Protecting Cape Verde’s endemic plant species depends on a careful balance between safeguarding natural habitats, engaging local communities, strengthening local capacity and addressing growing ecological threats, while supporting the implementation of the Fogo UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which this project is helping to establish.
Over the past three years, with the support of the Audemars Piguet Foundation for Trees, Projecto Vitó has carried out an ambitious conservation programme to protect endangered endemic flora across five Cape Verdean islands, with priority given to Fogo and Brava. Ecological monitoring activities were also conducted on Santo Antão, São Nicolau and Santiago, strengthening knowledge of local species and the pressures affecting their habitats.
Despite these advances, several challenges remain: ensuring regular monitoring of species and ecosystems, and guaranteeing the effective implementation of conservation measures. These efforts are particularly essential in three priority areas: Fogo Natural Park, Monte Gordo Natural Park on São Nicolau, and the future protected area of Brava, whose establishment represents a major milestone.
On Fogo, consolidating the biosphere reserve depends on reinforcing environmental education, community participation, and efforts to establish an effective governance model – all crucial to ensuring long‑term ownership of conservation efforts.
Protecting Cape Verde’s endemic plant species depends on a careful balance between safeguarding natural habitats, engaging local communities, strengthening local capacity and addressing growing ecological threats. Progress so far has been significant, but pressure on ecosystems remains high, requiring sustained and strengthened intervention.
In this context, Projecto Vitó aims to continue its commitment through five main pillars:
- Environmental education: rolling out educational programmes in schools and communities on Fogo (46 schools, 8,500 pupils) and Brava (12 schools, 1,200 pupils) to encourage conservation‑friendly behaviours.
- Participatory ecological monitoring: establishing continuous monitoring of flora in the protected areas of Fogo, São Nicolau and Brava, with active involvement from local communities.
- Creation of a reference centre: developing a Forest Interpretation and Research Centre dedicated to education, awareness‑raising, applied research and coordination of conservation initiatives.
- Ecological restoration: strengthening native forest ecosystems and tackling invasive species on Fogo and São Nicolau through community‑led planting, habitat management and maintenance activities.
- Technical capacity‑building: providing ongoing training for NGOs and protected‑area teams, in partnership with national and international institutions, to enhance skills in ecological management and scientific monitoring.
Through these initiatives, Projecto Vitó aims to play an active role in safeguarding Cape Verde’s natural heritage and fostering a genuine culture of conservation within local communities.
