Away from the cacophony of urban life, most of us look for respite in sites with natural beauty, lush greenery, and peaceful surroundings. As the tourist season approaches, it is no surprise that while we search for unpolluted spots to explore, unconsciously our consumption of single-use plastic, in particular plastic water bottles, will also significantly increase. With 80% of all tourism taking place in coastal areas, would you call it a relaxing vacation if you found discarded plastic bottles while taking a stroll on the beach?
In the Island of Principe Biosphere Reserve, Sao Tome and Principe in Africa, schoolchildren have been equipped with stainless steel bottles for drinking water, so the daily production and consumption of single-use plastic bottles can be completely avoided. Acting as pockets of hope in the face of the climate crisis, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) biosphere reserves are hidden oases, protecting biodiversity, reducing pollution, and enhancing climate resilience. They are living jewels of land, coastal and marine ecosystems, scattered across the globe, where nature and humans come together creating a symphony of life.
