Africa-Press – Cape verde. The National Directorate of the Environment held a veterinary training session for national technicians this Tuesday in Praia, aiming to prepare the country to respond to incidents involving sea turtles and birds, strengthening biodiversity conservation.
The initiative is part of the RedCentros project, approved by the first call for proposals of the Interreg MAC (Madeira, Azores, and Canary Islands) Transnational Cooperation Program 2021-2027, and aims to create an international network of wildlife recovery centers in the Macaronesian archipelagos.
In a press interview, Paula Dias Monteiro, a technician with the National Directorate of the Environment, stated that this training is essential to strengthening the country’s response capacity.
“The goal is to provide technicians with tools that will allow them to act more effectively in the conservation and balance of ecosystems,” she emphasized.
According to her, the project is funded with a global amount of 2.8 million euros for each participating African country, including Cape Verde, Ghana, Gambia, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, and the archipelago will receive approximately 126,000 euros for the implementation of its actions.
A wildlife recovery center is planned for Cape Verde. The location has not yet been determined, but it is considered strategic for reinforcing the national commitment to conserving biological diversity and mitigating the effects of climate change.
“This center will be a strategic and innovative milestone, allowing the country to align with international goals and respond more effectively to environmental challenges,” said the technician, adding that the choice of the island will depend on studies of factors such as accessibility, logistics, and the incidence of strandings.
The current training marks only the beginning of a broader process.
In addition to training, the project includes community awareness-raising activities, the promotion of the circular economy, and the integration of new conservation protocols.
“We want to ensure that the decision is balanced and that the center fully meets the needs of national biodiversity,” emphasized Paula Dias Monteiro.
During the training, national veterinarians, biologists, and technicians will learn about protocols for the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of marine species through participatory methodologies, practical case studies, and the exchange of experiences with international experts.
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