PROJECTS

Eco-village approach to enhance socio-ecological resilience in Cabo Verde 

In 2019 under the umbrella of the project Raiz Azul, co-lead by UniCV and ECOCV we focused on the four coastal villages of Santiago Island. This project  engaged vulnerable community members to monitor the health of marine and coastal ecosystems, set up the first Marine Protected Area in Santiago island, introduced the first sustainable waste management system and established an eco-network lead by local women in four coastal villages to support livelihoods through eco-tourism in Cabo Verde. ECOCV continues the community development initiatives expanding activities in the coastal waters of Santiago Island. 

Participatory Monitoring and Conservation of Cetaceans, Sotovento Islands

The project creates an enabling environment for the participatory cetacean monitoring and conservation in the Sotavento (South) Islands of the archipelago. Alongside ECOCV marine biologists, local sea users from fishers to tour operators are involved to monitor and reporting whale and dolphin sightings. Workshops are organized to develop and trial in the field the first whale watching guidelines/Code of Conduct for the sea users in Cabo Verde. Number of cetacean rescue teams are trained and assembled within coastal communities to respond to cetacean standings. Project contributes to the implementation of the National Cetacean Conservation Plan which was approved in June 2015 and is implemented in collaboration with the National Directorate of Environment. 

Participatory monitoring of coralline communities, Santiago Island

Participatory monitoring of seagrass meadows, Santiago Island