Without the involvement of the people, it is not possible to implement ecosystem conservation schemes at different scales. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness and work with local communities, in this case for the conservation of grasslands, through a local environmental education program that addresses the problems detected.

Identity can be developed by increasing people's awareness of the benefits of sustainable management in maintaining local livelihoods and people's quality of life, but it can also be further strengthened by encouraging the self-organized commitment of all members of the community, not only to make use of the different parts of the ecosystem to sustain livelihoods, but also to participate in its rehabilitation.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) is central to ensuring the sustainability of our tree restoration efforts. This building block allows us to track the progress of tree growth and refine our restoration strategies for better outcomes. We employ drones to capture before-and-after images, providing a clear visual comparison of the impact of our restoration work. By continuously assessing our efforts, we can make data-driven adjustments that enhance the effectiveness of our conservation initiatives.

This building block leverages the widespread appeal of football to engage youth in environmental conservation efforts. Our environmental educators collaborate with college and university students, using football as a medium to raise awareness through posters, talks, and events focused on restoration methods. By tapping into the popularity of football, we make environmental issues more relatable and engaging, inspiring students to adopt sustainable practices. This approach not only educates but also mobilizes young people to become active participants in conservation, making them feel integral to the solution.

The purpose of this building block is to conduct thorough landscape assessments on the land owned by colleges and universities. By evaluating the environmental conditions, we can determine which species are best suited to thrive in these areas. This careful selection process ensures higher success rates for planting and contributes to more sustainable conservation efforts. The landscape assessment serves as the foundation for effective planting strategies, aligning species selection with the specific ecological characteristics of the land, ultimately leading to more resilient ecosystems.

This building block centers on engaging universities, colleges, and local partners in environmental education and conservation efforts. We collaborate with football clubs and teams on campuses to promote climate change awareness and endangered species conservation. By leveraging these partnerships, we provide communities with the knowledge and tools needed to combat climate change. The collaboration extends to local environmental organizations, which offer technical support to communities. This interconnected approach is vital to the success of our campaign, which mobilizes resources, boosts participation, and amplifies the campaign’s impact through the collective efforts of educational institutions, environmental groups, government agencies, football stars, influencers, and corporate sponsors.

The biodiversity survey training took place for one month from Janury to February 2024 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Boa Vista. 11 participants from 3 different NGOs completed the training led by Dr Dario Cesarini which was further enforced by Professor Andrea Brusaferro who provided technical support and training in GIS. They provided extensive training on: 

• The monitoring of protected areas
• Behavior and abundance of ravens 
• Fisheries Biology of Goat whelk
• Tracking of introduced and potentially invasive plant species
• Study of the population of Phoenix Atlantica and Ficus Sycomorus, 
• Recording of human pressures and impacts
• Collection of atmospheric climate data in communities
• Use of GIS
• Sharing and managing data

This project was lead by Fundacao Tartaruga, in partnership with two other long-standing non-governmental organisations: Cabo Verde Natura 2000 and Bios.CV and with the local management authority: Ministerio do Agricultura e Ambiente Boa Vista (MAA-BV).

All organisations contributed and benefitted to the project. It has reinforced the relationships between the organisations at coordination level and implentation level with representatives of each organisation participating in the majority of activities.

This project has only been successful with the contributions of time, effort and knowledge of all entities involved.

Identifying strategic locations for solar panel implementation with communities involves assessing areas with high sunlight exposure and low shading. Engaging local members ensures that sites are selected based on practical needs, accessibility, and minimal disruption. This collaborative approach optimize's energy efficiency and aligns solar installations with community priorities.

Raising awareness about climate mitigation and adaptation involves educating communities on the causes and impacts of climate change, promoting sustainable practices, and encouraging proactive measures. By increasing knowledge and understanding, communities can adopt strategies to reduce emissions, protect natural resources, and enhance resilience against climate-related challenges, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.

Creating community-led committees ensures participatory approaches by involving local members in decision-making. These committees empower communities to actively engage in project planning, implementation, and monitoring, fostering ownership and accountability. This approach enhances relevance, cultural alignment, and sustainability, ensuring that solutions are effectively tailored to the community's specific needs and priorities. Community members would be chosen through election in their local language.