Download Paradise on the Brink

WWF Fact sheet
West African Marine Ecoregion (WAMER)
Dakar Senegal, +(221) 869 37 00 [email protected]
BOA VISTA ISLAND, CAPE VERDE
Paradise on the Brink
Boa Vista in a nutshell
Boa Vista is the furthest
east island of the
archipelago nation of
Cape Verde, 600 km off
the coast of Senegal,
West Africa. The island
has an area of 620 km2
a population of about
4,200 and boasts some
50 km of beautiful windswept
white
sand
beaches.
At stake:
Cape Verde’s biodiversity is of global importance as it includes many endemic species of plants,
birds, insects, as well as marine species. Its beaches provide important nesting sites and feeding
grounds for endangered marine turtles, and breeding humpback whales that are frequently seen
around Boa Vista and Sal, Boa Vista’s northern neighbour. Approximately 3,000 loggerhead turtles
(Caretta caretta) nest in Boa Vista and Sal annually making these areas the second most important
nesting site in the entire Atlantic Ocean.
Recent studies have found local coral reefs to
be among the world’s most important and
most threatened. The nearby João Valente
seamount, an underwater mountain between
Maio and Boa Vista Islands, also hosts a
particularly rich biodiversity. Seamounts are
known to fisherman for high concentrations of
fish, and to researchers as rare and unique
habitats.
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At issue:
Cape Verde’s agriculture and fishing contribute only 10% to the nation’s GDP. The government,
through legislation and fiscal incentives, has been actively encouraging tourism development, in
particular for Boa Vista, to diversify the economy.
Due to frenzy tourism plans, Boa Vista has jumped from fourth to second in bedding capacity in
Cape Verde, with 1,278 beds in 2003. Currently, there are 16 hotels in Boa Vista, 12 of which are
operational. Two of the major hotels under construction will double the island’s accommodation
capacity. Other infrastructure such as waste management, phones, running water, hospitals
electricity, and internet are not keeping up with the pace.
Boa Vista has been the subject of more than six strategic tourism plans in the last 9 years with
suggested capacity ranging from 800 to 30,000 beds and the construction of an international
airport. Estimated tourist arrivals would approach 1,000,000 but no comprehensive social impact
studies have been undertaken to assess the potential effect of land speculation, local inflation, and
increased immigration would have on the island’s 4,200 residents.
Rays of hope:
The government has recently updated the National Environmental Action Plan (PANA II) and
municipalities will follow suit. Fourteen protected areas have been recently declared. Cape Verde
has also ratified several international treaties and agreements, such as the Convention on
Combating Desertification, Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological
Diversity.
As part of their West African Marine Ecoregion (WAMER) programme, WWF and Wetlands
International are starting a new project to assist the sustainable management of Cape Verde’s
marine, coastal, and wetland habitats and species, primarily in Sal, Boa Vista, Santa Luzia islands,
and Branco and Raso islets. Key objective
of the project are to protect the globally
important biodiversity, to reduce threats
from overfishing and tourism, and to help
government,
municipalities
and
communities with their efforts to integrate
tourism
and
conservation,
develop
legislation establishing protected areas,
and create opportunities for synergy with
other biodiversity projects.
Photo : Boa Vista / Sèverine Arnal
Photo 2:Ponta Cosme / Mara Abu-raya
Photo 3: Ervatão / Mara Abu-raya
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Published by the Communications Unit and Cape Verde Office, WWF Senegal (WAMER West African Marine
Ecoregion) Sacré-Coeur III, B. P. 22928, Dakar, Senegal © WWF WAMER 2004 Tel.: +221 869 37 00 Fax: +221 869 37 02
[email protected], also Ricardo Monteiro, Prog. Agent in Sal Cabo Verde [email protected]
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