Quebra-Mar Do Sal Prestes A Avançar Apesar Da Oposição

English version here.

Na passada terça-feira o Director Geral do Ambiente, Moisés Borges, dirigiu-se a uma audiência algo inquieta e barulhenta para responder a questões sobre o quebra-mar que foi proposto pelo The Resort Group na praia do Algodoeiro.

O quebra-mar, de acordo com o The Resort Group, é necessário de forma a assegurar melhores condições de banhos para os turistas que visitam os seus hotéis, Mélia Tortuga, Dunas e Llana Beach.

 

De acordo com Victor Fidalgo, o anterior presidente da Cabo Verde Investiments (empresa responsável pelo desenvolvimento do turismo) mas agora um empregado do The Resort Group,  a ilha do Sal tem pouco mais para oferecer que praias e este quebra-mar irá atrair mais turistas e por isso fomentar a prosperidade económica da população do Sal.

Exposed rocks at low tide make entering sea difficult for tourists

Apesar de ter sido extremamente difícil de conseguir alguma resposta directa, parece que o quebra-mar não está ainda aprovado apesar de já ter ido para ser assinado pelo Ministro.

Aqueles que se opõem ao quebra-mar têm diversas preocupações; nomeadamente que o quebra-mar irá afectar a onda mundialmente famosa da Ponta Preta, que irá afectar a nidificação das ameaçadas tartarugas Caretta e que a praia na prática se irá tornar “privatizada”. Estas três preocupações foram considerados irrelevantes uma vez que, de acordo com o Sr. Borges, há uma insuficência de provas que suportam a ideia de que haverá algum impacte na onda; que as tartarugas nidificantes na ilha do Sal representam “apenas” 7% do total da população de Cabo Verde e que a privatização da praia é um argumento sem qualquer fundamento.

Turtle nests near breakwater location at Llana Beach

Apesar de grande parte dos surfistas que compareceram na reunião estarem bastante sensíveis à questão do quebra-mar e com os ânimos algo exaltados, parece que isso, por si só, não chega para salvar a praia. Embora o Sr. Borges tenha admitido que a petição que conta com mais de 5.000 assinaturas foi tida em conta no processo de avaliação,  esta foi rejeitada uma vez que a grande maioria dos seus assinantes são estrangeiros. Por diversas vezes o sentimento pareceu ser “vocês não são engenheiros por isso a vossa opinião não conta”. Assim, parece que o desejo de preservar o património natural de um país puramente com o objectivo de o proteger não é argumento suficiente para o governo de Cabo Verde.

Director General Environment Moises Borges

Além disso, é ironico que quando a única justificação dada para a construção do quebra-mar seja a de trazer benefício para estrangeiros, o facto de que embora muitos deles sejam contra este empreendimento, a sua opinião não seja tido em conta!

Embora seja verdade que apenas 6% dos assinantes da petição sejam residentes de Cabo Verde, é a prova da importância e da fama internacional da Ponta Preta para que este empreendimento tenha provocado tal tempestade.

Type of materials to be used

How the breakwater may look

Em termos de relatórios técnicos, a avaliação submetida pela SOS Tartarugas deveria ser suficnete para evitar a construção uma vez que o quebra-mar irá provocar um efeito determinante na já dizimada população de tartarugas que estão em risco de extinção. SOS Tartarugas analise do AIA.O facto de que o quebra-mar irá ser construído numa Área Protegida criada pelas Nações Unidas  é também uma questão ignorada. Alguns membros da equipa das Nações Unidas estavam também presentes na reunião, pelo que devem estar alertados para o grau de preocupação envolvido. Também a Águas Ponta Preta submeteu um relatório técnico sobre esta questão, devido à preocupação do impacte negativo que este projecto possa causar no abastecimento de água dessalinizada.  

Parece que a única avaliação tida em consideração foi a que foi preparada pela construtora, VW-Consultores em Hidráulica e Obras Marítimas, S.A., a companhia que certamente tem interesses próprios?

 

Loss of beach caused by a breakwater in Spain

Claro que é indiscutível que o turismo pode trazer benefícios para o país e aumentar a prosperidade da população. A questão que se coloca é sobre o tipo de turismo que está a ser desenvolvido no Sal (e consequentemente, em menor escala, na Boa Vista). Parece que o único tipo de turismo reconhecido é o modelo do turismo de massas. O desenvolvimento de um turismo de baixo impacto ambiental, sustentável e ambientalmente consciente como o turismo desenvolvido à volta de actividades como kite-surf ou o surf, parace ser muito pouco prioritário.

Uma forma elegante de colocar esta questão pode ser encontrada neste blog: http://bianda.blogspot.com/2013/06/ponto-negro-ii.html

"A luta aqui é entre velhos senhores sentados num gabinete climatizado, a ver os cifrões a cintilar na imaginação, e uma geração jovem,que pensa diferente,pensa natureza, quer um vida diferente, mais justa, mais ecológica para estas frágeis ilhas."

("The fight is between older men who sit in air-conditioned offices and see dollar signs in their minds and the younger generation who want a different life, more just and more natural and green for these fragile islands.")

No waves.  No surf.  No fish

É, em todo o caso, discutível quanto emprego será criado, uma vez que apenas haverá trabalho extra exclusivamente durante a fase de construção. Os empregos gerados pelos novos hotéis existirão de qualquer forma uma vez que estes não dependem da construção do quebra-mar. 

De acordo com a DGA (Direcção Geral do Ambiente), o projecto foi analisado e considerado “muito bem cotado” por uma equipa de técnicos altamente qualificados pertencentes a diversas instituições. Estes peritos, apesar da evidência clara de todo o mundo que contradiz a sua opinião, acreditam que o quebra-mar não irá causar danos ambientais irreversíveis.

Relatório do TCV 

Tentar alterar a natureza da ilha já teve consequências. A construção de hotéis que bloqueiam o vento e impedem assim o transporte de areias para as praias, resultou numa diminuição dos areais nas praias em apenas poucos anos.  

Idyllic beach scene on The Resort Group's website will soon not be the reality

Depois de destruir o património natural das prais do Sal, o que virá a seguir? A exploração mineira do vulcão na ilha do Fogo? A destruição da Cidade Velha na Ilha de Santiago? As condições mundialmente famosas da Ponta Preta e a nidificação de tartarugas são bens mais valiosos que uma rápida (e questionável) solução para criar condições menos que perfeitas para os turistas se banharem no Algodoeiro. Deixem os turistas virem para a ilha pelo que ela naturalmente tem para oferecer, é certamente loucura tentar alterar a ilha para agradar ao turismo de massas?!

Apesar de parecer que o projecto foi já aprovado, o Director Geral do Ambiente afirmou que há ainda a hipótese do projecto ser interrompido em qualquer momento se surgir informação técnico-científica suficiente que comprove os danos ambientais irreveríveis que o mesmo acarreta.

Numa anterior reunião o Sr. Fidalgo rejeitou a petição afirmando que apesar desta contar com mais de 5.000 assinaturas, ele podia encontrar 10.000 que seriam a favor do projecto. No entanto, tem sido impossível encontrar uma única pessoa na ilha do Sal que seja a favor desta construção.

Compreendemos que a Câmara Municipal do Sal, a equipa da Direcção Geral do Ambiente, bem como o Director Geral do Turismo tenham rejeitado esta proposta, então quem está de facto a favor? E com tanta oposição, como conseguiu ser aprovado?

O movimento social criado à volta desta questão é sem dúvida inspirador. 

"A questão da Ponta Preta não é se a geodinâmica altera ou não, se ficam mais tartarugas ou não. Nem se é legal ou não. A questão é de cidadania. A questão é que várias alterações vão sendo perpetuadas na frágil ilha do Sal e ninguém fala. Quando um grupo, realmente ferido na alma, protesta, o poder mostra como tem mão pesada. Decide!..O ponto essencial, que as autoridades fingem ignorar, é que para todo o fiel, neste caso os surfistas, que são das pessoas mais religiosas que conheço, quando se deita um lugar sagrado no chão, isso representa uma afronta que não podem calcular senhores. Fiquem atentos à raiva gerada."

Amanhã, sábado, dia 8 de junho, Dia Mundial dos Oceanos, as pessoas irão demonstrar a sua oposição e descontentamento com uma marcha pacífica entre o centro de Santa Maria e a Ponta Preta, seguindo depois para a praia onde se planeia a construção do quebra-mar.

Assina a petição aqui..

Breakwater on Sal to go ahead despite opposition.

Versão em portugues aqui

On Tuesday the Director General of the Environment, Moises Borges addressed a restless and somewhat noisy audience as he answered questions about the breakwater on Algodoeiro that has been proposed by The Resort Group.

The breakwater, according to The Resort Group, is necessary to provide better swimming conditions for tourists who visit their three properties; Melia Tortuga, Dunas and Llana Beach.  According to Victor Fidalgo, formally the president of Cabo Verde Investiments (who are responsible for tourism development) but now a representative of The Resort Group, Sal has little else to offer but beaches and this breakwater will attract more tourists and therefore provide more economic prosperity for the people of Sal.

Exposed rocks at low tide make entering sea difficult for tourists

Although it was very difficult to get a direct answer, it seems that the breakwater proposal is not yet approved, but has gone to the Minister for signature.

Those who oppose the breakwater have several concerns; that the breakwater will affect the world famous wave of Ponta Preta, that it will affect the nesting of endangered loggerhead turtles & that the beach will, in effect become 'private'.  These three concerns were dismissed as irrelevant, since, according to Sr Borges, there is insufficient evidence to support any impact on the wave; that the turtles on Sal 'only' account for 7% of the total population of Cabo Verde and that the privatisation of the beaches is a 'silly' argument.

Turtle nests near breakwater location at Llana Beach

The emotion of many of the surfers who attended the meeting was very high, but it seems that this, in itself is not enough to save the beach.  While Sr Borges admitted that the petition that has gained more than 5,000 signatures was considered as part of the evaluation, it was dismissed because it lacks any technical background and that the majority of people who signed it were foreigners.  Several times the sentiment seemed to be 'you are not engineers so your opinion does not count'.  So it seems that a desire to preserve the natural heritage of one's country purely for its own sake does not matter to the Caboverdean government.

Director General Environment Moises Borges

Furthermore, it is ironic that while the only justification being given is that the breakwater is being built for the benefit of foreigners, the fact that so many of them are against it, is not being taken into consideration! 

While it is true that only 6% of the signatures on the petition are from people living in Cabo Verde, it is testament to the fact that Ponta Preta is so famous and so precious that internationally this has caused such a storm.

Type of materials to be used

How the breakwater may look

In terms of technical reports, the evaluation submitted by SOS Tartarugas should be sufficient to prevent construction as the breakwater will have a detrimental effect on an already decimated population of turtles that is in danger of extinction.  SOS Tartarugas evaluation of breakwater.  The fact that the breakwater is in a Protected Area funded by the United Nations is also being ignored.  Members of the team from the United Nations were present at the meeting, so they must be aware now of the level of concern.  There has also been a technical report submitted by Aguas Ponta Preta who are concerned that the breakwater will affect the supply of desalinated water. 

It seems that the only evaluation that counts is the one that has been prepared by the construction company, WW–Consultores em Hidráulica e Obras Marítimas, S.A, a company that surely has a vested interest?  

Loss of beach caused by a breakwater in Spain

Of course it is undeniable that tourism can bring benefits to the country and increase the prosperity of the people.  The question here is about the type of tourism that is being developed on Sal (and incidentally, Boa Vista).  It seems that only one type of tourism is recognised - the all-inclusive, mass tourism model.   The development of low-impact, sustainable, environmentally conscious tourism such as kite-surfing or surfing seems to have very low priority. 

An elegant way to put this can be found in this blog post http://bianda.blogspot.com/2013/06/ponto-negro-ii.html

"A luta aqui é entre velhos senhores sentados num gabinete climatizado, a ver os cifrões a cintilar na imaginação, e uma geração jovem,que pensa diferente,pensa natureza, quer um vida diferente, mais justa, mais ecológica para estas frágeis ilhas."

("The fight is between older men who sit in air-conditioned offices and see dollar signs in their minds and the younger generation who want a different life, more just and more natural and green for these fragile islands.")

No waves.  No surf.  No fish

It is, in any case, debatable how many extra jobs this will create because there will only be more work during the construction phase.  The jobs created by the hotels will be there anyway. 

According to the DGA (General Directorate of the Environment), the project was analysed and 'highly rated' by a team of well-qualified people from various institutions.  These experts, despite clear evidence from around the world that contradicts their opinion, believe that the breakwater will not cause irreversible environmental damage.

National television report 

Trying to change the nature of the island has already had consequences.  Building hotels that block the wind from replenishing the sand has resulted in loss of beaches after only a few years. 

Idyllic beach scene on The Resort Group's website will soon not be the reality

After destroying the natural heritage of the beaches of Sal, what is next?  The mining of the volcano on Fogo, the destruction of Cidade Velha on Santiago?  The world famous conditions at Ponta Preta and the nesting turtles are more valuable than a quick (and questionable) solution to less than perfect swimming conditions on Algodoeiro.  Let the tourists come to the island because of what it offers, it is surely madness to try to alter the island to suit?! 

Although it looks like the project will be approved, the Director General stated that it has the potential to be halted at any stage if sufficient technical information emerges that demonstrates irreversible environmental damage.

In a previous meeting, The Resort Group representative, Sr Fidalgo dismissed the petition stating that there may be 5,000 signatures on it, but that he could find 10,000 that would be for it.  However, it has been impossible to find one single person on Sal who is in favour.

We understand that the City Hall of Sal, the team from the General Directorate of the Environment and the General Directorate of Tourism all rejected this proposal - so who, in fact, is in favour?  And with so much opposition, how did it gain approval?

The social movement created around this cause is inspiring to see. 

"A questão da Ponta Preta não é se a geodinâmica altera ou não, se ficam mais tartarugas ou não. Nem se é legal ou não. A questão é de cidadania. A questão é que várias alterações vão sendo perpetuadas na frágil ilha do Sal e ninguém fala. Quando um grupo, realmente ferido na alma, protesta, o poder mostra como tem mão pesada. Decide!..O ponto essencial, que as autoridades fingem ignorar, é que para todo o fiel, neste caso os surfistas, que são das pessoas mais religiosas que conheço, quando se deita um lugar sagrado no chão, isso representa uma afronta que não podem calcular senhores. Fiquem atentos à raiva gerada."

Tomorrow, Saturday June 8th, World Oceans Day, people will show their opposition with a walk from the centre of Santa Maria to Ponta Preta and on to the beach of the proposed breakwater. 

Sign the petition here.

Key positions still available saving turtles in Cape Verde

It's been another fantastic year for applications but we still have a few key positions open.  Each year the standard gets higher and there are obviously a lot of very motivated people out there who want to make a contribution to biodiversity conservation.

Even though the deadline has passed, if you have the qualities & experience for these paid places, please send us your application.  We will keep accepting applications until we find the right person.  Click on the links for full descriptions.

Tourism Rangers work hands on at the hatchery

Tourism Ranger
Giving information to visitors to the hatchery and guiding guests on turtle walks is a key part of this job, but it is still hands-on with turtles.  Tourism Rangers go through the same training as Wildlife Rangers and perform many of the same duties such as collecting data and relocating nests.  You need to be outgoing and have good communication skills.  Preferred languages are English, German, French, Dutch & Italian. 

Tourism Manager
Similar to above but should have some experience of working with tourists or in a customer facing role.  Must also have very good organisational skills.

Serra Negra

Camp Coordinator
Take charge of the most important beach on Sal for nesting turtles.  Beautiful, isolated Serra Negra is where our camp is situated.  You should have previous experience working with turtles and should be able to speak either Capeverdean Kriolu, Portuguese or Spanish.

Download the application form here.  (This takes you to Google Docs - click on File and Download in the drop down menu)

All about turtles in Cabo Verde

An excellent initiative by the Scientific Committee of TAOLA (The Capeverdean Sea Turtle Network) has brought together all the literature that has ever been published on turtles in the archipelago.  It includes research articles, chapters in books & doctoral theses and the aim is to provide a useful resource for sea turtle workers in the country and abroad.

The list can be downloaded here.

Anti-breakwater petition dismissed as irrelevant by The Resort Group.

To say that our views and the views of The Resort Group (TRG) are different is somewhat of an understatement!  But trying to find some middle ground where we can work together to protect the environment and ensure the economic development of the country is very important.  With this in mind, we had a very lively and interesting discussion with TRG's representative, Victor Fidalgo about turtle conservation in general and the controversial breakwater proposal in particular.

There is no question that the tourism development of Algodoeiro on the west coast of Sal has had a serious impact on loggerhead turtles but in the last couple of years TRG has implemented some mitigation measures such as installing red filters in the beach bar and, in 2012, made a small donation to our general fund.  However, naturally, as a for-profit enterprise, TRG's objectives are primarily financial gain.

Additionally, Mr Fidalgo as the previous the President of Cabo Verde Investimentos, ("the government investment promotion agency and export, whose purpose is the promotion of conditions conducive to the realization of projects of national and foreign investment, the promotion of the Cape Verde Islands as a tourist destination and the promotion of exports of goods and services of Cape Verdean origin.") is most concerned about economic development and not preservation of nature.  Both and he & TRG strongly believe that it is absolutely necessary for the development of Sal as a tourist destination to have an enclosed swimming area on the west coast.

It saddened us to hear Sr Fidalgo say he believes that Cabo Verde is not unique.  He believes that sunshine and beaches are available anywhere and he looks to the Canary Islands as a development model, stating "if only we could develop in this way and receive 2 million visitors a year" - failing to also recognise the negative aspects of this style of development (high rise and high density).  It's not hard to find information about the mistakes that were made there.

Publicity photo on The Resort Group's website (Copyright The Resort Group)

We believe the opposite - we believe that there are many factors that make Cabo Verde unique - not least of all the unspoilt nature, the beaches, the sunshine and very importantly, the turtles.  It is somewhat ironic that the photograph featured on TRG's website is a view of a sandy beach, the sea and limitless horizon - not a beach that features a concrete breakwater!  This is selling one idea while creating a different reality.

How Algodoeiro would actually look if the breakwater went ahead

Our vision for the development of tourism in Cabo Verde is clearly a long way from the vision of TRG.  Mr Fidalgo told us that he admired the type of tourism in Florida where visitors can view dolphins and turtles in aquariums and that this could be a great opportunity for us.  Naturally we disagree and believe that the opportunity to see nesting turtles in their natural habitat is what visitors here are interested in.  We think that the tide is turning against captive animals being kept for human entertainment.  Suprisingly Mr Fidalgo told us that he believed the breakwater would actually improve the beach for turtles since the amount of sand would be increased.

This the kind of misleading statement that may end up deciding the fate of Algodoeiro.  The reality is that the consultants who made the environmental impact assessment on behalf of TRG made several serious errors regarding turtles nesting here.  They made these errors because they did not even do the most basic research or contact us directly for scientific data.  The errors include:
- that this beach is insignificant for turtle nesting
- that turtles will not exit a beach when there are rocks on the shoreline at low tide
- misinterpreting a map showing monitoring points as a map showing nesting areas

(More information about these technical errors can be read here.)

It is worrying that if these errors have been made, other serious errors might also have been made in TRG's impact assessment.  TRG do no believe that there will be any impact on the waves used for surfing and other water sports at Ponta Preta or that there will be any significant loss of sand on the beach surrounding the breakwater. 

On the subject of the petition to stop the breakwater from being built, Mr Fidalgo was extremely dismissive stating that it meant nothing and that he could find 10,000 people to sign a petition to say that they wanted they breakwater!  In addition, he considers that the opinion of almost 5,000 people was irrelevant and should be ignored by the government.  Again we disagree.  The purpose of a public consultation period is so that the voice of the people can be heard and it is an obligation of the decision makers to listen.  Sadly Mr Fidalgo would not accept a copy of the petition from us.

Jacquie Cozens (SOS Tartarugas) & Victor Fidalgo (TRG) agreeing to disagree!

One of the most troubling aspects of our conversation was that the protest that has been mounted against the breakwater is seen by Mr Fidalgo as another obstacle that the Capeverdean people must overcome - a comparison with famine and other hardships was made.  To us, this is a strange analogy, since the 'obstacle' is not an obstacle at all - but Capeverdean people defending Sal's nature & beaches from being destroyed.

It's a sad situation when 4,800 people who are fighting to save Cabo Verde's natural heritage are painted as working against the country & its residents.

Although we agree that the needs of the people are paramount and that anything that can be done to alleviate poverty and improve the standard of living in Cabo Verde should be done, we don't agree that it should cause the loss of some of the country's prime assets - unspoilt nature and beautiful beaches.  We don't agree with Mr Fidalgo's statement that this breakwater will increase the prosperity of the people of Sal - it doesn't create more jobs and we are not sure that it will attract more people.  "Come to Cape Verde - you can swim in the seas on an artificially created beach, surrounded by concrete walls" doesn't sound like a great advertisement to us!

Nevertheless, in conclusion, if the breakwater does go ahead, Mr Fidalgo told us that they understand there will be some disruption and they will do their best to mitigate some of the negative impacts that might be caused.

Turtle with amputated flipper released

Now and again fishermen bring us turtles that have been caught in their nets.  The situation did not look too good for this Olive Ridley. 

One of her flippers was hanging by a thread and the other had deep wounds.  The story had a happy ending though.  You can see photos of her surgery, rehabilitation and release on our facebook page.  Just click here. 

We couldn't have done it without the support of Cabo Verde Diving who provided a safe place in their rinse tank and then took her out on their boat.

2012 Turtle SOS Report / 2012 SOS Tartarugas Relatório

Read all about the incredible and challenging 2012 season.  The year was very successful and the project made good progress, but, there are of course, always more challenges on the horizon.

Leia tudo sobre a temporada 2012 incrível e desafiador.  A  ano foi muito bem sucessedida e nos sentimos que fizemos um bom progresso, contudo,  ha mais desafios no futuro claro.

We would like to thank you for supporting turtle conservation and the preservation of Cabo Verde's natural heritage during last year and also take this opportunity to wish you all a very good 2013.

Gostariamos de agradecer pelo seu apoio na conservação das tartarugas e a  preservação do património natural de Cabo Verde no ultimo ano e também aproveitamos para desejar a todos um Feliz 2013.

Should you have any comments, questions or suggestions you are very welcome to send us an email.

Se tiver algum comentario, pergunta ou sugestão envio o seu email, ele será bem vindo.

info@sostartarugas.org

In English 2012 SOS Tartarugas Report

Em português Relatório 2012 SOS Tartarugas

SOS Tartarugas hosts visit from Bridgewater University, Mass.

Even though we have no nesting turtles right now, we had a fun & interesting morning with a group of students from the USA.

The students had visited several islands and had taken part in activities that contributed to Capeverdean society or the environment.

Following a presentation about marine turtles in Cabo Verde and the work of SOS Tartarugas, the students visited two of Sal's major nesting beaches.  On Costa Fragata they saw the natural, undeveloped coastline that is part of the Protected Areas system and then saw the contrast with the developed beach of Algodoeiro.

The students, two of whom had families originating in Cabo Verde, were all very interested in conservation issued presented by the development of Sal and many stated an interest in volunteering in future years.

The trip was organised by The Home of Happy Wanderers,  a long established children's home in Boston.  The home has an excellent programme called Academic Support for College and Life which helps young people make the transition to university life and independent living.

SOS Tartarugas was very proud to have met & hopefully inspired these young people.

Thanks to Centro Psicossocial de Santa Maria for hosting the presentation.