Coastal transformation starting in childhood: A critical analysis of community empowerment and the management of micro-pollutants in ayangue
image: A) Posición geográfica de Ecuador en Sudamérica; B) Ubicación de Ayangue y de la reserva marina adyacente en la costa sur de Ecuador; C) Ubicación de Ayangue y del área de muestreo de colillas de cigarrillo. La línea azul punteada indica el recorrido de muestreo a lo largo del cual se contaron las colillas de cigarrillo, y los puntos rojos indican las ubicaciones de los recolectores de colillas instalados a lo largo del malecón.
Credit: Teresa Vera S. M. / ESPOL
Pollution from anthropogenic waste in marine ecosystems has reached critical levels, with cigarette butts (CBs) being one of the most persistent and harmful pollutants. Globally, an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are discarded annually, making them the most common type of litter on beaches over the past three decades. This material, composed primarily of cellulose acetate (a non-biodegradable plastic), acts as a reservoir for more than 7,000 toxic compounds, including nicotine and heavy metals, which threaten the integrity of food webs through processes of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. In this context, the study conducted in the municipality of Ayangue, Ecuador, stands out as a milestone in the literature on co-created citizen science, positioning children as the protagonists of local environmental governance.
Little Heroes of the Ocean: Child Empowerment as a Catalyst for Environmental Change
The research, led by the Amiguitos del Océano Foundation in collaboration with national and international academic institutions, evaluated the effectiveness of the “Monitoring of Cigarette Butts Ayangue Limpio” (MCBAL) project. The methodological approach was grounded in a participatory practice that went beyond mere data collection, positioning children aged 7 to 12 as active agents in transforming their environment. Ayangue, a commune legally recognized for its autonomy in managing terrestrial and marine resources, provided the ideal setting for integrating local knowledge with scientific rigor. The methodology implemented was of a qualitative-quantitative nature, structured around three dimensions of impact: socio-environmental, scientific, and educational.
For systematic monitoring, standardized protocols were established that included monthly campaigns during low tide, covering a total sampling area of 1,500 m² divided into fixed transects to ensure temporal comparability. The results obtained are compelling: a 53.2% reduction was recorded in the number of cigarette butts collected directly from the sand during monitoring activities between 2023 and 2024. This decline was not the result of chance, but rather of a comprehensive strategy that combined dedicated infrastructure, awareness campaigns, and community-based incentives.
An innovative component of this project was the implementation of cigarette butt collectors made from reused PVC material, installed at strategic points along the Ayangue boardwalk. Over 18 months of operation, these devices collected 1,198 cigarette butts that would otherwise have ended up in the marine sediment or been washed out to sea by the waves. However, the greatest behavioral impact was observed with the creation of the “Exchange Point.” This initiative allowed visitors and residents to rent sports equipment (such as snorkels or balls) in exchange for turning in specific types of waste collected from the beach, resulting in the removal of 941 cigarette butts and 97.9 kg of additional trash in just eight events.
From Collection to Governance: Weaving Networks Between Science, Community, and Decision-Making
The study emphasizes that the success of citizen science in coastal environments depends on the legitimacy and continuity of governance structures. In Ayangue, the MCBAL project achieved organic integration with the Cabildo (community council), which not only supported the children’s proposals with logistics and materials but also began publicizing the Ecoclub’s achievements through official channels to amplify the impact. This transition from children as “volunteers” to children as “environmental ambassadors” is key: 85.7% of participants actively shared the knowledge they acquired with their families and social circles, even getting parents involved in the daily collection of cigarette butts in their workplaces.
From an educational perspective, the initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 11, 12, and 14, promoting ecologically engaged citizenship. Statistical analysis using chi-square tests revealed no significant differences in responses by gender, suggesting that the program was equally effective and empowering for both boys and girls, thereby laying an equitable foundation for future leadership.
Despite these advances, the authors identify areas for improvement, particularly regarding scientific impact. Although the data are of high quality and available in open repositories (such as Mendeley Data), dissemination in peer-reviewed academic journals has, to date, been the weakest component of the project. This reflects a common challenge in coastal citizen science projects, where community action and social outcomes often precede the production of technical literature. To mitigate this, new strategies for communication and data standardization have been proposed to facilitate their integration into broader management frameworks.
In conclusion, the Ayangue case demonstrates that co-created, child-centered citizen science is not only an educational tool but also a robust and scalable environmental management mechanism. By integrating scientific monitoring with children’s political participation, the initiative prevented 6,821 cigarette butts from reaching the ocean over a two-year period, simultaneously transforming the collective consciousness of a tourist community. The experience suggests that even small communities can lead sustainable participatory monitoring systems when children’s leadership, community engagement, and institutional support converge.