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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=8587/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: COMMUNITY MARINE ASSOCIATION OF CRUZINHA DA GARCA, Cape Verde
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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.
8
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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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Environment and Energy GroupUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
304 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel: +1 646 781-4023
www.equatorinitiative.org
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change
onnecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.
The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizati
o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.
2012 by Equator Initiative
All rights reserved
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.pdfRecommended