More than 1,600 kilograms of garbage have been collected on the Galapagos Islands, part of Ecuador, the paradise that inspired the theory of evolution. "Galapagos has succeeded in removing a total of 1,627 kilos of waste from the marine ecosystems that pollute this sensitive environment," said the Galapagos National Park "Parque Nacional Galápagos" (PNG) in a statement. 291 volunteers at 21 locations on the islands of San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Isabela and Baltra took part in the action. The participants covered a total of 51 kilometers of coast, where they collected, classified and registered the rubbish on the archipelago declared a World Heritage Site.

Waste dumped in the ocean can end up in the Galapagos Islands, transformed into microplastics, one of the greatest threats to the iguanas, turtles, birds and fish that inhabit the archipelago. The "GNP" declared that the day took place on the occasion of the International Beach Cleanup Day, which is celebrated every year on the third Saturday in September.

The Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978 because they have a rich biodiversity on land and in the sea and are home to many species that are unique in the world. This archipelago, named after the giant tortoises that live there, consists of thirteen large and six smaller islands as well as forty-two islets and is considered a natural laboratory in which the English scientist Charles Darwin was able to develop his theory of evolution and the natural selection of species. (Source: www.latina-press.com)