Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde is an archipelago nation formed of ten major islands and a number of smaller, uninhabited islets. Unsustainable development, coastal habitat destruction, and illegal and unsustainable fishing have put Cabo Verde’s marine ecosystem under pressure.

Islands in the archipelago feature flat lowland plains typical to older islands in the east, or sharp, jagged mountains reflecting younger, volcanic origins in the west. Most of the islands have a very dry climate, but despite this, they are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species.

On land, overgrazing by domestic animals and invasive species challenge the natural regeneration of endemic plant life amongst other key taxa. Wildlife across both spheres is placed under further strain by the effects of climate change. But in working together with government representatives, conservation partners, and local communities, Fauna & Flora is working to forge a new path for conservation – and getting results.

Our work to protect Cabo Verde’s biodiversity

Fauna & Flora’s work in Cabo Verde started in 2012, initially in response to pressures placed on marine ecosystems by unsustainable development, coastal habitat destruction and unsustainable and illegal fishing practices. We have worked with local partners to tackle these threats by monitoring key habitats and species, working with local communities and supporting national efforts to develop an expanded network of marine protected areas.

Some of Fauna & Flora’s key marine work has included: supporting local partner Fundação Maio Biodiversidade with the designation of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the approval of Cabo Verde’s first Protected Areas Management plan and the development of the Guardians of the Sea initiative.

Since 2012, Fauna & Flora’s work in Cabo Verde has expanded to include the protection of terrestrial ecosystems. With our local partners, we have conducted surveys and fieldwork to identify and address factors contributing to the decline of emblematic and endemic species including the Cabo Verdean dragon tree, iron tree and phoenix palm.

One approach involved collaborating with our partner Biflores on the island of Brava to tackle overgrazing of domestic animals, which limits the natural regeneration of young plants. Free-roaming goats were fitted with tracking collars to assess their grazing intensity and to monitor where their activity overlapped with vulnerable areas, and livestock-keepers received support to build corrals to limit the free grazing of their goats, as well as attending training on veterinary care, animal husbandry and nutrition. Local authorities and community members participated in the development of an island-wide Sustainable Grazing Management Plan, a first for Cabo Verde. We have also worked with local partners to remove invasive species and establish nurseries across several islands, so that seedlings can be planted across threatened areas to aid in the recovery of endemic species.