Maio Biodiversity Foundation

A benchmark for sustainable tourism and environment that generates a positive impact on the small island of Maio.

The FBM is a non-profit organization that aims to conserve the environment and develop economic opportunities for local communities.

Maio Biodiversity Foundation

An interdisciplinary project

Biodiversity

Cape Verde is undoubtedly a reference point for world biodiversity. These latitudes are home to the second nesting site of Caretta Caretta turtles in the Atlantic, as well as a great variety of sharks, manta rays, whales, dolphins, and countless birds.

The Maio Biodiversity Foundation has been working since 2010 with the main local authorities to achieve better management of protected areas, as well as impact studies of construction projects in Maio.

The involvement of local communities is vital to ensure the recovery and sustainability of a healthy environment, where species and local people can live in total harmony. To achieve this, FMB is carrying out an internationally recognized conservation program.

Ecoguides

One of the most recent initiatives to combat unemployment is to support local young people to work in ecotourism activities. By promoting sustainable and friendly tourism, they get an economic reward while promoting responsible tourism practices.

The program includes the creation of a local company with a learning center, equipment and marketing offers. These new ecoguides are authorized by the National Directorate of the Environment to carry out turtle watching activities. In addition, they can offer excursions in protected areas while visiting local communities to show traditions and local gastronomy with the best fresh fish of Cape Verde. They are constantly updating so activities such as snorkeling and bird watching have been added recently.

HomeStay

Another initiative is the host families, an experience that is very worthwhile if you want to travel in capital letters. Housewives have a 50% higher unemployment rate than men. This project, created by FMB and its partners, is led by the women of Maio.

Hosting tourists, promoting a unique local experience and preserving the local biodiversity of protected areas sounds good, doesn’t it?

How do we participate?

From Oi Cabo Verde we support entities committed to the environment, culture and Cape Verdean society. In this case, apart from promoting the project in our different channels, we encourage the participation of our travelers in the different initiatives offered by the FMB.

Thus, all trips that visit the island of Maio will require the services of FMB, either through the presence of Ecoguides, help with environmental project tasks (voluntary and subject to the demands of the association) and local experiences that promote the local economy.