by Cameroon’s coastal regions.

To know more about ocean conservancy. https://oceanconservancy.org/

Looking to the Future

The Cameroon Beach Cleanup is an annual and long-term commitment to sustainable environmental stewardship. ASCOA’s efforts to keep the country’s beaches clean will continue to grow in scope and impact in the coming years. The initiative serves as a beacon of hope for protecting marine life and preserving natural landscapes in Cameroon and beyond. With the support of local communities, government bodies, National Partners, international partners, and volunteers, ASCOA is poised to make an even more significant impact in the fight against ocean pollution. By continuing to engage communities and foster collaboration, ASCOA’s Cameroon Beach Cleanup will remain a pivotal force in ensuring that the country’s beaches are free from trash, plastic waste is minimized, and marine life can thrive.

2025 Edition of Cameroon Beach Cleanup Day

Now in its 3rd year, ASCOA’s Cameroon Beach Cleanup Day has helped remove more than 1200 tons of waste from Cameroon’s coastline.

The 2025 edition of Cameroon Beach Cleanup Day is remarkable, marking the third year of the Association for Community Awareness (ASCOA) celebrating this national event. Since its establishment in 2022 by ASCOA, Cameroon Beach Cleanup Day has evolved into one of the most significant environmental events in the country, dedicated to maintaining clean beaches and safeguarding marine life from the perils of plastic pollution and debris.

For the 2025 edition, ASCOA has set an ambitious goal of uniting 2,500 volunteers across Cameroon. These volunteers will collaborate to clean up the coastlines of Limbe, Douala, Kribi, and other coastal cities, making a tangible impact in the battle against ocean pollution.

However, ASCOA requires assistance to achieve this goal. The scale of the 2025 cleanup necessitates the combined efforts of organizations, companies, and individuals who share our vision of preserving the ocean and protecting the environment for future generations. We encourage interested partners from all sectors to collaborate with us in this crucial endeavor. Your contribution can make a meaningful difference through sponsorship, volunteer mobilization, or sharing expertise. You can reach out to us at cbc2025@ascoa-cm.org

Join us in making the 2025 Cameroon Beach Cleanup Day the most significant and impactful edition yet! Together, we can preserve marine ecosystems, establish cleaner beaches, and inspire a national movement toward sustainability.

Help Protect Our Coastline – Donate Today!

Join Us in Caring for Our Beaches and Marine Life!

Every year, countless tons of plastic and waste wash up on our shores, threatening the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and the wildlife that depend on them. We know you share our love for the ocean, and we can make a meaningful difference together. By supporting the Cameroon Beach Cleanup Day 2025, organized by the Association for Community Awareness (ASCOA), you can help us combat marine pollution along the Cameroon coastline.

Your generous contributions will enable us to:

Provide 2,500 volunteers with essential cleanup supplies (gloves, bags, tools)
Remove 100 tons of trash during Cameroon Beach Cleanup day
Support vital community education and outreach programs
Invest in long-term solutions for a cleaner, healthier coastline

We invite you to join our mission to create a brighter future for our oceans and future generations. No matter the size, every donation brings us closer to a sustainable and thriving environment.

You can contact at email id cbc2025@ascoa-cm.org to donate and stand with us in this vital cause.