case studies undp: community marine association of cruzinha da garca, cape verde

7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: COMMUNITY MARINE ASSOCIATION OF CRUZINHA DA GARCA, Cape Verde

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Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities

Republic of Cape Verde

COMMUNITY MARINEASSOCIATION OFCRUZINHA DA GARA

Empowered live

Resilient nation

Empowered live

Resilient nation


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UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES

Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo

or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth

their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practition

themselves guiding the narrative.

To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing ser

that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmenconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succ

to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models

replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power of Local Action: Lessons from 10 Years

the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.

Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.

EditorsEditor-in-Chief: Joseph Corcoran

Managing Editor: Oliver HughesContributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding

Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe

Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,

Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Brandon Payne, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu

DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Amy Korngiebel, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis, John Mulqueen, Lorena de la Pa

Brandon Payne, Mariajos Satizbal G.

AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Marine Community Association o Cruzinha da Gara (ACNEMC), and in particu

the guidance and inputs o Renato Delgado. All photo credits courtesy oACNEMC (http://otos.sapo.pt/tartarugas/perl). Maps court

o CIA World Factbook and Wikipedia.

Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. Community Marine Association of Cruzinha da Gara, Republic of Cape Verde. Equa

Initiative Case Study Series. New York, NY.
http://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858


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PROJECT SUMMARYCruzinha da Gara is one o the most important nesting

grounds or sea turtles in Cape Verde. The Community

Marine Association o Cruzinha da Gara seeks to

develop alternative orms o local marine resource use

to conserve this endangered species. The project is part

o a regional initiative that involves shing communities

in the conservation o marine turtles and their habitat.

Conservation and sustainable livelihoods work extends to

the islands o So Nicolau, Santo Antao and Sao Vicente.

The association protects spawning loggerhead sea turtles intheir natural habitats through beach monitoring, protecting

the nesting grounds o the loggerhead sea turtles, and

guarding against sand extraction and resulting habitat

loss. The local population is engaged in data collection on

both species and population growth and is involved in the

development o ecotourism ventures.

KEY FACTS

EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2010

FOUNDED: 2002

LOCATION: Cruzinha da Gara, Santo Anto

BENEFICIARIES: 67 families

BIODIVERSITY: endangered sea turtle species

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COMMUNITY MARINE ASSOCIATION OFCRUZINHA DA GARARepublic of Cape Verde

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background and Context 4

Key Activities and Innovations 5

Biodiversity Impacts 7

Socioeconomic Impacts 7

Policy Impacts 8

Sustainability 9

Replication 9

Partners 9


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The community of Cruzinha da Gara

he northwest coast o the island o Santo Antothe most northwest

sland in the Cape Verde archipelagohas one o the highest rates

marine biodiversity in Cape Verde. The coastal marine habitat

s rich in shery resources; it is home to a signicant population

cetaceans and is the area o breeding, eeding and growth o

ve species o sea turtles: loggerhead (Caretta caretta), hawksbillEretmochelys imbricata), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), green

Chelonia mydas), and Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea). O the

atter, the zone is o particular national importance as a nesting site

or the loggerhead sea turtle.

One community on the coast o Santo Anto, Cruzinha da Gara, is

articularly rich in marine resources. It provides sh to the roughly

50,000 residents o Santo Anto and So Vicente islands, what

mounts to a third o Cape Verdes national population. Cruzinha da

Gara itsel has a population o only 274 persons, or 67 amilies. This

mpoverished community aces dilapidated housing, poor sanitation

nd a lack o economic resources and sources o employment. In the

bsence o local alternatives to secure livelihoods, many community

members exert unsustainable pressure on marine biodiversity. The

se o explosives or shing, the hunting o emale turtles, and the

lundering o turtle eggs directly threaten the survival o important

pecies. The waters surrounding the island house endangered

opulations o whales and dolphins. The island is also just 60 milesrom one o the richest shing grounds or tuna and deep-sea

obsters in Cape Verde.

he Associao Comunitria Nova Experincia Martima da Cruzinha

a Gara (ACNEMC) was established in 2002 by members o the village

Cruzinha da Gara to combat the unsustainable exploitation o

marine lie, particularly the sea turtle. The association now consists o

11 members. ACNEMCs mission is to acilitate communication and

ialogue between marine resource users, the public, government

nstitutions, and non-governmental organizations active in dierent

areas o community development. ACNEMC actively strive

conserve and enhance marine biodiversity, while also crea

sustainable jobs and sources o income or the local population

raising the quality o lie o the regions poorest inhabitants.

Sea turtle conservation

One o the associations primary activities has been a project ent

Beauty o the Sea: Conservation o Sea Turtles, which ocuse

mobilizing direct community participation in the preservatio

marine biodiversity. In response to unrelenting pressure on

ragile marine lie on the coast o Santo Anto, the associa

launched this project in 2006 with the support o the NatiInstitute or Fisheries Development (INDP) and the Muni

Chamber o Ribeira Grande (CMRG). The project emphasizes

impact ecotourism activities as an economic alternative to s

techniques which wound or kill sea turtles (such as dynamite sh

and to the poaching and sale o turtle eggs. This project has

parity with a sister program run by INDP called Involveme

Fishing Communities in the Conservation o Sea Turtles and

Habitat which operates in the Barlavento areaSo Nicolau, S

Anto and So Vicente.

Background and Context


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Key Activities and Innovations

Raising environmental awareness

ACNEMC undertakes a range o activities which aim to protect the

populations o sea turtles which inhabit Cruzinha da Gara coastal

waters and beaches. A great deal o emphasis has been placed on

wareness-raising amongst the local population as to the threats

hat ace sea turtles as well as economic alternatives to the kinds

o activities which have historically places these populations at risk;

amely, dynamite shing, mature turtle poaching, egg collection,

amage to nesting sites, and water pollution.

n particular, ACNEMC has implemented a comprehensive awareness

aising campaign targeted specically at the sheries sector andhose directly involved in marine resource extraction (including

ocal shermen). The results have been overwhelmingly positive,

with the vast majority o community members demonstrating an

nderstanding o the importance o turtle conservation, and the

doption by Cruzinha da Gara o the sea turtle as a agship symbol.

etween 2006 and 2008, ACNEMC undertook a number o project

ctivities to escalate the protection oered to resident sea turtles.

n 2006, the association marked o and enclosed 10 nesting

ites. Access to the coastal zone where the sites were located

was controlled in order to prevent the poaching o nests and the

emoval o eggs. The ollowing year, the association received

uthorization to monitor local beaches or illegal sand extractionctivities, which in turn damage sea turtle nests. Importantly, the

ssociation was vested with the authority to levy nes o up to

USD 350 to transgressors. In 2008, the association undertook a

participatory planning process which produced a community-based

onservation growth plan. Elements o the plan include creation o

sea turtle nursery, a treatment center or injured sea turtles, and an

nvironmental education centre.

he association also provides specialized training and capacity

building support to community members in order to empower

heir conservation and livelihoods diversication interventions.

Seminars, technical support and eld studies are combine

provide new knowledge and on-the-ground know-how.

class (or seminar) is oered to 30 people over a two week pe

Each day o training is split into morning and aternoon sess

the morning is dedicated to conservation theory, the atern

to practical implementation o conservation activities. Sem

aim not only to strengthen the technical capacity o commu

members, but to create linkages with local authorities to encou

the participatory management o coastal resources. Sem

themes include the conservation o marine ecosystems, the bio

and liecycle o sea turtles, identication and marking o sea t

nests, the sae transer and protection o sea turtle eggs, and c

or injured sea turtles. Exchange visits and peer-to-peer exchaare also integral parts o ACNEMC work. Local experts rom Cruz

da Gara have visited, hosted and shared inormation with o

community-led conservation initiatives on the islands o Sal

So Vicente. Additionally, conservation education is mainstrea

into local schools through an education outreach team who inv

community youth in association activities.

Going beyond conservation

ACNEMC has also branched into ecotourism activities, target

very specic population o tourists interested in environm

education and scientic research. The association receives stud

(and researchers) interested in turtle observation (between and October) and whale watching (between March and A

and September and October). Community members sell t

products (crats, t-shirts, etc) and provide tourism services to vis

researchers. Plans are underway to expand into boat, sport s

and scuba diving tours. The association also owns and ope

a sustainable shing vessel called We Dream. The boat prov

direct employment or 12 shermen in the communities o Cruz

Tarraal and Monte Trigo and is committed to environmen

responsible shing practices which do not damage marine sp

or ecosystems.


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Above and beyond its core activities, ACNEMC has implemented

arious projects in conjunction with the Municipal Chamber, the

National Program or Fighting Poverty and INDP in the areas o

ocial housing, repair and maintenance o local roads, school

ransportation services, animal husbandry, sh production, and the

marketing o locally harvested products.

ACNEMC represents a unique model o participatory marine reso

management that involves communities in the design, planning

implementation o conservation actions. The initiative is the

community-based conservation project in Cape Verde that oc

on the conservation o sea turtles. It is also arguably the

embraced conservation project, which speaks to the power

benets o community ownership and involvement.

We would like to see greater political will to protect the environment. Laws and legislation

that are based on the knowledge and needs of local fishing communities are essential. Loca

people must be empowered to protect their natural heritage.

Renato Delgado, ACNEMC


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Impacts

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS

The most critical and impressive biodiversity impact resulting rom

ssociation interventions has been the ull and complete cessation

o sea turtle poaching at nesting sites. As a result, emale turtles

have been protected, and the survival o a threatened species in the

egion supported. Four neighboring communities those o Mocho,

Ribeira Alta, Gara and Ch da Igreja were enlisted to achieve

his result. Association outreach teams disseminated conservation

normation and materials to each community, and subsequently

ecruited students rom local schools to participate in nesting site

protection.

One o the main determinants o success in this regard is the support

ACNEMC has received rom local authorities in banning the extraction

o sand on beaches in the region. This has served to protect the

ntegrity o sea turtle habitats. Since 2006, the association has held

uthority and discretion over the issuance o nes o up to USD 350

or the illegal collection o sand. Owing to ACNEMC interventions,

he sand banks and beaches are in the process o recovery, which

will have only positive impacts on the number o turtle nests that

urvive. The association also created a turtle nursery in 2008 in order

o combat local levels o sea turtle population growth. The nursery

has since overseen the release o 200 sea turtle hatchlings into the

ea.

As previously mentioned, environmental education, awareness-

aising and research constitute key activities o the association

which have in no uncertain terms changed local attitudes towards

onservation work and sensitized the local population to the

hallenges acing sea turtles. The association has worked with local

nd visiting researchers to improve knowledge o local ecology and

o produce scientic data on turtle populations. Local knowledge

has been combined with scientic monitoring and evaluation

echniques to gain valuable insights into sea turtle nesting sites

nd spawning areas, particularly between the boundaries o Ponta

do Sol, Municipality o Ribeira Grande and Tarraal de Monte Trigo,

Municipality o Porto Novo. Further insights have been m

into the eeding patterns o juvenile hawksbill turtles, the gro

patterns o juvenile green turtles, and the migratory corrido

leatherback and Olive Ridley turtles.

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS

Cruzinha da Gara is an isolated shing community with prec

ew natural resources. Cape Verde alls within the aected re

o Harmattan, a seasonal dry and dusty wind that makes its

across northwestern Arica ever year rom November to March.

consequence, Cruzinha da Gara is strongly aected by the adv

o desertication and droughts. The winds also hamper shing dthis period, resulting in stoppages to the primary livelihood ac

o the local population. Along with these challenging environm

conditions, severe economic marginalization has resulted in

consistent emigration o young people rom the island in sear

better opportunities. ACNEMC, however, has been instrumen

promoting sea turtle conservation as a potential source o sustain

livelihoods, as well as a course o community identity and

around which a new conservation economy can be built.

One o the economic impacts o the initiative has been the conne

made between the association and visiting researchers. While

representing the beginning o a much larger and more ambi

suite o planned low-impact ecotourism ventures, the provisiotravel services and products (ood, accommodations, etc.) to scie

visiting the region has oered local shermen an alternative so

o income. Additionally, local youth and women have ound s

term employment providing support on research projects. Betw

2006 and 2009, these services resulted in over USD 25,000 in inco

paid out to local community members. The association itsel

employs community members in the nighttime work o marking

identiying turtles and turtle nests. While this work is oten condu

on a voluntary basis, between 2006 and 2009 over USD 2,600 was

out to community members in the orm o stipends.


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Awareness-raising on conservation issues, and the subsequent

dentication o conservation challenges that will require

collaborative solutions between neighboring communities, has

ostered a sense o common purpose and served to strengthen

elationships in the region. This solidarity has been urther

cemented through peer-to-peer knowledge exchanges and

rainings in the communities o Porto Novo, Paul and Monte Trigo.

The use o participatory approaches in monitoring and evaluation,

education, the promotion o adaptive management tools andawareness-raising have enabled and acilitated the involvement o

all community members. The association retains a commitment to

ncreasing the involvement o local women in the initiative, and in

particular the number o women in decision-making roles (currently

only 10 percent). Youth are regularly employed as volunteers to

monitor trails leading to the beaches.

obs have also been created or the local population through a

national project o the INDP which aims to enhance the capacity

o shing communities to protect sea turtles through participatory

action and research, communication, and (in cooperation with

ocal authorities) the monitoring o local beaches. More local jobs

will be created in the near uture when the association opensts environmental education centre, which will provide habitat

estoration services, observation o cetaceans and turtles, and

educational tourism services.

POLICY IMPACTS

According to Cape Verde law, the implementation o conservation

policy is the responsibility o the General Environmental

Administration (DGA), with the responsibility or environmental

awareness raising delegated to the municipal level. Cape Verde

aw, however, contains no provisions, legislation or guidance on

community-based action in this eld. There exists then a needo create (legal) space and provide unding mechanisms or the

implementation o community-based conservation policy and

grassroots management o coastal or marine resources, particu

or shing communities.

ACNMEC is a pioneering local actor in this regard, oering a m

o how community-based natural resource management ca

carried out and empowered in cooperation with city cou

municipalities, commissions within the Ministry o Environment

the maritime authority. By ocusing on monitoring and evaluand quantiying the positive impacts o local managem

techniques, ACNMEC is building a demonstrative case to argue

communities with adequate support rom local authorities and

stakeholders are best positioned to protect local biodiversity a

transorm conservation action into sustainable livelihood solut

Results-based management has also increased donor int

(both international donors as well as domestic environm

nance channels such as the General Environmental Board and

General Fisheries Board) in unding community-based initiativ

Cape Verde. ACNMEC has been responsible or ushering in a

development paradigm that includes as a necessary compo

o policy practice the direct participation and involvement o

communities in natural resource management. The associanticipates that this normative shit will change the landscap

environment and development policy in the region, oering a

model o co-management and coordination between rele

stakeholders.

Perhaps the most important policy impact rom ACNMEC wo

though the outcome must be credited to a wide range o advo

eorts, o which ACNMEC was an essential contributor was

passing o Regulatory Decree No. 7/2002 o Dec. 30 which prov

or the ull protection o sea turtles. The association is curr

lobbying or a national program or the protection o sea tu

which would build on the lessons learned rom their activities

scale-up conservation saeguards.

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Sustainability and Replication

SUSTAINABILITYhe oundation o the associations medium-term nancial

ustainability is a planned ecotourism program that leverages

ational and international interest (research and recreational) in the

egions biodiversity and endemic agship species. The program

will be anchored to research activities being coordinated by the

National Institute or Fisheries Development and the University

Kiel (Germany). The association hopes these activities will

enerate income within the community rom payment or services

endered by the local population or visiting researchers. The

rogram will also be expanded to include low-impact tour, scuba

nd sports shing services or the more mainstream ecotourismemographic. In the longer-term, the association plans to establish

regional observatory or sea turtles which will be managed by the

ommunity but provide the entire region with inormation and data

n conservation priorities.

REPLICATION

he association is working with shing communities on the islands

Santo Anto, So Vicente, and So Nicolau in the northwest o

arlavento, which also have important populations o sea turtles.

Knowledge exchanges and site visits are being carried out to transer

essons leaders and communicate the experiences, challenges,

nd successes o ACNMEC. Awareness-raising and environmentalducation outreach conducted by the association reached

hese neighboring islands and communities, sensitized the local

opulation to the threats acing sea turtles, and created demand or

normation and knowledge.

PARTNERSACNEMC has a diverse, cross-sector partnership. One impo

partner, which provided seed money to launch awareness-ra

activities, volunteer mobilization and environmental educa

outreach was the GEF/UNDP-Small Grants Programme (S

Another central partner is the National Institute or the Developm

o Fisheries (INDP). The institute has provided ongoing support i

orm o project design, nancing, training and technical outrea

One noteworthy partner has been the Guidance Ofce o Proess

Introduction (GOIP), which has worked with the association to b

integrate women into the program. Through this partnerACNEMC has provided local women with opportunities or trai

proessional qualication, and identication o income-genera

activities. One o the local womens groups that has emerged

this partnership is in the process o creating a workshop o

production o sweaters that will be sold by a private Brazilian clot

retailer. An additional outcome has been seminars, workshops

outreach campaigns on the issue o domestic violence.

Other partners include: the Municipal Chamber o Ribeira Gra

Santo Anto Island, who provide technical and nancial sup

through their environmental ofce; the Maritime Port Insti

who assist in beach surveillance activities; IUCN Guine Bissau,

have supported with a regonal environmental education progDesign dCor, Mindelo, So Vicente, Cape Verde, who suppor

development and production o awareness campaign materials

ADTMA SOS Turtles, who support with training. Research acti

are pursued through a scientic partnership between the Nat

Institute o Fisheries Development, the University o Kiel in Germ

the University o East Cuba, and the University o Versailles in Fra


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onnecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.

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FURTHER REFERENCE

Marine Community Association o Cruzinha da Gara Photo Story (Vimeo)http://vimeo.com/15749312

Marine Community Association o Cruzinha da Gara website http://blogdastartarugas.blogs.sapo.cv/

Additional photos http://otos.sapo.pt/tartarugas/perl
http://vimeo.com/15749312http://blogdastartarugas.blogs.sapo.cv/http://fotos.sapo.pt/tartarugas/perfilhttp://fotos.sapo.pt/tartarugas/perfilhttp://blogdastartarugas.blogs.sapo.cv/http://vimeo.com/15749312http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348163605.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348160544.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348068029.pdf

case studies undp: community marine association of cruzinha da garca, cape verde

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