Last week, the BiodivEarth team journeyed to the stunning islands of São Tomé and Príncipe in search of new partnerships and conservation opportunities.
On Príncipe, we had the honor of meeting:
- Filipe Nascimento, President of the Government of the Autonomous Region of Príncipe
- Júlio Pereira Mendes, Regional Secretary for Biosphere, Environment, Agriculture & Rural Development
- Dedicated teams from the Biosphere Reserve, Fundação Príncipe, AARBIP (Friends of the Biosphere Reserve Association), and HBD Príncipe – Sustainable Tourism
We were captivated by the island’s extraordinary biodiversity, centered around the Obô Natural Park, a true jewel within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Despite challenges like limited resources and socio-environmental pressures, the commitment of local public, private, and NGO stakeholders to protect both land and marine ecosystems was inspiring.
In São Tomé, our mission continued with meaningful exchanges with Oikos – Cooperação e Desenvolvimento, BirdLife International, the Gulf of Guinea Biodiversity Center (GGBC), and Programa Tato (online). Together, we explored local conservation initiatives that offer real hope for safeguarding the region’s unique biodiversity.
Special thanks to our colleagues at Fundação Príncipe: Litoney, Sunday, Milay, and Ayres for their warm welcome and support. We are also deeply grateful to all local partners, including the regional government of Príncipe, for their hospitality, openness, and inspiration that made this mission so impactful.
