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São Tomé and Príncipe, jewels of Africa
Located in the Gulf of Guinea, the two volcanic islands are also best known as the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. They are home to exceptional biodiversity still largely unknown.
Resulting from volcanic activity, São Tomé and Príncipe emerged from the Cameroon Mountains line under the ocean. The archipelago is characterised by an endemic rate of its fauna and flora unique in the world. It is mostly explained by its long evolutionary history isolated from the African continent, which allowed endemic species to prosper with almost no human interactions. The territory is, therefore, ranked among the main island biodiversity hotspots in the world, alongside with the archipelagos of Galápagos and Hawaii.
São Tomé and Príncipe is rich in primary rainforests (listed second among 75 emblematic forests in Africa in 1988 for their biological interest) and is home to rare ecosystems. However, because of population growth and land resources exploitation, these ecosystems are in very sharp decline. This archipelago, repeatedly identified as a natural reservoir of global importance, is now benefiting from protection measures aimed at curbing the erosion of its biodiversity: the National Park of Obô and the Ecological Zone of Príncipe created in 2006 (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The need for knowledge about this natural heritage remains strongly important, particularly in some taxonomic groups (fungi and lichens, insects, bryophytes, etc.) to better protect and preserve the environment.
São Tomé and Príncipe's biodiversity at a glance
The following figures give a brief overview of the biodiversity currently known in São Tomé and Príncipe. Statistics were obtained from bibliographic sources available for the detailed taxonomic groups.
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Birds: 88 species (27 endemic)
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Mammals: 35 species (3 endemic)
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Insects: 196 species (27 endemic butterflies)
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Reptiles: 28 species (25 endemic)
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Amphibians: 5 species (5 endemic)
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Fish: 196 species
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Molluscs: 217 species
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Plants: 1230 species (132 endemic)
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Mushrooms: 74 species listed
Note: the figures given in the bibliographic sources sometimes differ between them, the creation of a scientific database on the biological diversity currently known is ongoing.
“Archipelago's Biodiversity, the São Tomé and Príncipe Project"
In partnership with the Consulate of São Tomé and Príncipe located in Marseille, the Office for Insects and their Environment (Opie), and the NGO BirdLife International, Microland has been carrying out a program since 2018 to study the biodiversity of this exceptional territory: “Archipelago's Biodiversity, the São Tomé and Príncipe Project".
The action of Microland and its partners has two main objectives:
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Promote and enhance the natural heritage with a network of local actors
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Improve knowledge on the biological diversity of the archipelago.
The first mission of February 2019 was divided into several actions:
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Establishment of a working group with state services, local naturalists and biologists involved in the study and conservation of biodiversity (identification of needs and perspectives, the definition of short and medium-term objectives, etc.)
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Identification and exchanges with structures and actors to implement actions. The objective here is to promote and enhance the natural heritage of São Tomé and Príncipe (animation and naturalistic trips, construction of a butterfly greenhouse, etc.)
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to build up a database on Nature and to deploy locally its administration in connection with the association
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Naturalistic inventories of unknown species groups (including insects and lichens) and emblematic (birds, reptiles, flora, etc.) of the National Park of Obô to complement the knowledge on the local biological richness
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A documentary Atento directed by Filmmaker Louise Filippi, about the exceptional biological richness of this territory and its inhabitants who work for its conservation.