Young leaders: María Reyes, Ecuador

– January 12, 2012

© Bayer-M.Reyes

The Bayer Young Environmental Leaders competition, judged at the Leverkusen study week, looks for original projects with the potential to change or save lives, be scaled up, and which are environmentally sustainable. During the week, 18 projects, one per country, were presented to a panel of judges representing Bayer and UNEP. Four projects won support worth up to $1,400. María’s was one of them.

‘Mercury, a heavy metal, is one of the world’s most toxic pollutants, resulting in nervous system disorders, destruction of flora and fauna, and birth defects. In South America, mercury is used for gold extraction, and large quantities find their way into rivers, swamps and lagoons. In some parts of Ecuador, mercury-contaminated water is used for drinking, agriculture, aquaculture and livestock.

‘My efficient and low-cost solution is to use the aquatic fern Anabaena azolle – which has been found to fix mercury – to clean river water. I plan to set up a process to clean the Siete River, contaminated by waste from gold mining in the Ponce Enríquez region. I propose redirecting the river into small pools where the fern would be cultivated. The contaminated plants would then be buried as controlled waste. While decontaminating the river, we must also convince industry that taking responsibility for water remediation is good for business.

‘Anabaena azolle would be grown and supplied by local farmers, who would benefit economically. Surplus plants not used for water remediation can be sold as a nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer and animal fodder, helping to diversify farmers’ incomes. Though this project focuses on a local problem, mercury contamination is a global hazard. If the use of Anabaena azolle is adopted, it could make a huge difference to ecological and human health.’