There are souvenirs that are better not to take
A journey begins when it is planned, continues when the destination is reached, and lives after. in the form of memories , those that we take from the place we have fallen in love with. In fact, if you're a seasoned traveler, you probably have several of those conspicuous souvenirs at home: a drum that you bought in Marrakech, a watercolor of Rome, the kettle from that little town you went to in England, shells taken from a beach in Thailand...
And yet, that last item, so common in our homes, should never have left of the place where he was. Look we have collected shells thousands of times, that we have it well implanted as usual. But the activity, which even seems romantic , contribute to degrade the ecosystem, causing, even, that the beaches decrease in size more and more.
Here's something you shouldn't have taken...
The reasons? There are many, and they are detailed in the study ** Vanishing Clams on an Iberian Beach ** : Local Consequences and Global Implications of Accelerating Loss of Shells to Tourism, carried out in long beach (Tarragona). Thus, the work shows that removing the shells from their habitat produces a increased beach erosion, minimizing the size of the sandbank. At the same time, it also means that there are fewer and fewer organisms that exist in it: from crabs, sponges, algae, etc., which are left with no place to live, to small fish -who also use them as shelter-, birds -which use them to build their nests- and even mollusks , which need the calcium carbonate from these dead shells to build their own.
Not only that: the thing can be even more serious if, without realizing it, you take a protected copy And there are many more than you think. organisms like Philippines Tourism They already warn on their website what types they are, but there are innumerable varieties throughout the world that also enjoy special protection.
Let life flow on the shore
It is, specifically, about 5,800 animal species and 30,000 plants , as listed by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Among them, in addition, there are very obvious , such as whales, monkeys, sea turtles or parrots, and others much less obvious, which can take you to the dungeon if you decide to keep them in the suitcase.
We speak, for example, of certain types of Cactus -such as aloe-, orchids, mussels, and even Pine trees . And another favorite of our vacations at sea also enters your list: the corals . So when you see their beautiful shapes in the sand, resist the urge to pick them up. First, because, even if they are out of the water, it is often difficult to distinguish with certainty whether they are alive or dead; second, because it has been shown that, even dead, they contribute to prevent ocean acidification , as confirmed by the study Amorphous calcium carbonate particles form coral skeletons .
Protected species are many more than you think...
And since we are talking about not taking things from the beach, it is worth clarifying: it is not good either move them around. So, better to forget the habit of doing towers of pebbles in the sand, since, when moving them, they are left uncovered plant roots and habitats occupied by invertebrate animals, especially insects and molluscs. This alters a delicate environment "in which plant species live that are unique in the world and endemic to the islands", as reported by El País from the voice of the biologist and spokesperson for the environmental group GOB, Toni Muñoz.
In short, on the beach, the ideal would be to leave “ only your footprints ”, as promoted, again, Philippine Tourism. Or, as the motto of the National Parks of the United States says, what if we leave no trace , usually? “Leave what you find”, they warn in their rules. "Keep the feeling of discovery for others leaving all natural and cultural artifacts as you find them. Take photos, write poetry or draw a picture to help you remember what you discover here”, cheer from parks like the one in Shenandoah . Although it is perhaps even more concise and easy to remember the advice of the World Tourism Organization : “Leave behind a minimal footprint and a good impression ”.
"Preserves the feeling of discovery for others"