Led by the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, a dedicated force of 264 community volunteers from across the U.S. Virgin Islands united for the Ninth Annual Great Mangrove Cleanup events held from February through April 2026.
Together, these volunteers removed 12,223 pounds of marine debris, including trash and hurricane-related waste, from mangrove shorelines across the territory. Cleanup efforts at Altona Lagoon on St. Croix, Coral Bay on St. John, and Vessup Bay on St. Thomas made a significant contribution to protecting and restoring these vital coastal habitats.
The 2026 cleanups build on a legacy of success. Since 2018, Great Mangrove Cleanup volunteers have removed more than 29 tons (59,023 pounds) of marine debris from Virgin Islands shorelines. With more than 1,000 volunteers participating over the past nine years, the Great Mangrove Cleanup has become a powerful example of community-driven conservation in the Virgin Islands.
Among the volunteers was Adina Browne, a graduate student and intern with GRROE USVI Mangroves Lab at UVI. “It was my first year participating in the Great Mangrove Cleanups as an intern, and it was inspiring to see firsthand—and be part of—the community effort to restore and protect these critical habitats. I’m already looking forward to next year’s 10th anniversary of the Great Mangrove Cleanups,” Browne said.
The cleanup efforts are particularly timely as the U.S. Virgin Islands prepares for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Storms and hurricanes can mobilize improperly disposed waste, abandoned materials, and existing shoreline debris, carrying them into mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs where they can cause long-term environmental damage. Residents can help reduce marine debris by securing outdoor items, disposing of trash responsibly, and participating in cleanup initiatives before and after storms.
Healthy mangrove ecosystems provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife, improve water quality, stabilize shorelines, and help buffer coastal communities from storm impacts. Through continued stewardship, volunteerism, and responsible waste management, Virgin Islanders and visitors alike can help protect these valuable coastal resources and the benefits they provide.
