The arid islands of the Cape Verde archipelago are located about 300 miles from Senegal off the west coast of Africa. Rainfall is erratic, and there are long periods without any precipitation. Fogo is the fourth largest island in the archipelago, with an 8,500-foot volcano at its center. The volcano, which last erupted in 1995, and the surrounding plateau are set to become a national park. It’s the first such park on an inhabited island in Cape Verde.

Unfortunately, overuse of the slopes of the crater has destroyed many endemic plant species and caused severe erosion. The local community development association, Associacão de Promocão do Desenvolvimento Comunitário de Cabeça Fundão, is working to rehabilitate degraded areas on the slopes. The association will use a Seacology grant to build a water tank and a nursery for endemic plants.