The problem generated by the constant presence of solid waste on the beaches and resorts of the Atlanticis being used by artisans, whose hands transform the logs of wood into works of art.
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The carving on shipwrecked wood It is one of the most important craft techniques in the Atlantic. It consists of collecting the wood that the sea deposits on the beaches and transforming it into decorative elements, furniture and functional items, based on carving.
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Shipwrecked wood crafts are increasingly sought after in the market for their beauty and because they are unique.
This wood comes from the municipalities located on the more than 1,550 kilometers of length of the Magdalena river.
It travels along the river to its mouth in Bocas de Ceniza, from there the tide drags it to the beaches of Puerto Colombia, Juan de Acosta and Tubará.
The bird figures are carved from wood recovered from the sea.
According to the company Triple A, is in charge of cleaning the beaches, on average some 300 tons of waste are being collected per month. In recent months, the flooding of the river increased the arrival of wood.
On May 31, 2019, an agglomeration of garbage weighing 1,710 tons appeared floating in front of the beaches of Puerto Colombia, which caused a serious environmental emergency in the coastal municipality, which affected both the quality of the water and the marine biodiversity.
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The idea of using this recyclable material is supported by thea Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Atlantic (CRA)which sees a great opportunity to generate circular economy projects (recycling materials to create added value), which allow minimizing the environmental impact in spas and generating forms of income for the inhabitants of the coastal area.
The director of the CRA, Jesus Leon Insignaresensures that the Corporation has been taking advantage of this opportunity to develop strategies that impact beaches and tourism.
But he warns that it should also be an opportunity for coastal municipalities to require public sanitation service providers “to redouble efforts in their proper management, from collection and transportation, to storage and final disposal,” he said. .
The support of the Government of the Atlantic
Another that supports the project is the Governor of the Atlantic Elsa Noguera, who this week delivered recovered wood to the artisans of Santa Veronica, experts in carving shipwrecked wood.
“We are collecting the wood that is dragged as waste from the sea and that will serve as raw material, to later be transformed into works of art in the hands of our artisans,” said Noguera.
We are collecting the wood that is dragged as waste from the sea and that will serve as raw material, to later be transformed into works of art in the hands of our artisans.
The largest number of expert craftsmen in this technique are concentrated in the coastal area of the department.
Angel Paterninaan artisan from that municipality who has perfected this technique for more than 30 years, participated in the tour as part of the beneficiaries of the Artesanías del Atlántico program.
“To choose the right wood, we verify the large logs, that they do not have holes, that they are not splinters, that they are solid wood and suitable for a good drying process. Then we clean that wood and, according to the natural way, the same piece to you tell it what it should be transformed into,” explained the expert craftsman in carving Caribbean birds.
The Governor of the Atlantic, Elsa Noguera, was this week with artisans from Santa Verónica.
Photo:Government of the Atlantic Press
The Secretary of Culture of the Atlantic, Diana Acostahighlighted the comprehensive intervention of the initiative, since in the coastal zone there is a process of reactivation of tourism, sports, the environmental component and, of course, culture, which on this occasion is reflected through the artisans.
We will see the wood collected and selected on these beaches converted into beautiful handcrafted creations, which are from the Atlantic to the world.
“We will see the wood collected and selected on these beaches converted into beautiful handcrafted creations, which are from the Atlantic to the world,” said Acosta.
The artisans have already explained to the staff of the Triple A company, in charge of cleaning the beaches, how to identify the wood suitable for work by handin order to facilitate the process of separating this material from the waste that cannot be used for this activity.
CRA trains waste pickers in the coastal zone
In addition to the shipwrecked wood, the CRA advances articulated strategies for the use of all the solid waste that reaches the beaches.
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In the municipality of Puerto Colombia, between 2021 and so far this year 2022, training has been given to 30 recyclers, on issues related to the proper separation of solid waste and its use, safety and health in the exercise of recycling work.
In 2020, despite the restrictions imposed by the covid-19 pandemic, several cleaning days were also held, in alliance with different entities such as educational institutions and NGOs.
This is what the beaches of Puerto Colombia look like when solid waste arrives, dragged by the current of the Magdalena River.
For example, the alliance with students from the maymount college of Barranquilla and the company Triple A, for the cleaning of beaches in the sector of Rock PointPuerto Colombia, where one ton of waste was collected.
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In 2021, 60 representatives of the caseteros or tour operators in the Puerto Colombia area were trained, who work on the beaches of Prado Mar, Miramar, Country, Salgarito and Salgar; on issues related to the proper separation of solid waste and its use, separation at the source and a workshop on shipwrecked wood, teaching the importance of reusing this material that is so common on the beaches of the area.
LEONARDO HERRERA DELGANS
Correspondent of EL TIEMPO Barranquilla
On Twitter: @leoher69
Write me at leoher@eltiempo.com
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