In Bussolengo, a **smartphone recycling campaign** has been launched to protect chimpanzees, particularly those in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The initiative, which aims to collect **10 kilograms of old smartphones** in 10 days, was launched by Parco Natura Viva in celebration of World Chimpanzee Day, observed on July 14. The park is home to the only colony of central chimpanzees in Italy, a species already threatened with extinction. The campaign seeks to reduce mining pressure on the forest ecosystems of Congo, where coltan—a mineral essential for electronic production—is extracted.
Starting from Saturday, July 12, Parco Natura Viva will set up three permanent collection boxes for unwanted electronic devices. Katia Dell’Aira, the park’s Education Manager, emphasizes the importance of reusing the valuable materials contained in electronic devices to protect the natural habitats of chimpanzees. Even minimal participation from park visitors could significantly contribute to the conservation of this species through a simple and sustainable act.
Italian Version
