National Parks-Biodiversity
Cape Verde boasts exceptional biodiversity, associated with a high level of endemism. However, the maintenance of the evolutionary dynamics of living organisms is under threat, due in particular to the heavy deforestation and overgrazing experienced by the islands over the course of their history, but also to soil artificialisation, the introduction of exogenous species and overfishing. Old-growth dry forests, more specifically deciduous forests characteristic of tropical and subtropical Africa, remain in a relict state today. To protect these ecosystems, which are associated with a high rate of endemism, the country has set up protected areas, including nature reserves (including biosphere reserves), protected landscapes and natural monuments. Programs have also been set up to protect natural environments and species, such as the targeted actions carried out by NGOs to preserve sea turtle nesting sites on Santiago Island.
Protected areas include
Fogo Natural Park: located on the island of Fogo and included on UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage sites, this park protects the diversity of the island's ecosystems and its exceptional biodiversity, combined with a high level of endemism. It includes the still active Fogo volcano and the Monte Velha forest.
Serra Malagueta Natural Park : located on the island de Santiago, its hiking trails enable visitors to discover its unique landscapes and diversity of flora and fauna.
Maio Island Biosphere Reserve : located on the eponymous island, this is home to a wide variety of marine species (turtles, fish, birds, cetaceans), some of which are endemic.
Monte Verde Nature Park: located on the island of São Vicente and accessible to hikers, it will delight botanical enthusiasts with its wealth of flora.
Monte Gordo Nature Park: located on the island of São Nicolau, it protects a wide variety of landscapes and ecosystems associated with this volcanic island.
When the sand runs out
Sand has become a scarce resource on the planet. By which we mean certain types of sand that can be used as aggregates in the manufacture of concrete and cement, and which are in great demand in civil engineering (building construction, roads). Sand extraction in Cape Verde was banned in 1997, following the over-exploitation of the resource. This activity contributes to the destruction of beaches, thus undermining part of the island's tourist appeal. Sand extraction also exacerbates coastal erosion, and poses a threat to the soil, which can no longer be cultivated, and to groundwater, which is no longer protected from pollution and salinization. However, illegal sand collection persists in the country, directly linked to poverty. This activity, carried out by the vast majority of women, under difficult and perilous conditions, aims to ensure a decent income for poor households, already weakened by the decline in fish stocks, itself linked to over-fishing and the destruction of natural environments (spawning grounds). Against a backdrop of climate change and population growth, it would seem that the country's future cannot be envisaged without jointly addressing the preservation of living resources, the fight against poverty and climate change.
Facing climate change
Climate change is already palpable in the country. In particular, it is reflected in the greater frequency and intensity of extreme phenomena, including droughts. The country, already under water stress and with few arable land areas, could see the spectre of food insecurity loom. In January 2020, when a state of water emergency was declared throughout the country, there were places on some of the country's islands where rain had not fallen for three years. Rising sea levels, meanwhile, could cause the Cape Verde islands to disappear from the surface of the globe by the end of the century, through marine submersion, if the trajectory of global temperature increase continues at its current rate. The country is committed to mitigating global warming. Largely dependent on fossil fuels (notably diesel generators for electricity production), Cape Verde has set itself the target of producing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025. To reach this target, the country is counting on the exploitation of wind, solar and geothermal energy, combined with the development of lithium-ion batteries for energy storage. The country is also committed to reducing waste at source, which accounts for 3% of its greenhouse gas emissions. Cape Verde hosted the 2017 Climate Change Conference (COP23) and the Ninth Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa in 2021, the theme of which was " Towards a just transition for jobs, prosperity and climate resilience in Africa: harnessing the green and blue economy". The country intends to carry the word of island states and call for coordinated, global action to combat climate change. In an address in 2019, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres already stressed the urgency of action, saying: " We don't have the luxury of time, and we can't afford to wait any longer. We must act now The IPCC report published in August 2021 left no doubt about human responsibility for climate change, and alerted leaders to the urgent need to take strong action to achieve carbon neutrality. Because every gesture counts in mitigating global warming, we can all play our part. To measure your carbon footprint and identify possible courses of action for a low-carbon life, take the test with ADEME's simulator: https: //nosgestesclimat.fr/simulateur/bilan.
