Plastic bottles, bags and single-use packaging threaten Raja Ampat, clogging drainage systems and worsening flooding, which leads to serious health and economic consequences. Divers often see plastic at famous dive sites, tarnishing the region's reputation as a prime ecotourism destination.
PEP's comprehensive approach begins with education and training — empowering communities with the knowledge and skills they need to understand the plastic crisis and take meaningful action.
Education
PEP conducts awareness raising activities on how plastic waste threatens communities' health, safety (increased flooding from clogged drainage systems), surrounding ecosystems, and livelihoods, particularly tourism, as increasing quantities of marine plastic have begun to drive away would-be visitors.
Through workshops, community meetings, and school programs, we help people understand the direct connection between plastic waste and the health of their families, their reefs, and their economic futures.
Key Focus Areas
- Health impacts of plastic pollution on communities
- Flooding risks from clogged drainage systems
- Ecosystem degradation and threats to marine life
- Economic consequences for tourism-dependent livelihoods
- Connection between waste management and community well-being
Training
PEP develops engaged community cohorts by providing training on rapid responses to patches of marine plastic, waste collection and sorting systems, local upcycling options, and more.
Active participants are eligible for scholarships to support their education, particularly for ecotourism-based livelihoods. This creates a powerful incentive for community members to become environmental stewards.
Training Programs Include
- Rapid response protocols for marine plastic patches
- Waste collection, sorting, and management systems
- Local upcycling techniques and creative reuse
- Eco-brick production and construction methods
- Scholarship pathways for ecotourism careers
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