Project Biodiversity started in 2015 as an NGO to protect the nesting loggerhead population on Sal Island, which was heavily endangered due to poaching. As time passed, the project started opening its wings and migrating into different fields, and started monitoring the seabird populations on the island. A couple of years after the beginning of this monitoring, we discovered that Sal Island is actually home to the largest population of red-billed tropicbird of the whole west coast of Africa. We also registered four other breeding seabird species and a resident population of Ospreys. But the protection of these emblematic species can only be truly achieved if we also take a closer look on what is happening where they live: their habitats.

With that in mind, Project Biodiversity has a programme to study, monitor, and manage the nature reserves of Sal Island, where its rich biodiversity can be found. Sal Island is home to five Nature Reserves and ten other Protected Areas, hosting around 20 endemic plant species, different migratory birds, a huge nesting population of loggerhead turtles and two other reptiles that can only be found on Sal Island.

Unfortunately, these ecosystems are at great risk due to unregulated activities, as a result of the uncontrolled coastal development Sal Island is facing. Activities such as illegal sand removal, destruction of dunes, poaching of protected species, and plastic and light pollution pose a great risk to these habitats and all of their biodiversity.

And this is where you can join us! 

We are looking for motivated volunteers to help us increase the protection of these habitats, monitor the threats the nature reserves face, conduct censuses of fauna and flora, and overall, help this environment thrive.

Depending on the time of the year you decide to join us, we will be conducting censuses with different seabird species, as they have different breeding seasons. Although we work with the Red-billed tropicbird during the whole year, the peak of the breeding season is during winter. You can read more about the offer in this document.