• Creation - management - governance of protected and conserved areas

Sustainable management and environmental education in the Cufada Lagoons Natural Park

ICON/BTN/arrow/2/arrow-down Created with Sketch. Sustainable management and environmental education in the Cufada Lagoons Natural Park
  • Beneficiary GAECA PALMEIRINHA
  • Montant du projet € 64 333
  • Subventions FFEM € 27 900
  • État du projet achevé

The Cufada Lagoons Natural Park (89,000 ha, the country’s only RAMSAR site) is located in southern Guinea-Bissau and features highly varied ecosystems: three freshwater lagoons, savannas, forests (dry, semi-dry and humid) and mangroves around the Rio Corubal estuary.

32 species of mammals (colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, elephants, manatees, hippopotamuses) and rich birdlife inhabit this park, which is threatened by slash-and-burn clearing (known as m’pampam), illegal commercial hunting and wood cutting for charcoal production.

In partnership with the Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas of Guinea-Bissau (IBAP), which is responsible for managing the country’s parks, GAECA PALMEIRINHA works in the field of environmental education and communication within and around protected areas.

Active in the Lagoons Park since 2010, GAECA has conducted teacher training on environmental issues and held 40 film-debate sessions to raise public awareness of these topics.

The aim of this project is to better involve resident populations within the park in its management and to strengthen their commitment to conservation principles through: 1) awareness-raising among pupils and teachers, 2) the establishment of tree nurseries and reforestation of degraded forest areas, 3) the creation of mini educational reserves managed by schools, and 4) support for the processing and marketing of non-timber forest products (NTFPs).

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