Cape Verde

Biosfera is a non-governmental association based on the island of São Vicente. Founded in 2006 by two Cape Verdean ecologists, Tommy Melo and José Melo, the organization is uniquely committed to protecting Cape Verde’s coastal and marine resources. Biosfera has four main objectives as an organization: 1) Ensuring the conservation of coastal and marine species. 2) Protect coastal and marine habitats. 3) Motivate communities and the public to take a proactive role in protecting the environment. 4) Reduce pollution that disturbs coastal and marine species and habitats. Biosfera seeks to be a leading organization not only in Africa but across the world in the field of environmental conservation and preservation.

The DESERTAS Project aims to establish an effective surveillance and monitoring system on the island of Santa Luzia. The BYCATCH Project aims to fight against bycatch, or the phenomenon wherein longline fish boats accidentally catch endangered species in their nets. Biosfera is fighting to improve the selectivity of fishing gear and to promote less destructive fishing techniques.