Hikers organized volunteering to clean the Volcan Baru
Volcan Baru is dirty. A large number of waste is reported by its trails, harming the animals and vegetation of the area.
To acend the volcano Baru is a natural spectacle. The tour allows visitors to observe its rugged nature, fertile and benefactor of an important biological diversity.
Perform clean-up day at the Volcan Baru
Its slopes are translated in landscapes, whose geographical contexts become intertwined with the rugged scenery and icy top. Not least is that it is a tourist and sporting point of attraction , between local and foreign nationals interested in knowing the summit.
But it is dirty. So says the responsible for activities of the Club hikers of the Isthmus, Gilberto Ceballos, who reports a large number of plastic bottles, aluminum cans, papers, and organic waste extended by this thicket in Chiriqui, known as the highest elevation of Panama.
This adversity, that according to Ceballos has increased in the last three years, begins to leave an indelible mark on the environment, since they had already formed small landfills within the area, continuing Ceballos.
The Baru volcano is located in the vicinity of the Volcan Baru National Park, which is a protected area consisting of some 14 thousand 322 hectares and a prominent grove which is home to more than 250 species of birds, according to census of the Ministry of the Environment.
For the group of hikers specialized in outdoor activities, the multiplication of waste in the area is alarming.
"There is debris from the foothills to the top of the Baru volcano. It is necessary that people become more aware with nature". Gilberto Ceballos
"We are a group with ecological awareness and aim to protect the local environment," says Ceballos, who said that the trash comes from both visitors and residents of the area.
The dilemma, however, motivated the creation of a volunteer cleaning, with a longing to contribute to the sanitation of the place and, in turn, create awareness among the Panamanian community.
Gilberto Ceballos account that the debris found in the vicinity of the volcano Baru are not new.
"In recent promotions to the volcano, we have seen increased waste that some visitors leave," says Ceballos, responsible for the activities that the Club performs.
After 13 years of organizing family events and outdoor sports, the nonprofit recreational group seeks to create environmental awareness in the community and also to make a call to attention about the situation in the national cusp .
"We have seen groups that are not aware of the importance to avoid leaving traces in the nature," said the specialist.
Plastic containers, cans, packaging instant soups and drinks cartons are part of the present landscape of the Baru.
In fact, in publications carried out since 2007 by this newspaper, trash has been reported in their different paths.
"For the mountaineers, the Baru volcano is a flagship site", emphasizes Ceballos, who worried about the situation decided to venture to create an awareness campaign and waste collection on the western route, also known as the Volcan Route.
"This is a weekend, where accompanied by a group of volunteers, we will try to clean up some of the area," explains the hiker.
The days of the voluntary Club hikers of the Isthmus are performed from three years ago, as part of its interest to inculcate greater ecological care in the forests and trails to Panameños.
Collaboration
In agreement with Ceballos, to ascend to the Baru volcano there are several paths of access. However, the paths which rises from Boquete, and west, which is accessed from Volcan, are the most common.
The journey west that made the hikers becomes more complex, since it is a fairly rough area and is laborious remove debris, says Ceballos.
Last March, the group, created in 2002, announced the search in social networks for new volunteers to join in this effort.
The activity, which was initially scheduled for this weekend, was postponed for 23 and May 24. Those interested in helping can register by sending an email to clubexcursionistasdelistmo@gmail.com .
Similarly, Ceballos appealed to private companies for their input.
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