Foreign Couple living in Madeira sensitise visitors for the importance of preserving the island’s environment

The ‘Clean Madeira’ campaign was launched by a foreign couple living in Madeira, Irina Moldova, from Moldova, and Sergio Luis Recalde, from Argentina, with the aim of sensitising visitors, especially younger ones, to preserving the island’s environment. The ‘Banana Ranger’, is the campaign´s character, who amusingly promotes the importance of keeping the island clean, especially in the Laurissilva Forest, which is in danger of becoming polluted due to visitors’ carelessness.

The initiative, focused on Instagram, encourages visitors to collect rubbish during their walks, take a selfie with a full bag and share it on social media with the location and hashtags associated with the campaign. In addition, the couple are developing a website with an interactive map and information to help holidaymakers plan their visits, including suggestions for lesser-known but equally beautiful locations.

The Banana Ranger character, who looks like a ranger from the Wild West, has been given the mission of, in a few words and in a fun way, passing on the message that Madeira must be kept green and clean – ‘Keep it green, keep it clean’ – and that anyone can be a guardian of the island by following four steps: Carry a bag; collect the rubbish; take a selfie with the bag and share it on a social network with the location and, finally, add the hastags #cleanmadeira #unesco25madeira