Recovery of the natural values of Santa Luzia Reserve in Cape Verde The unhabited islands of Raso and Santa Luzia are Priority Key Biodiversity Areas, located in the Republic of Cape Verde. The Cape Verde government, recognising its unparalleled value, created in 2003 a marine protected area, that comprises all three islands (Raso, Santa Luzia and Branco) and the surrounding sea. This reserve is exceptionally important for nature conservation both at a national and international level with several endemic and highly threatened species. It holds the entire world population of the Critically Endangered Raso Lark (Alauda razae) and the most important known breeding colony of Cape Verde Shearwater (Calonectris edwardsii), among many other seabirds and species with unfavourable conservation status within the region and the country. Several terrestrial reptile species and a few endemic ones are present The Endangered Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), of which Cape Verde holds the third largest population in the world and the only one in the eastern Atlantic, breeds in Santa Luzia, with a population larger than 500 nesting females. These islands do not have any permanent human settlements or villages, but were inhabited by two families of shepherds in the 19th century and nowadays they are regularly visited by fishermen that spend the night while exploring the surrounding seas. The islands have a history of uncontrolled levels of poaching and harvesting of seabirds and sea turtles and despite its reserve status these threats are all still highly impacting and causing biodiversity loss. The conservation situation on Santa Luzia in particular is unfavourable: a polluted, unregulated, semi-permanent fisherman's camp, unknown levels of sea turtle poaching, presence of feral cats, uncontrolled visiting and a total lack of surveillance and wardening renders this island, which could be one of the most important marine wildlife refuges in the northern Atlantic, relatively devoid of wildlife. In 2013, with the support of the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF), the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) and a local NGO, BIOSFERA, started an ambitious project that aims to remove alien predator species from Santa Luzia, and translocate Raso Larks from Raso to Santa Luzia, as well as to improve the seabird breeding habitat. Other partners, such as RSPB or the Madeira Natural Park, are supporting the project and helping Biosfera with their experience in similar projects. This project aims to support the restoration of Santa Luzia (and the better preserved neighbouring island of Raso) to achive a better conservation status, the first and decisive step in a mission to turn this group of islands into a haven for wildlife, providing a model for integrated marine and coastal management in the region. A year after the beginning of the project we have now more information on the target species, both the alien predators and the natural inhabitants of these islands. A comprehensive operation to remove cats from the island is in the final planning stage and it will probably involve the beginning of a future wardening system in the island. Protocols were defined and followed to survey mice, reptiles and birds along a full year cycle and these results will allow a close monitoring of all the changes in the islands in the future years. During the summer months BIOSFERA also set two permanent volunteer camps to monitor and protect the nesting sea turtles and the seabird colonies. Several hundred baby turtles survived and departed to the sea just to be seen again in these beaches 20 years from now, when they reach the breeding age. The harvesting of seabirds was reduced to zero this year and the project team studied their diet, their foraging areas and monitored their populations. New colonies of breeding seabirds were even discovered in Santa Luzia. Several motion sensor cameras were deployed to study the movement of the cats and their preferred areas. During the project execution the work capacity and knowledge of Biosfera I team improved significantly, with the hiring of permanent staff and the definition of new internal
rules of governance. This will allow Biosfera Team to deal with projects of a larger scale and also to help smaller local NGOs. Biosfera has always worked with fishermen and local communities in the past to protect the nature values from Cape Verde from which they all depend. All the communities contacted see this project as an improvement and are committed to help during the next stage, even if it will require some changes in their traditional habits. Further work is still necessary as well as new management rules to use the island and to preserve the most sensitive areas and species.
Lark Population 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
Year
Fig. 1 - Evolution of Raso Lark Population
Reference: M. de L. Brooke, pers. comm. and Brooke, M. de L., Flower, T.P., Campbell, E.M., Mainwaring, M.C., Davies, S. & Welbergen, J.A. 2012. Rainfall-related population growth and sex ratio change in the Critically Endangered Raso lark Alauda razae. Animal Conservation 16: 466-471. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2012.00535.x
Fig. 2 - Foraging area fo a Cape Verdean Shearwater during Incubation
Fig. 3 - Cat photographed by a Camera Trap
Fig. 4 - Santa Luzia landscape
Fig. 5 - Government responsible visiting Santa Luzia Turtle protection Camp
Fig. 5 - Baby turtles released into the sea
Fig. 6 - Areas to release translocated Raso Larks
Fig. 7 - Biosfera I team in Santa Luzia