Collaboration and Partnerships for Environmental Education
Landscape Assessment for Species Success
Using Football as a Catalyst for Environmental Conservation
Monitoring & Evaluation: The Core of Sustainable Conservation
Capacity building through biodiversity survey training workshop
Biodiversity training completion
Fundacao Tartaruga
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
Encouraging young national Cabo Verdeans to actively participate in workshops and lead sessions and presentations
Selecting a biodiversity consultant who had extensive knowledge of the country including the local language (Cabo Verdean Criole)
Adapting the original plan to conduct training for only one week. In the end, the training was given over one month, as advised by the consultant to ensure that sufficient time was dedicated to both theoretical and practical training, and allowing for time to troubleshoot in the field.
Cooperation with the local PA management authority
Trust and confidence in the trainer is very important.
Communication is the key to a successful workshop.
Partnership with NGOs and the Ministry of Environment in Boa Vista
Coordination team receiving communication training
Fundacao Tartaruga
Coordination team meeting with biodiversity consultant
Fundacao Tartaruga
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.
Monthly coordination meetings to allow for open and clear communication.
Each organisation having a fieldwork coordinator and technicaisn offering a structure and varying levels of management.
Livelihood Support through Public Private Partnership
Institutional strengthening & sustainability
Farmer-led irrigation development plans
Identifying with the communities strategic locations for solar panel implementation
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.
Community Involvement: Engage local members in identifying potential locations to ensure sites meet practical and cultural needs.
Site Assessments: Conduct thorough assessments of sunlight exposure, land use, and shading to determine optimal locations.
Local Knowledge: Leverage the community’s knowledge of the area for selecting suitable and accessible sites.
Technical Expertise: Involve experts in solar technology to evaluate and validate chosen locations.
Access to Resources: Ensure availability of necessary tools and technology for site evaluation and installation.
Infrastructure: Verify that selected locations have or can be developed with the required infrastructure for solar panel deployment.
Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to local regulations and obtain necessary permits for site selection and installation.
Site Assessments: Conduct detailed assessments of sunlight exposure, land use, and shading to determine optimal sites.
Utilize Local Knowledge: Leverage community expertise to identify potential sites based on local conditions and needs.
Technical Evaluation: Involve solar technology experts to validate site suitability and ensure technical feasibility.
Community Feedback: Regularly gather and incorporate feedback from the community to address any concerns and adjust plans as needed.
Raising awareness about climate mitigation and adaptation
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.
Education and Training: Provide targeted education and training programs to enhance understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Accessible Information: Ensure that climate information is easily accessible and understandable for all community members.
Effective communication tools : such as radio, flyers to bring awarenes to communities using mutliple communications platoforms and tools
Monitoring and Feedback: Establish mechanisms to assess the impact of awareness efforts and gather feedback for continuous improvement.
Community engagement
Engage Local Leaders: Involve community leaders to endorse and support climate awareness efforts, enhancing credibility and outreach.
Tailored Messaging: Customize climate information to match the community’s local context and understanding to improve engagement and relevance.
Creating community led committees to ensure participatory approaches are implemented
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.
Inclusive Representation: Ensure that committees include diverse community members to reflect various perspectives and needs.
Effective Communication: Establish channels for open and transparent communication within the committee and with the broader community.
Supportive Leadership: Engage local leaders and influencers to endorse and support the committee’s efforts.
Regular Meetings and Feedback: Schedule regular meetings and feedback sessions to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.
Clear Objectives: Define the committee's goals and roles clearly to guide effective participation and decision-making.
Community engagement is vital for a project to be successful . Involving the community throughout, using a participative approach is at the core of the success and sustainability of the project.
