Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Conservation communautaire de la tortue caouanne sur la côte est de l’île de Sal

Pays : Cape Verde

Signature convention : 03/02/2020

Durée du projet : 13 mois

Contexte
Sal Island is the northern-east island of Cape Verde. Cape Verde supports the third largest aggregation of nesting Loggerhead turtles (Caretta, VU) in the world, with Sal Island supporting the second largest nesting group in the archipelago (13% of the nesting) making this location not only of local but also of global importance. Illegal poaching of sea turtles for meat consumption is the main threat for this species. Although in 2015 the global status for the Loggerhead sea turtles was changed from endangered to vulnerable by the IUCN, the North East Atlantic subpopulation (Cape Verde) was maintained as endangered because of illegal harvest. Noteworthy, the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group listed this subpopulation one of the eleven most threatened populations of sea turtles worldwide. In 2017, mortality rate for Loggerhead turtle in the area of Pedra de Lume, in the North East coast of Sal Island, was estimated between around 80% due to poaching when protection patrols are not in place. This means that near the totality of the females going to nest on that area are killed for consumption.

Objectifs
The main objective of this project is to put in place a community-based turtle conservation program in the community of Pedra de Lume. By the establishment of a communitarian-based conservation approach, the NGO is aiming not only to achieve greater protection success in areas of the island with high mortality rates of the endangered Loggerhead turtles due to poaching, but also to strengthen the local governance by empowering their involvement and leadership in turtle conservation strategies, becoming the ultimate responsible for the conservation of the natural resources of their surroundings.

Activités
* Develop a strategy for community conservation of marine turtles through better information and involvement and building capacities of local communities ;
* Patrol daily on the beach to reduce poaching and promote hatching of eggs in hatchery
* Develop ecotourism activities by initiating a Homestay Programme with 3 houses and with an ecotourism circuit for turtle observation.

Bénéficiaire : Associação Projeto Biodiversidade

Financement
Montant global du projet : 48 355 €
Contribution FFEM : 31 427€
Partenaires : Mairie de Sal, Explore CV

Présentation : UICN France