(and turn Bijagós into a model for sustainable ecotourism)
Fundación CBD-Hábitat’s project in Guinea-Bissau—funded by Fundación Europamundo in 2025—focuses on biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecotourism in the Bijagós Islands through the Orango Parque Hotel, which supports cooperation micro-projects that create local jobs and protect unique habitats such as mangroves and national parks. The initiative links nature protection with community development so that conservation becomes a viable economic pathway for local families.
The Bijagós Islands are a fragile and exceptional ecosystem, and their long-term balance depends on both environmental protection and respect for local culture. In this context, building a responsible tourism model that funds micro-actions and employment is a practical way to reduce pressure on ecosystems and support biodiversity conservation.
Geográfico y Demográfico
Guinea-Bissau (West Africa) has over 2 million inhabitants, and the Bijagós archipelago has been recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1996. Remote areas like Orango have low population density and exceptionally rich marine-terrestrial biodiversity.
Socioeconómico
The country faces major economic challenges: the project document notes that roughly 80% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture (such as cashews) and that extreme poverty is widespread. In this setting, sustainable ecotourism can generate income and jobs while remaining compatible with ecosystem protection.
Cultural
Bijagós communities preserve unique traditions with a strong matriarchal identity and deep ties to nature, and the project aims to respect and promote this heritage through community-based tourism. The document also highlights animist beliefs that sacralize untouched natural spaces, which has helped preserve wildlife and habitats.
The project combines conservation and local development from an operational base: the Orango Parque Hotel, positioned as an ecotourism development center inside a national park and used to launch micro-projects and training that strengthen local capabilities and livelihoods. The goal is to ensure that protecting species and habitats (including the monk seal) is sustainable because it also creates jobs and value locally.
Orango Parque Hotel management (a cooperation engine)
The hotel acts as an ecotourism development hub in national parks, hosting visitors and launching local micro-projects for more than 10 years. Revenue becomes a practical lever to fund conservation actions and community support on the ground.Biodiversity conservation (habitats and flagship species)
CBD-Hábitat works to protect mangroves and species such as manatees and marine hippos through ecological restoration and partnerships with communities and organizations like Wetlands International. This fits a broader long-term conservation track record: the foundation was created in 1998 to help protect flagship species such as the Mediterranean monk seal and the Iberian lynx.Training and local jobs (lasting impact)
The project provides ecotourism training, job creation, and promotion of sustainable activities, aligned with Fundación Europamundo calls. This line is designed to make local communities the protagonists of the tourism model and reduce reliance on external funding alone.CBD-Hábitat advances a model where protecting Bijagós biodiversity and preventing species loss goes hand in hand with creating real economic opportunities for local communities. By combining ecotourism, micro-projects, and partnerships, the initiative strengthens a replicable approach where local development becomes a direct ally of conservation.
Sostenibilidad y Futuro
The document frames sustainability through local alliances, reinvesting tourism income into conservation, and long-term community-based management. Orango Parque Hotel is also described as using hospitality revenue to support micro-projects that benefit both biodiversity and local communities.
Alineación con los ODS
SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): local jobs linked to ecotourism.
SDG 14 (Life Below Water): marine ecosystem protection through responsible tourism.
SDG 15 (Life on Land): conservation of mangroves and habitats.
SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): cooperation with IBAP and communities.
Much More Than a Destination: I Found a New Way to See the World...
Revealed: 10 Days Traveling to the Heart of the Bijagós
Revealed: 10 Days Traveling to the Heart of the Bijagós Some journeys take you far… and others take you deep. When I accepted the opportunity to volunteer in Orango, I […]
Vé como termina
