WHAT WE DO Community-Based Conservation

template: /home/chewuaka/fmb-maio.chewuaka.com/wp-content/themes/fmbmaio_theme/page.php

post type: page

class="page-template-default page page-id-442 theme-fmbmaio_theme woocommerce-no-js wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.7 vc_responsive"

body class:

Conservation for a healthy environment

Cabo Verde is a biodiversity hotspot. It hosts the second-largest nesting aggregation of loggerhead turtles in the Atlantic as well as a rich unique fauna such as the sea snails, fish, sharks, manta rays, humpback whales and dolphins. The land acts as a sanctuary to seabird and wader species.

FMB has been working since 2010 with the main local authorities and partners to achieve a better management and law enforcement of the Protected Areas, as well as supporting partners in analyzing impact assessment studies of the main developing construction projects being carried out in Maio.

The participation of the local communities is vital to guarantee the recovery and sustainability of a healthy environment, whereby species and local communities thrive side by side. To achieve this, FMB is running an international recognized community-based conservation program.

Research Program

For almost 10 years, FMB has been monitoring the largest breeding population of kentish plovers in Cabo Verde, accounting to 834 nests, mostly focused on Salinas do Porto Inglês. More recently, monitoring of the endemic cream-coloured courser has been done, with 52 nests recorded so far. In the last few years, this research has been expanded to all protected and key areas of Maio.

One of our main goals has been to protect and monitor endangered loggerhead turtles. We have decreased turtle poaching from 43% to less than 7% in 5 years. From 2016 onwards, we’ve also been carrying out several research projects with this species in order to improve our knowledge on mortality, breeding success, key staging areas and population connectivity.

Our latest research has targeted species such as the white-faced storm petrel, the only breeding seabird species in Maio and highly unknown worldwide. We’ve been researching its population size, breeding ecology, threats, partners and site fidelity.

Guardians of the sea

One of our aims is to capacitate and empower local people to create a sense of ownership that will assure the sustainability of local resources.

Since 2016, we work with a dynamic group of 20 fishermen that monitor their own fishing areas for illegal fishing activities, as well as marine megafauna.

This project is now being implemented in Sal and Boavista islands, by our collaborators Project Biodiversity and BIOS CV, respectively.

JOINT ENFORCEMENT GROUP to battle illegal activities

The Joint Enforcement Group (JEG) is a first-time tool used in Cabo Verde. This group created in 2015 is composed by the main authorities and institutions of Maio, its aim is to join forces and resources to battle illegal activities in the island.

The group is composed by 7 institutions including the local council (CMM), the Delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment (DMAA), the National Police (PN), the Touristic Development Society of the Islands of Boavista and Maio (SDTIBM), the General Delegation of Marine Resources (DGRM) and Maio Biodiversity Foundation (FMB). A national example today, the initiative is now being replicated in Boavista.

Ecoguides local ecoturism activities

Our newest initiative to tackle unemployment is to support young local people in the developing of ecotourism activities to promote sustainable environmental and friendly tourism. These include the protection of local biodiversity, environmental awareness and income generation as local guides.

The program includes the creation of a local company that provides capacity building, purchases guiding equipment and promotes marketing offers. These ecoguides are authorized by the National Directorate of the Environment (DNA) to carry turtle watching activities, they also offer excursions to the protected areas and visit local communities through 3 routes that explore the local cuisine with the best fresh fish from Cabo Verde, and traditions. Additionally bird watching and snorkeling excursions are also available.

Homestay hosting tourist and volunteers

Women headed households are especially vulnerable, with an unemployment rate 52% higher than for men. The Homestay initiative was created by FMB and its partners, and is led by the women of Maio. It aims at promoting the well-being of communities and generating income by hosting tourists and volunteers that preserve the local biodiversity and protected areas.

Interested?
Contact us or don’t miss our Homestay documentary.