WWF Fact Sheet West African Marine Ecoregion (WAMER)

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 wind- swept 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.

1 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

______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 wamer@w wfsenegal.org , also Ricardo Monteiro, Prog. Agent in Sal Cabo Verde [email protected]